A camera-ready Los Angeles home that has quietly earned more than $1.5 million as a backdrop for major commercial productions has hit the market for $3.245 million — along with the unusual deal responsible for those returns.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom Woodland Hills property known as the Rum Punch House has hosted 173 productions as of 2021, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Walmart, Target, T-Mobile, Verizon, Instagram and Lowe’s, which have used the location.
Although the property averages about $258,000 in annual filming revenue, filming typically only takes place 25 to 40 days a year, according to information provided about the property.
Now the residence – and the infrastructure that helped make it a desirable filming location in Los Angeles – is being offered for $3,245,000 to a new owner, represented by Renee Leflore by Douglas Elliman.
The approximately 4,675 square foot site is located at 6101 Shoup Ave. behind gates on a plot of nearly 28,000 square meters, or about 0.65 hectares.
The house was completely redesigned in 2019 by its owners, the photographer and the commercial manager Rob Deutschman and his wife, stylist Sybile Kohn-Deutschmanwho approached the project with the needs of the manufacturing industry in mind.
The couple had been in the industry for decades before converting their home into a manufacturing facility.
“Sybile and I have been working in various areas of manufacturing for over 30 years,” Rob tells Realtor.com®. “I was a fashion and advertising photographer and commercial manager, and when I met Sybile she was a wardrobe stylist.”
Their partnership eventually blossomed into what he describes as a “very successful creative team.” The two traveled the world to shoot for major brands – an experience that gave them first-hand knowledge of what production teams need on location.
“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 ticks all those boxes.”
But the couple didn’t simply design the residence based on what they thought production companies would like.
“We were able to go in and add all the things we love and make it our home,” he says. “It turns out what we love, and that goes for the world of advertising too.”
Instead of giving the entire property a consistent aesthetic, the pair created a collection of rooms with different looks and moods, allowing production teams to capture different environments without leaving the property.
Exposed wooden beams, handcrafted furniture, faux tiles and a Caribbean-inspired color palette are among the design elements found throughout the interiors.
“Sybile grew up in too many places to list, but the Caribbean had a huge influence on her style choices,” explains Rob. “Color and island comfort are her favorites. I’ve spent much of my career photographing fashion on islands. We incorporated that aesthetic into the design of the property.”
At the same time, they ensured that the interiors could be rearranged depending on the needs of a particular shoot.
“We deliberately created a space that can be used in a variety of ways,” he says. “Leave it as it is – tropical. Change the interior and it can be Central America.”
But for Rob, two of the property’s most valuable assets can’t necessarily be swapped for the furniture.
“The most important thing about the house is that it has great light and great architecture,” he adds. “For me as commercial manager, this is a dream.”
This approach allowed spaces to be modified for everything from smaller setups to larger commercial campaigns.
And while Rob shied away from naming individual brands or projects filmed at the residence, there is one particularly unusual commercial that has stuck with him.
“In this industry, it’s best not to talk about who shot, how often and what was shot on the property,” he says. “Still, there is one that stands out.”
The commercial, which was created for a car company, focuses on a couple who pick up a stray sheep and take it home as a new pet.
“They walk him like a dog, bathe him, he drinks from the toilet, and while they’re away the sheep tears the whole house apart,” Rob remembers. “It was just great.”
During production, one of the house’s more luxurious features was even adopted by the four-legged star.
“It was interesting to have a sheep in our Italian stone bathtub and take a bubble bath,” he says. “Everything worked out perfectly.”
Aside from its production qualities, the complex offers numerous features designed for everyday use.
A resort-inspired swimming pool is surrounded by landscaped gardens, while separate structures and rooms include a meditation room and an art studio, as well as a woodworking workshop.
An upstairs retreat features a private bedroom, loft and kitchenette, creating a separate area that can be used by guests or extended family or as a workspace.
The master suite offers direct access to a private Zen garden. The spa-style bathroom features custom tile and a brass rainfall showerhead.
Appliances in the kitchen include a professional Viking range and a built-in four-door refrigerator, complemented by custom cabinetry.
The property is also equipped with Sonos audio and a security camera system.
For production teams, the appeal of the house goes beyond what is seen on camera.
Adjacent properties have historically provided parking for more than 80 crew vehicles, the listing shows, with crews able to enter the yard through a rear gate.
Perhaps the most unusual part of the $3,245,000 offer, however, is the established film business that comes with it.
The sale includes a database of more than 900 industry contacts, an existing website and professional photography, as well as the property’s established relationships within the location industry.
The Rum Punch House is also represented by major location agencies and has generated repeat business and recommendations over its years as a filming location.
And although the owners have already made significant revenue from the business, Rob believes there is room for a future buyer who can grow the business even further.
“The potential is there,” he says. “We have narrowed our selection of projects and left out part of the market such as feature films, reality shows, television series and music videos.”
According to Rob, opening up the site to these productions could provide an additional source of income for filming.
“These categories generate a lot of potential income,” he says. “For us, we found the balance by limiting ourselves primarily to commercials and print advertising.”
According to information provided about the property, filming does not involve overnight stays and is typically completed early to late evening, allowing the owners to operate the location business and continue to use the property as a residence.
In the six years since its remodel, the house has also developed its own identity within the Los Angeles manufacturing community, operating under the name Rum Punch House and maintaining its own website and social media presence.
This means that the next owner will not only be offered a five-bedroom Los Angeles property with a pool and expansive grounds, but they will also receive the business and industry network that the current owners have spent years building.
Leflore believes the unusual combination is exactly what sets the property apart in the Los Angeles market.
“The Rum Punch House in Woodland Hills is a remarkably desirable home because it perfectly bridges the gap between a luxury estate and a highly lucrative, income-generating manufacturing ecosystem,” she tells Realtor.com.
“It’s dynamic properties like this that keep the Los Angeles market strong despite difficult times and high interest rates,” Leflore added.
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