A great film location rental in Los Angeles gives you the look you need, control of the space, room for your crew and gear, and a host who understands production days. The city has thousands of rentable homes and estates, so the real work is matching the location to your shot list and your logistics. Here is how we would scout it, and where our storybook estate in Valley Village fits.
What to look for in an LA film location
Whether you are a producer on a commercial, a director on a music video or a photographer planning a campaign, the same questions sort the shortlist quickly:
- The look, from more than one angle. A single beautiful wall is a photo spot, not a location. Look for places that give you several distinct setups, so a company move can happen on foot instead of in a truck.
- Exteriors and interiors on one property. Being able to shoot a front door, a garden and an interior on the same day saves a full day of scheduling.
- Light control. Check where the sun moves through the day, where you can tent or flag, and whether there is practical lighting you can use at night.
- Space for the crew. Holding areas, a make-up room and a secure place to store equipment matter as much as what is in frame.
- Parking and access. Ask how many vehicles fit, where trucks can stage, and how close the load-in is to the set.
- Sound. Freeway hum, flight paths, neighbours and landscaping crews can all cost you takes. Visit at the time of day you plan to shoot.
- A host who lives the schedule. An owner who has had crews on the property before knows what a call time and a wrap actually mean.
Permits, insurance and the paperwork
Most commercial filming on private property inside the City of Los Angeles, and in many surrounding areas, requires a film permit, which is handled by FilmLA, the region's film permit office. Your production should also carry liability insurance and expect the location to ask for a certificate naming the owner. Build these steps into your prep timeline, not your shoot week. Before you sign, confirm in writing:
- Hours of access, including prep and strike time
- Exactly which rooms and areas are included and which are off limits
- Parking, staging and where the crew can eat and hold
- Rules for power, rigging and protecting floors and landscaping
- Night shooting and noise limits for the neighbourhood
Popular looks producers scout for in Los Angeles
LA can double for almost anywhere, which is why so much is shot here. The looks we hear requested most often include:
- European or fairy-tale cottage. Stone, arched doors, brick paths and old trees, hard to find in a city of stucco.
- Resort or tropical backyard. Water features, palms and lush planting for lifestyle, beauty and music content.
- Cozy, characterful interiors. Fireplaces, wood panelling, beams and window light for narrative scenes and product stories.
- Night exteriors with built-in glow. Locations with their own practical lighting reduce the lighting package.
If music videos are your focus, our outdoor music video locations scout guide goes deeper on that brief.
Scouting day: a quick checklist
When you walk a location, bring the people who will live with the decision: the director or photographer, the DP or gaffer, and whoever is running production. A short, disciplined scout saves hours on the day. Here is what we see experienced crews check when they visit us:
- Walk the shot list in order. Stand where each setup will be and look at the background in every direction, including what is behind camera for reverse angles.
- Note the sun. Use a sun-tracking app to see where the light will be at your call time and at golden hour, and which areas fall into shade under the trees.
- Find power and load-in. Identify where cable can run safely, where carts can roll, and the shortest path from the trucks to set.
- Listen. Stand still for a minute in each area and listen for traffic, aircraft and water features you may want switched off between takes.
- Plan holding and hair and make-up. Decide where talent waits, where wardrobe changes and where the crew eats, so set stays clear.
- Agree the house rules. Walk the off-limits areas with the owner and agree on floor protection and how furniture will be moved and returned.
- Take reference photos. Photograph every room and garden area as you find it, so the art department can reset everything exactly at wrap.
The Enchanted Manor as a production location
The Enchanted Manor is a private estate in Valley Village, in the San Fernando Valley, on a quiet cul-de-sac minutes from the 101 and 405 freeways and easy from Burbank airport. Its owner, Georgia Durante, spent more than 30 years as a precision and stunt driver with the Performance Two Driving Team, so she knows production from the inside. She spent 25 years remodelling her home into the manor and lives on the property.
Productions that have shot here include Lifetime's "William & Kate", Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset", Jay Leno, Funny or Die, a Buick commercial, music videos, web series and cosmetic launches. There is a make-up room and equipment storage on site.
Storybook exteriors
The front of the manor reads like a European cottage: a brick path through the gardens, a stone archway, stone cottages, lanterns and large arched wooden doors. Lawns sit beneath tall sycamores, which give soft, broken light during the day.
A resort backyard
More than 18,000 square feet of grounds hold a saltwater lagoon-style grotto pool with three waterfalls, a raised Jacuzzi, a thatched gazebo bar, palapas, a tri-level deck, a lava-rock fire pit and a private patio with an outdoor fireplace. Guests often tell us it does not feel like the city; as Andrew W. put it, "It was hard to believe it was actually Los Angeles."
Night looks without a big lighting package
The pool and spa can be lit in nine colours, and the trees are strung with fairy lights. After dark the garden turns blue, violet, green or gold, which gives you finished-looking night exteriors with practical sources already in place.
Characterful interiors
Inside, the Great Room has a stone fireplace, beamed ceiling, wood panelling and French windows. The Inn has a vaulted wood ceiling, a fireplace living room and an octagonal breakfast room with French windows on every side and two skylights, a natural soft box for daytime scenes. There is even a Secret Room, a finished attic behind a bookcase.
Logistics at the manor
- Address: 5235 Goodland Avenue, Valley Village, CA 91607.
- Parking: room for 12 to 15 vehicles on the cul-de-sac, plus open street parking.
- Crew support: make-up room and equipment storage.
- Nearby: 4.9 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood and 7.4 miles from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, so the studio side of the Valley is close by.
- Stay on site: talent or out-of-town crew can stay at the Inn, our vacation rental on the property.
The manor is also a private event venue for up to 100 guests, so it is used to wrap parties, launches and screenings as well as shoots. Our events page has the details.
Book a scout
If the manor matches your look, the best next step is a scout. See photos and production details on our production location page, follow the property on Instagram at @realenchantedmanor, or call or text Georgia at (213) 999-3050 with your dates, crew size and shot list. We will tell you straight away whether we are the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
What has been filmed at The Enchanted Manor?
Lifetime's "William & Kate", Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset", Jay Leno, Funny or Die, a Buick commercial, music videos, web series and cosmetic launches have all shot at the manor.
Where is the manor and how close is it to the studios?
It is at 5235 Goodland Avenue in Valley Village, minutes from the 101 and 405, 4.9 miles from Universal Studios Hollywood and 7.4 miles from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
How much parking is there for a crew?
The cul-de-sac has parking for 12 to 15 vehicles, plus open street parking.
Is there space for hair, make-up and gear?
Yes. The manor has a make-up room and equipment storage on site.
Do I need a permit to film at a private home in Los Angeles?
Most commercial productions on private property in the City of Los Angeles need a film permit, issued through FilmLA. Plan for permits and production insurance in your prep timeline.
