Emmy Nominated Producer Shawn Papazian to Oversee The Fields Studios in Chicago

Knickpoint Ventures today announced Shawn Papazian as its newest partner to oversee all studio-related endeavors, including The Fields Studios, Chicago’s first purpose-built film  studio ready for filming Q1 2024. Papazian has been involved with the design, development, operations  and management of motion picture and television studio facilities for over 25+ years. 

“Shawn’s vast credentials overseeing studio spaces along with his experience as producer make him a  uniquely qualified and ideal partner for Knickpoint Ventures,” said Zain Koita, Founder and Managing  Partner of Knickpoint Ventures. “Shawn is playing a vital role in the design and development of The  Fields Studios in Chicago and following last month’s topping-off ceremony, will continue to guide our  mission of ‘for producers, by producers’ as we combine our expertise in commercial real estate and  entertainment production.” 

The Fields Studios Set to Open in 2024

You might be asking, what are The Fields Studios? Announced earlier this Spring, The Fields Studios – the city’s first purpose-built and, to date, largest film production complex – will open in the first quarter of 2024. Owned and developed by real estate firm Knickpoint Ventures, the new campus occupies the site of the former warehouse and distribution center for the city’s legendary Marshall Field’s department store and its retailers across the U.S. It includes nine soundstages on two lots totaling 132,000 square feet of stage space and over 350,000 square feet of creative and production offices, plus mill and support space, on over 20 acres in Chicago’s Northwest Side. Click here for the full announcement in Variety.

Papazian’s Collaborators Include DiCaprio’s Appian Way

Papazian is an accomplished Emmy-nominated producer who has had a multi-picture producing deal  with Warner Bros. and Raw Feed. In addition, he developed and produced the feature films “Under the  Bed” and “Under the Bed 2” with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions and Ted Field’s Radar  Pictures, which were bought by A+E Studios. Papazian is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University’s  School of Film and Television and is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), Directors Guild  of America (DGA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA). 

“I was born and raised in the entertainment industry and bring a producer’s perspective to creating facilities that are specifically designed for a large-scale production to any smaller boutique project,” said Papazian. “As a partner, I will oversee all The Fields Studios entertainment activities to create a platform  for diverse storytelling that also fuels economic growth, fosters job opportunities and cultivates a  vibrant ecosystem that entertains and inspires.” 

Prior to joining Knickpoint, Papazian co-developed and was President and COO of Crimson Studios Group (CSG). He also co-designed and created the business plan for Studio1 located at One Culver, which is currently the home base for Apple Content and other major media tenants. In 2021, he was instrumental in bringing both Crimson Studios and Valencia Studios to an off-market deal to LPC West and GEM Realty Capital.

Papazian got his early start in the studio business at 20th Century Fox Television to run Ray Art Studios and soon after became Ray Art’s Vice President and General Manager. He moved  on to Sunset Gower Studios (SGS), where he worked with GI Partners in executing the development and  leasing strategies for the Technicolor HQ building as well as the executive oversight of the day-to-day  activities and redevelopment of the studio lot. Upon SGS’s sale to HPP, he became the vice president of the historic Culver Studios Lot owned by Lehman Brothers, which was eventually acquired by Hackman Capital Partners. While at Culver Studios, Papazian spearheaded and supervised the entitlements on the lot, which has now been developed into the Amazon Studios HQ. 

For more information about The Fields Studios, please click here to visit TheFieldsStudios.com.

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