A Reimagined Universal Studios Lot and Beyond with Jeff Stone, President & General Manager of Universal Studios Operations

September 19, 2024

Jeff Stone took over as President & General Manager of the Universal Studios Lot in 2023 overseeing studio facilities & infrastructure, stage and backlot operations, production services, post-production, archives and collections, technical and broadcast operations, special events and more. Jeff has been with Comcast NBCUniversal for more than 12 years, holding various leadership roles. 

We spoke to Jeff about the reinvention of the 100+ year Universal Studios Lot and NBCUniversal’s expansion across the United States and United Kingdom. 

Universal founder Carl Laemmle officially opened Universal’s Studio Lot in 1915, as a city dedicated to Hollywood movie production. Since then, the space has continued to be an epicenter for creativity and talent. More than a century later, what’s new on the Universal Studios Lot? 

It is a very exciting time to be on the Universal Studios Lot and at Studio Operations.  With the support of Brian Roberts and with our partnership with the NBCUniversal Global Real Estate team, we have opened two new buildings, the Employee Commons and the One Universal office building.  There are redesigned entry gates, a pedestrian friendly Paseo, green space, and more for our employees and clients to enjoy.  

In creating these spaces, we wanted to provide welcoming, creative, and collaborative environment coupled with the tools and technology for our employees, clients, and talent to work wherever they need to. The buildings design blurs the lines between the indoors and outdoors.  We have enjoyed seeing people bring their laptops to the shaded patios to work and meet with co-workers or enjoy their latte from the Common Coffee on premise. 

This expansion is another example of the deep investment in the Universal Studios Lot over the last decade, which has included adding 14 new sound stages, the state-of-the-art feature sound mixing facility, the Hitchcock Mixing Stage, major remodels of existing office buildings, and many other projects. All of these commitments continue to make the Universal lot a premiere creative destination that engages and inspires. 

How has the expansion of Universal Production Services evolved outside of the Universal Studios Lot?

To give you background, Universal Production Services provides essential equipment and services for feature, television, streaming, and commercial productions across the US and UK. Through this group, we have invested in production facilities and services in key production hubs in New York, Albuquerque, Chicago, and London. Just earlier this year, we opened Assembly Studios, a 22 sound stage studio lot in Atlanta with on-site production services such as Set Lighting & Grip, Transportation, Costume, and Sign & Fabrication.  We continue to invest in our studios to ensure that our internal and external production partners receive the best service and equipment to create the best content.

Can you talk to us about StudioPost and the world-class services we provide when it comes to post-production? 

Based on the Universal Lot, StudioPost provides world class post-production services for sound, picture, and Avids both on-lot and remotely.  We worked closely with our creative clients to build the most efficient and secure workflows that enable collaboration across the globe.  Our remote mixing and color reviews to make it easy for showrunners to make the creative decisions needed while fitting it into their packed schedules.  The team developed on-set dailies carts to speed dailies color correction and move the production along.  We want to be where our clients are making their work easier.

StudioPost continues to invest in new and upgraded sound and picture facilities to provide a inviting creative home for clients featuring award-winning creative talent, leading technology, and uncompromising security.

And because of the great team of professionals across all Studio Operations production and post services, we have developed a solutions-oriented reputation which also attracts external productions. 

As technology continues to evolve, how does NBCUniversal think about working in technology into our studio spaces? 

The technology side is key.  A couple years ago, we built the Virtual Production Stage, a ROE LED volume, that is a test lab for filmmakers to try out this new tech and understand how it can fit into their workflow.  It is a great facility for previsualization, car process shots, and promo shoots.  We also have our Cineo LED Lighting subsidiary, which is focused on high quality lighting products that move productions to be more sustainable and efficient.

As a leader, you have been based on the East Coast for most of your career before transitioning to this role in Los Angeles. What is one of the biggest benefits of working on the Universal Studios Lot? 

I have been very fortunate to have worked with amazing, smart, hard-working people across NBCUniversal and Comcast.  Los Angeles is no different.  We have great people in Studio Ops.  We have great partnerships both internally and externally.  And to echo a company saying—we are better together.  Though LA has better weather.