President, Sylmar Studios
A 40-year veteran of the industry, Patrick Dempsey strategically anticipated the revitalization of L.A. production, a bet that paid off when Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled the state’s film and television tax incentive program in July 2025. Sylmar Studios was finalizing its 230,000-square-foot, six-stage production campus in the San Fernando Valley at the time, an opportune confluence he described in an interview with the Los Angeles Business as “an odd, perfect storm.”
Dempsey, whose career spans leadership roles at The Culver Studios, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and DreamWorks SKG, now oversees one of L.A.’s most technologically advanced purpose-built studios. He contrasts Sylmar’s infrastructure—which boasts 40 gigabytes of fiber, extensive network wiring, backup power, and advanced cybersecurity—with the region’s inventory of converted warehouses.
The studio’s operational philosophy is centered on partnership: Dempsey offers crews flexibility to use their own equipment. And while long-running television series are the steady clientele, he maintains an 85% occupancy sweet spot by filling interim gaps with commercials and music videos.
Sylmar’s position in the industry provides a crucial competitive advantage: located 15 minutes from Burbank, within the 30-mile zone, and benefits from a 5% tax incentive as a designated Opportunity Zone. This allows the studio to attract world-class productions seeking facilities outside the Hollywood premium. Looking ahead, Dempsey is also securing the industry’s talent pipeline by developing a film education program with Los Angeles Mission College.