The best house to rent for filming in Los Angeles is one that gives you several looks on one address, sits close to crew and airports, and has an owner who has been on set before. A single storybook exterior plus a resort-style backyard can replace two or three separate location bookings, and that is exactly what we offer at The Enchanted Manor in Valley Village.
What producers and photographers actually need from a filming house
Before you fall in love with a photo, run the practical checklist. Most scouting disappointments come from logistics, not looks. Ask these questions of every house on your shortlist:
- Variety on one lot. Does the property give you an exterior, a garden, a water feature and interiors without a company move?
- Access and parking. Can trucks and cars get in and out, and is there a quiet street for unloading?
- Noise. Flight paths, freeways and leaf blowers can ruin a day of sound. A cul-de-sac helps.
- Support space. Is there somewhere for hair and make-up, and somewhere to store equipment out of the shot?
- The host. Someone who understands crews makes the day easier than a property manager reading from a form.
Ask for the house rules in writing, including start and finish times, where cables may run, and what happens near the water. Surprises on shoot day cost real money, and a good owner will answer all of this before you commit.
Why the look matters as much as the logistics
Los Angeles has no shortage of modern glass boxes and mid-century ranches. What is harder to find is a place that reads as a different world on camera: a fairy-tale cottage front, a tropical pool, a stone fireplace at night. When a script calls for "somewhere that doesn't look like the usual LA," a storybook property is a safer bet than dressing a blank house with props.
Think about time of day too. Late sun through tall trees gives a warm, golden exterior, while after dark a property with lights built into the landscape can look completely different from the same angle at noon. Ask the owner what the place looks like at night, and ask to scout at the hour you plan to shoot.
The storybook front: brick path, stone archway, arched doors
The front of the manor is the first thing most scouts ask about. A brick path winds through the gardens to a stone archway and large arched wooden doors, with lanterns along the way and stone cottages beside the lawn. It reads as a cottage in an English village, a fairy-tale home or a quiet period setting depending on how you light and dress it.
The front lawns can be seen from the cul-de-sac, which gives you a wide establishing shot without needing to move the camera far. If you are shooting a lifestyle campaign, a portrait session or a narrative scene that begins at a front door, this is the frame producers tend to remember.
The resort backyard: lagoon pool, waterfalls and a gazebo bar
Behind the house is a very different look. The grounds cover more than 18,000 square feet and include a saltwater lagoon-style grotto pool with three waterfalls, a raised Jacuzzi, a thatched gazebo bar with a refrigerator, sink and barbecue, a lava-rock fire pit, and an outdoor fireplace on a private patio with plush couches. The pool and spa can be lit in nine colours, which is useful for music videos, product launches and anything that needs a mood change without a change of location.
Fairy lights are strung through the trees, which one guest described as walking in dappled moonlight. For night work that is a head start on the lighting plan, although you will still bring your own kit for anything technical.
Interiors, make-up room and storage
A location is only useful if the crew can work from it. The manor has a make-up room and space for equipment storage, so talent and gear do not have to live in vans. The Inn side of the property includes a living room with a fireplace and vaulted ceiling, a full kitchen and an octagonal breakfast room with French windows on every side, and the Great Room with its stone fireplace adds another 1,000 square feet.
Tell the owner exactly which rooms you need and which you do not, so everyone agrees on the footprint before the day. The same goes for the children's playhouse, a mini version of the main house with its own fireplace, which some productions find charming and others simply want kept out of frame.
Who has already shot here
Productions that have filmed at the manor 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. That mix matters to a scout because it shows the property has handled television crews, commercial shoots and small online teams alike. You can see more on our production location page.
The owner, Georgia Durante, spent more than thirty years as a precision and stunt driver, so she knows how a set runs and what a crew needs from a host. She also lives on the property, which means there is a real person to call, not a lockbox and a form.
Getting here: location and logistics
We are at 5235 Goodland Avenue in Valley Village, on a quiet cul-de-sac minutes from the 101 and 405, and easy from both Burbank and LAX airports. There is parking for twelve to fifteen cars on the cul-de-sac plus open street parking, and the LA River runs behind the house. Universal Studios Hollywood is 4.9 miles away and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is 7.4 miles, so you are in the middle of the industry without being in the middle of the noise.
For out-of-town producers, there is a second way to use the place. The Inn is available as a vacation rental, so a small team can stay on the property the night before a shoot. Rental terms are separate from production terms, so ask us about both when you enquire.
How to scout the manor and what to ask us
If you are comparing houses, our other scouting guides may help. Read Film Location Rental Los Angeles: A Producer's Scout Guide for the general process, Rent Filming Locations Los Angeles: A Scout's Guide for a deeper checklist, and Outdoor Music Video Locations in Los Angeles if your project is a video.
When you contact us, tell us what you are shooting, the number of crew and talent, the days you have in mind, and which parts of the property you want to use. We will confirm availability and walk you through the terms.
Enquire about filming at the manor
If you are looking for a house to rent for filming in Los Angeles and want a storybook front, a resort backyard and a host who has been on set, we would love to show you around. Call or text (213) 999-3050, email stuntlady@me.com, or see photos on Instagram at @realenchantedmanor. We also host private celebrations and parties on the same grounds, so ask about events at the manor if your project has a wrap party.
Frequently asked questions
Can I film at The Enchanted Manor?
Yes. Productions including Lifetime's "William & Kate", Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset", Jay Leno, Funny or Die, a Buick commercial, music videos and web series have shot here. Contact us with your dates and crew size.
Is there somewhere for hair, make-up and equipment?
Yes. The manor has a make-up room and equipment storage, so talent and gear do not need to stay in vehicles.
Where is the manor located?
At 5235 Goodland Avenue in Valley Village, on a quiet cul-de-sac minutes from the 101 and 405. Universal Studios Hollywood is 4.9 miles away.
Is there parking for a crew?
There is parking for 12 to 15 cars on the cul-de-sac plus open street parking.
Can my crew stay on the property?
The Inn is available as a vacation rental, so a small team can stay on site. Rental terms are separate from production terms, so ask when you enquire.
