# The Production Studio, Reimagined

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-production-studio-reimagined/
- Published: 2026-10-26T16:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T17:06:01+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/fields-studios-chicago-production-studio-reimagined-1236918208/
- Topics: Business, Entertainment, Film, Markets

## Key points

- Studios are broadening how they use their facilities.
- Chicago’s Fields Studios has nine soundstages.
- The Balloon Museum occupies five stages.

## Summary

Production studios are adapting to competition from overseas locations, new technology and expanding state incentives by making their facilities more flexible. The Fields Studios in Chicago illustrates this shift: it combines soundstages with space for events and other creative projects, aiming to keep its campus useful across changing production needs.

The 23-acre site has nine soundstages, more than 200,000 square feet of production and support space, a 1.5-acre backlot and 123 residential lofts, alongside retail and an on-site grocery store. The Balloon Museum is using five stages for a large-scale art experience, while the campus also hosted filming for the second season of “Dark Matter”; its leaders say adaptable facilities and hands-on support help attract productions.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.