Manny Halley's Imani Studios Leases Former Quixote Soundstages in Pacoima
Producer Manny Halley has agreed to lease the 125,000-square-foot former Quixote soundstage complex in Pacoima, with a 10-year term starting Sept. 1. The facility, which includes four soundstages, will serve as the home of his Imani Studios banner. Halley plans to produce a BET mockumentary series and other projects there.
The former Quixote complex in Pacoima spans six acres and includes four soundstages, with Halley’s 10-year lease beginning Sept. 1 and three five-year renewal options. The property, owned by Rexford Industrial Realty, previously hosted productions such as *RuPaul’s Drag Race* and *MaXXXine*, but Los Angeles soundstage occupancy averaged just 62 percent in early 2025 amid industry-wide pullbacks.
Halley’s upcoming slate at the site includes the BET mockumentary *Lot Patrol*, a *True to the Game* series, and the animated *Dribble 2 Much*. His move follows Quixote’s broader retreat from multiple locations, including West Hollywood and Van Nuys, as production slowdowns persist.
This lease signals a possible shift toward independent and Black-led production ownership in an industry still recovering from post-2023 spending cuts. By activating idle soundstages, Halley may help sustain local jobs and production infrastructure, benefiting crews, vendors, and California’s entertainment economy. However, its broader impact depends on whether consistent production volume returns—otherwise, even new tenants face the same market pressures that forced Quixote to downsize.