Amazon moves to iconic Culver Studios

Amazon Studios is relocating from its Santa Monica base to the iconic Culver Studios.

The move means Amazon will work out of the famous ‘Gone with the Wind’ mansion, where a number of classic movies have been shot.

Amazon Studios, online movie repository IMDb, Amazon Video and the firm’s worldwide advertising divisions will move to the 280,000sq ft space, which includes The Culver Studios Mansion and Bungalows.

Amazon said the move would create new jobs in the creative, technical, marketing and legal divisions.

“We are very excited about being a part of 100 years of movie and TV history at The Culver Studios,” said Albert Cheng, interim head of Amazon Studios. “Most importantly, this new LA-based office will give us the much needed space for our team to work and grow so we can keep bringing Prime Members the very best in series and movies.”

Earlier this year, rumours Apple would look to base its new video production efforts at Culver Studios spiked after the tech giant hired former Sony Pictures Television presidents Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht.

Culver Studios, currently owned by Hackman Capital Partners, is based just a mile down Culver Blvd from Sony Pictures Entertainment’s campus in Culver City.

Netflix last year relocated to an expanded spot in the Hollywood Hills, and this is the latest example of the growing power of the SVOD players on the Hollywood entertainment business.

The positive PR from moving to an iconic LA address will be welcome at Amazon Studios, which has seen four of its key video executives exit this month.

Former Amazon Studios head Roy Price was first to go after he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior towards a producer, with Joe Lewis, Morgan Wandell and Conrad Riggs all following for various reasons.

Amazon staff will be in their new digs by year-end.