Cinespace: The Center of Chicago's Film Industry

Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, soon to be the largest independent film studio in the country, after expansion is completed in Little Village, is where some of the most exciting programs on television are produced.  What began with the former Ryerson Steel plant and just one building, is now a one and a half million square-foot development with 32 sound stages and related television and film production businesses and nonprofits. 

After having lost almost everything in the real estate market in 2007, Alex Pissios never imagined that a conversation with a distant relative during a family event would change the course of his life. That conversation not only changed the life of Pissios, but it also led to the creation of more than 15,000 jobs and has put Chicago back on the map in the film industry.  Remebered lovingly by everyone at Cinespace as “Uncle Nick,” Nick Mirkopoulos, who started Cinespace in Toronto 20 years ago, worked with Pissios to establish Cinespace Chicago Film Studios in 2011 in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. 

Television Productions such asChicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Empire, Lovecraft, Shameless, and more call Cinespace Chicago home base. As the film and television industry change to keep up with content demand for streaming services, new productions from Amazon Studios Netflix and other Independent films are working on Productions, pilots, and more right here in Chicago. In fact, Cinespace continues to expand and even has plans to build streetscapes similar to those on the film Lots in Hollywood. Productions will have the ability to move from a Chinatown setting to the streets of London without ever having to leave Chicago. 

With the number of productions now being filmed in Chicago; DePaul’s Film School, which resides on the Cinespace campus; along with Stage 18 Chicago, a film and media production incubator for burgeoning talent in Chicago; as well as CineCares, a Pissios Family Foundation that provides internships in the film industry for youth who live in the community; creative professionals, film writers, producers, actors and others with Hollywood dreams can have a fulfilling career right here in Chicago!