Warner Bros Film Studio in the Heart of Hollywood

Who is Warner Bros.?

Warner Bros. is a media and entertainment company that began life in the early 1900s. The company’s founders originally intended to create a publishing house, but the swift growth of the film industry in the early 20th century saw them switch their focus to the silver screen. One of the first films produced by Warners was ‘My Friend, the Murderer’, a silent comedy short that was released in 1914. The company also helped to establish the careers of both Clark Gable and Cary Grant. The company expanded greatly after being bought by Time Inc. in the 1950s and spun off its movie and TV divisions in 1967 to become a standalone company. Time Warner, the parent company of Warner Bros., was then acquired by AT&T in 2018 for $85 billion, and the Warner Bros. group is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T.

The History of the Warner Bros. Studios

The Warner Bros. studio was opened in East Hollywood in the 1920s. At this time, the film industry was growing quickly, and Warner Bros. was one of the biggest players. It wasn’t long before they needed a bigger space to house their production studios, and in 1927, they purchased a 12-acre parcel of land in Burbank, California. The land was purchased from a young real estate developer named Henry E. Huntington, who was building a large real estate empire at the time. The Burbank studio was intended to be the flagship building of what would eventually be a movie studio complex that would rival those of MGM or Paramount. But it wasn’t until 1930 that building work was completed, and the studio became fully operational.

What’s Currently Filming at the Warner Bros. Studios?

Nowadays, Warner Bros. Studios have become a hive of activity, housing studios, production houses, and offices for a huge range of entertainment companies. Warner Bros. itself is still the heart of the complex, and much of the production work is focused on television and streaming content. Shows such as ‘Big Bang Theory, ‘Riverdale’, and ‘Blindspot’ are all produced at the studios, among many others. Aside from TV and streaming, the studios are also used for film production and other events such as press junkets, award shows, and concerts. Some of the movies currently being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios include ‘The Goldfinch’, ‘The Lego Movie 2’, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, ‘And Teen Titans Go! To the Movies’, and ‘Shazam!’

Other Shows and Movies Currently Filming at WB

A few other shows that are being filmed at Warner Bros. include ‘The Flash’, ‘Supergirl’, ‘Arrow’, ‘Gotham’, and ‘Charmed’. The Harry Potter series is also filmed at the studio complex, with the ‘Fantastic Beasts series following suit. And of course, the studios have also been used to film movies such as The Hangover, The Goonies, and The Terminator.

Other Show/Movie Locations from WB

The town of Stars Hollow from ‘Gilmore Girls is the Warner Bros. backlot, the same set that was used for ‘Friends’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory. The spaceship from ‘Soylent Green’ was the Spruce Goose hangar at the same location. And some of the most famous movie scenes ever, such as the ‘Arriva’ sign from ‘The Sign of the Four’ and the ‘I Love New York’ graffiti were also shot at Warner Bros. But perhaps the most famous movie set in the history of Warner Bros. is the Bates Mansion from ‘Psycho’. Built in the 1980s, the Bates house was used to film the ‘Psycho’ prequel, ‘Bates Motel’. It was also the setting of the final scene in the movie ‘The Big Short.

WB Tours for Fans

If you’re a fan of the studios, you can take a tour that will take you behind the scenes in many of the most famous sets, including the Friends and the Harry Potter sets. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see some of your favorite TV or movie stars. One of the best times to visit the studios is during one of their live events, such as ‘The Big Bang Theory wrap party, or the annual Academy Awards ceremony. If you’re a fan of the ‘Harry Potter series, you can even sign up for a special interactive tour that takes you to the various sets where the movies were shot.

Wrapping Up

Warner Bros. Studios are undoubtedly one of the biggest and most influential studios in the world, and they have been at the heart of Hollywood entertainment for almost a century. The studios have been used to produce everything from the ‘Harry Potter series to the ‘Friends sitcom and everything in between.