A Los Angeles home that has hosted 173 commercial productions since 2021 has been listed for $3.245 million, along with the filming business built around the property. The Woodland Hills residence, known as the Rum Punch House, has earned more than $1.5 million from filming and typically hosts productions for only 25 to 40 days a year.The five-bedroom, four-bathroom property has been used by major companies including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Walmart, Target, T-Mobile, Verizon, Instagram and Lowe’s. Acccording to Realtor, the home’s filming activity has generated an average of about $258,000 a year.The property at 6101 Shoup Ave. covers about 4,675 square feet and sits behind gates on a nearly 28,000-square-foot lot, or around 0.65 acre. The sale is being represented by Renee Leflore of Douglas Elliman and includes not just the house, but also the infrastructure and business connected to its use as a filming location.The home was completely redesigned in 2019 by its owners, photographer and commercial director Rob Deutschman and his wife, stylist Sybile Kohn-Deutschman. The couple had already spent more than three decades working in the production industry before turning their own home into a location for shoots.
How the home became a filming location
Deutschman said his experience in the industry helped the couple understand what production teams look for when choosing a location.“Sybile and I have been involved in various aspects of production for 30-plus years,” Rob tells Realtor. “I as a fashion and advertising photographer and commercial director, and when I met Sybile, she was a wardrobe stylist.”The couple later worked together as a creative team and travelled around the world for shoots involving major brands. That experience gave them an understanding of the practical requirements of commercial productions.“It’s much more than just the house,” he explains. “It’s the right neighborhood, parking for production, a very secluded and private property. This house checked all those boxes.”When they redesigned the property, however, the couple did not create it only for production companies. They also wanted it to remain their home.“We were able to go in and add all the things that we love and make it our home,” he says. “Turns out what we love, so does the world of advertising.”The redesign gave different parts of the house different looks and moods. This allows production teams to create different settings without having to move to another property.The interiors feature exposed wooden beams, handcrafted furnishings, artisan tile and a Caribbean-inspired colour palette. Sybile’s design choices were influenced by her connection with the Caribbean, while Rob had also spent part of his career shooting fashion on islands.“Sybile grew up in too many places to list, but the Caribbean had a major impact on her style choices,” Rob explains. “Color and island comfort are her go-to. I spent a good part of my career on islands shooting fashion. We carried that aesthetic into the design of the property.”
The interiors feature exposed wooden beams, handcrafted furnishings, artisan tile and a Caribbean-inspired colour palette
Designed to change for different shoots
The owners also made sure the interiors could be changed depending on what a production required. “We intentionally created a space that can be used in many different ways,” he says. “Leave it as is- tropical. Change out the interior, and it can be middle America.”“The main thing about the house is it has great light and architecture,” he adds. “As a commercial director, to me, it is a dream.”The property has hosted everything from smaller setups to larger commercial campaigns. Deutschman said he generally does not discuss which brands or projects have used the house.“In this industry, it is best not to talk about who, how often, and what was shot at the property,” he says. “Having said that, there is one that stands out.”One commercial was made for a car company and featured a couple who brought a stray sheep home as a pet. The animal was shown being treated like a dog, including being taken for a walk and given a bath, before causing damage around the house.“Like a dog, they take it for a walk, give it a bath, it drinks from the toilet, and while they are gone, the sheep tears up the entire house,” Rob recalls. “It was just great.”The production used the home’s Italian stone bathtub. “Having a sheep in our Italian stone bathtub getting a bubble bath was interesting,” he says. “All went perfectly.”
What the $3.245 million sale includes
Away from filming, the property has several features for everyday use. A swimming pool is surrounded by landscaped gardens, while other spaces include a meditation room, an art studio and a woodworking workshop.An upstairs retreat has a bedroom, loft and kitchenette. The space can be used by guests, extended family or as a workspace.The primary suite has direct access to a private zen garden. Its spa-style bathroom includes custom tilework and a brass rain showerhead. The kitchen has a professional-grade Viking range, a built-in four-door refrigerator and custom cabinetry. The property also has Sonos audio and a security camera system.Its location facilities have also been designed with production crews in mind. Neighbouring properties have historically provided parking for more than 80 crew vehicles, while crews can enter the yard through a rear gate.The sale also includes the established filming operation. This covers a database with more than 900 industry contacts, an existing website, professional photography and relationships built within the location industry.The Rum Punch House is represented by major location agencies and has received repeat business and referrals during its years as a filming destination.
The redesign gave different parts of the house different looks and moods. This allows production teams to create different settings
Owners see room for more filming work
Deutschman believes a future owner could expand the business because the property has not been opened to every type of production.“The potential is there,” he says. “We limited our choices of projects and left out a part of the market such as feature films, reality shows, TV series, and music videos.”He said these categories could provide another source of filming revenue. “These categories generate a lot of potential income,” he says. “For us, we found the balance in sticking mainly to commercials and print advertising.”According to information provided about the property, filming does not involve overnight stays and shoots generally finish by early to mid-evening. This has allowed the owners to continue living at the property while operating the filming business.The property has operated under the Rum Punch House name for six years since its redesign. It also has its own website and social media presence.For Leflore, the combination of a private Los Angeles home and an established production business is what makes the property unusual.“The Rum Punch House in Woodland Hills is a remarkably desirable house because it perfectly bridges the gap between a luxurious compound and a highly lucrative income-generating production ecosystem,” she says.
