Dallas Film News

Dallas' only major film & TV studio to get multimillion-dollar renovation

South Side Studios will get a major upgrade.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office

South Side Studios in Dallas will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation following its recent acquisition by Talon Entertainment Finance, according to release from the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office.

Located just south of downtown Dallas, South Side is the only large-scale film & TV production facility & studio in the city. The existing soundstage has recently hosted the filming of shows like The Chosen, Dallas, and Queen of the South, among others.

The renovation will include a thorough upgrade to the existing buildings, as well as the addition of LED wall technology. Talon Entertainment Finance, led by co-founder Steven Demmler, plans to construct five soundstages to replace the existing soundstage, ranging in size from 8,000 to 25,000 square feet.

The studio will be home to a state-of-the-art post-production facility, production offices, a mill, a prop house, camera packages, and G&E packages.

It will also feature two new virtual production studios, including a 270-degree wall and ceiling setup with complete tracking and robotic camera equipment.

"Developing a large-scale soundstage is vital for any community to be truly competitive in the entertainment industry," said Tony Armer, Commissioner for the Dallas Film and Creative Industries Office, in a statement. "It’s a credit to the film potential in Dallas that Talon recognized this and was willing to quickly commit to support this project."

The studios will also be eligible for an extra 2.5 percent incentive bump from a state incentive package of $200 million put into place by Texas lawmakers earlier this year. According to the release, this will make it one of the most economical locations to house productions in the state.

The Talon Entertainment Finance team will offer economical debt from their film fund to all productions that shoot in-house, in addition to the potential of discussing equity for the right projects.

Portions of the studio will be open during renovations, with the aim to open fully by May 2024.

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Uptown Dallas hotel debuts pet-friendly outdoor plaza near Katy Trail

Courtesy photo

Meet y'all on Y'all Plaza.

In time for patio weather, the Marriott Dallas Uptown hotel has unveiled a new outdoor space with a flexible design and a folksy name: Called Y’all Plaza, it's a 4,000-square-foot outdoor gathering place in Uptown Dallas, near the Katy Trail.

According to a release, the plaza is designed to be an alternative to traditional indoor meeting rooms, with an open-air layout intended to accommodate a variety of uses including networking events, wellness programming, and community gatherings. Hotel personnel say they're aiming to encourage movement and interaction in a more casual environment.

But it's not just for hotel guests.

“At our core, we are in the business of creating memorable experiences, and Y’all Plaza is an extension of that commitment,” says Robbie Tawil, general manager of Marriott Dallas Uptown, in the release. “We are proud to open this space to our guests and the community after years of thoughtful planning. We envision it as a vibrant setting for events, connection, and celebration, and we’re excited to see how people make it their own.”

The space is also pet-friendly, and within dog-walking distance of the popular Katy Trail.

“Y’all Plaza was designed with flexibility in mind, allowing us to host everything from corporate meetings and client receptions to weddings and wellness programming,” says Hannah Finger, director of sales at Marriott Dallas Uptown. “It gives groups a unique alternative to traditional event spaces, with the ability to create more engaging, customized experiences for their guests.”

Developers say the plaza will function as a community-oriented space within a dense, walkable district.

“Our intent is to create a vibrant outdoor community gathering space in what has become the core of Uptown," says Matt Segrest, president of Alamo Manhattan. "We hope that our hotel guests relish this unique amenity and that our neighbors embrace the plaza as their own. Great neighborhoods have great public spaces and we hope this is a worthy contribution.”

The plaza will offer regular programming and is available for public bookings. For more information, upcoming programming, or booking inquiries, visit the website or email dalmu.sales@marriott.com.

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