Raleigh Studios

Raleigh Studios is building a new studio complex, but you won't be able to get there on the 101. The Hollywood-based company, the largest independent studio operator in the U.S., runs studios in Hollywood, Manhattan Beach and Louisiana, and now is expanding in a big way into Eastern Europe. The company is set to open nine sound stages totaling 180,907 square feet on the outskirts of Budapest, Hungary, this spring to take advantage of the country's low-cost labor and film tax credits.

In welcome news for the sluggish local film production economy, Marvel Studios has reached an agreement to film four of its superhero movies at Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach. Marvel said it would shoot the sequel to its hit film "Iron Man" at Raleigh, in addition to "Thor," "First Avenger: Captain America" and "The Avengers." Those films are set for release in 2010 and 2011 and will be distributed through Paramount Pictures.

"Peace, It's All About Respect!!," a play dealing with racism, sexism and violence, will be performed at noon today at Raleigh Studios, 5500 Melrose Ave. Admission is free. The play, which has been touring Los Angeles County for a little over a year, is directed by Deirdre M. Smith. Information: (310) 358-9089.

Independent film, TV and commercial studio Raleigh Studios signed a five-year agreement to manage the new Manhattan Beach Studios being built in the South Bay by a group led by Roy E. Disney's Shamrock Holdings. The 14-stage lot, being built to satisfy the growing demand for sound stages, is anchored by 20th Century Fox and will be home to "Ally McBeal" and other shows.

The Scene: Monday's premiere of Miramax's "54." The tale of Manhattan's late-'70s hothouse of hedonism--the Studio 54 disco--screened at Mann's Chinese theater.

A group of downtown developers is trying to achieve what many real estate professionals consider near impossible: putting downtown on the map of the entertainment industry. The developers, a group comprising Smith, Hricik and Munselle of Los Angeles, Hollywood Location Co. and Bristol Group Inc. of San Francisco, are opening six new sound stages this week on the campus of the former Unocal headquarters building at 5th and Bixel streets.