A backlot on the Radford Studio Center in Los Angeles is built to look like New York City. Seinfeld shot here in the 1990s.
Eilish M. Nobes/Radford Studio Center
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Eilish M. Nobes/Radford Studio Center
On a Hollywood backlot in Los Angeles, you can find a replica New York City street — complete with a diner, a newsstand, brownstones, a bodega and a subway entrance.
It’s part of the Radford Studio Center, a sprawling production hub in Studio City. In 1928, silent film actor and director Mack Sennett built the studio on what was once a lettuce ranch. Classic TV shows Gunsmoke, Gilligan’s Island and The Mary Tyler Moore Show were all made here. So was the hit 1990s TV show Seinfeld.
“This stage has a ton of positive juju,” says Zach Sokoloff from Radford’s soundstage nine, where Seinfeld taped. Sokoloff is senior vice president at Hackman Capital Partners, which manages Radford Studio Center and studios around the world.
Riding in a studio golf cart to the backlot, Sokoloff points out the spot where the show’s famous episode “The Soup Nazi” was made.
The lot is full of recognizable Seinfeld spots: “Up there, you’ve got the balcony where Jerry threw the marbled rye,” he says.
Sokoloff explains that the studio built this backlot for Seinfeld in 1994, after a massive 6.7 magnitude earthquake rocked Los Angeles and destroyed much of the set.
“There was trepidation about remaining in LA, so we decided to bring New York to the production, as opposed to having the production go to New York,” he says.
Building a replica New York City is what it took to convince Seinfeld to stay in California, says Sokoloff.
Keeping film and TV productions in the area, or even in the country, has become increasingly difficult as the industry has shifted to other locations.
This issue gained national attention when President Trump announced on Truth Social that he would impose a 100% tariff on movies made outside the U.S. This proclamation, influenced by Hollywood “special ambassadors” Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone, sparked conversations about the decline of TV and movie-making in the United States.
FilmLA reports that production has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions, leading to increased competition for projects. Many states and countries offer financial incentives for productions, creating a global competition for entertainment jobs.
Even within the U.S., states are competing for production opportunities. New York recently increased its production incentives budget, while New Jersey’s tax credits attracted Netflix to build new facilities in the state. This competition highlights the economic benefits of hosting film and TV productions in a particular area. The military installation located at Fort Monmouth. Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO and president Ravi Ahuja emphasized the importance of supporting California’s film industry. “While it’s true a lot of production has left the United States, it’s even worse for California,” he stated during a panel discussion. Ahuja and other studio executives expressed their preference for filming in Los Angeles but also highlighted the need to have the flexibility to shoot on location worldwide.
To address this issue, California Governor Gavin Newsom has been advocating for an expansion of the state’s tax credit program. Two bills currently in the state legislature aim to broaden the scope of productions eligible for tax credits.
In response to President Trump’s proposal of movie tariffs and criticism towards Newsom for job losses in Hollywood, the Governor defended California’s existing programs and proposed incentive increases. He even offered to collaborate with the administration on a $7.5 billion federal tax credit plan to strengthen domestic production. “America continues to be a film powerhouse, and California is committed to attracting more production to the state. We are eager to work with the Trump administration to bolster domestic production and ‘Make America Film Again’,” Newsom stated.
Despite the renewed focus on retaining production within the country, industry leaders in California believe that more support is needed for the state’s program. Pamala Buzick Kim, co-founder of the grassroots group Stay in LA, emphasized the importance of enhancing incentives to keep production local. “A lot of people outside of LA think that when you say Hollywood, everyone’s rich. I wish that that was the case. 99% of us who are in production really are your everyday working class folks,” Kim explained.
Kim acknowledged that Trump’s movie tariff proposal caused confusion in the industry and international market but also recognized the positive aspect of gaining national attention. She stressed the significance of preserving Los Angeles’ legacy as a hub for the film industry and its valuable contribution to the economy.
“We have generations of people in this business who are the best of the best. We need to protect that,” Kim concluded.
