Built to shoot anything.

Feature, documentary, or series — 1846 Studios brings the crew, the cameras, and a 20-acre studio lot to make principal photography run smoothly. Home base is Des Moines; the work goes wherever your project does.

  • On-Set Execution

    • Directing & performance management — talent guided with precision and care.
    • Cinematography — cinematic visuals from an experienced camera team.
    • Lighting & grip — for any look, any location.
    • Sound recording — clean, broadcast-quality production audio.
    • Production design, props & set builds — constructed on our own stages.
    • Wardrobe, makeup & hair — handled in house or with trusted department heads.
    • Motion control & process trailer — for specialty and driving work.
    • Multiple unit & specialty shooting — second units, drones, and specialty crews when the project calls for it.

  • Crew

    • Creative leadership — producers, directors, and screenwriters.
    • Assistant directing & unit production — keeping the day on track.
    • Camera department — operators, ACs, and DIT.
    • Lighting & grip department — with full rig support.
    • Sound department — for production audio.
    • Art department — design, props, and set dressing.
    • Wardrobe, hair & makeup — departments.
    • Post-production team — engaged from prep, so the pipeline is seamless.

    Crew scales to the project — every critical function covered by a qualified professional, from lean documentary units to fully specialized feature crews. A comprehensive department roster is available on request.

  • Cameras & Equipment

    • ARRI & RED cinema cameras — paired with premium lenses.
    • Pro-level lighting — HMIs, LEDs, and SkyPanels.
    • Grip & camera support — including stabilized rigs for any shot.
    • Motion control — for repeatable, precision moves.
    • Audio recording gear— top mics and recorders for broadcast-quality sound.
    • Fully equipped post suite — Premiere, Resolve, After Effects, and Pro Tools — connected to production from day one.

  • Stages & Studio Lot

    Priority access to a 20-acre production facility in the Des Moines metro, right off the interstate — three indoor halls plus adaptable outdoor grass and paved space for set builds and shoots, with ample on-site parking. A dedicated sound stage with cyc wall handles live performance and film scenes.

    • Hall One — 22,775 ft²
    • Hall Two — 46,235 ft²
    • Hall Three — 10,800 ft²
    • Sound stage with cyc wall— 1,000 ft²
    • Outdoor grass space — 41,500 ft²
    • Outdoor paved space — multiple areas equal to roughly 770 parking spots

  • Location: Des Moines, Iowa

    Des Moines sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-35, an easy flight from most major cities — the sound stage and audio studio are 10 minutes from the airport, the production lot 20 minutes west. It's a home base, not a boundary: if your project shoots elsewhere, our crew and expertise travel with it.

    • Production cost savings— an affordable, high-end look is the benefit of producing here.
    • Location range — downtown lights, rolling hills, rivers, historic and contemporary structures, all within easy reach.
    • Easy access — light traffic, room to park grip trucks and run full rigs almost anywhere.
    • Dependable crews & local knowledge — we know these roads and how to get the most out of a production.