CULVER CITY — West Los Angeles College unveiled the final piece of a project nearly two decades in the making: a new sign reading Diane E. Watson Center mounted on the college’s 16,000-square-foot soundstage training facility.
Former U.S. Rep. Diane E. Watson joined Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Alberto J. Román, West L.A. College President James M. Limbaugh and other guests to mark the occasion.
Although the center officially opened in 2022, the newly installed signage formally honors Watson’s legacy and her pivotal role in launching the project.
“In 2008, two years before she retired, Congresswoman Watson went to bat for West — and in a big way — securing two grants totaling $2.5 million to fund job training in entertainment industry trades,” said Limbaugh when the center opened. “This not only helped institutionalize the Hollywood CPR program on our campus, it was also the seed money — along with voter-approved bond funds — that made this amazing facility possible.”
At the time, Watson served as chair of the Congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus.
“Looking at this facility — this professional-level soundstage and trade shops — seeing the diverse student body and hearing all the positive reports about the program and alumni success moves me,” Watson said. “I am honored to have contributed to the program’s success and to have this center bear my name.”
Prior to the opening of the Watson Center, the Film/TV Production program shared space with the Aviation Technology program. With a facility designed specifically for their needs, the program can now serve larger cohorts of students and expand offerings to new programs including virtual production and game design.
Led by experienced union professionals, the program continues to prepare students for “below-the-line” careers such as grips, assistant set dressers, and camera operators and more.
