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Where Media Companies Are Sending Creators: Vice, WME & the New Travel Production Hubs

sscenery

2026-02-02

11 min read

Where media companies are investing in production hubs and how creators can find residencies, funding, and collaboration in cities primed for travel content.

Hook: Tired of chasing scattered opportunities for travel shoots? Here’s where the money and residencies are moving in 2026.

Creators and travel storytellers face a familiar squeeze: great ideas but few clear pipelines to funding, production support, or sustained collaboration. In 2026, the landscape is shifting fast—major media companies are rebuilding studios, talent agencies are packaging transmedia IP, and cities are positioning themselves as production hubs with residencies, tax incentives, and co‑production networks. This guide maps where companies like Vice Media and WME are directing resources and shows practical ways creators can land residencies, funding, and collaboration in the cities that matter now.

Why 2026 is a turning point for travel content production

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw two important industry moves that signal a broader trend: legacy and reborn media players are doubling down on owned production capabilities and IP-driven projects. Vice Media’s post-bankruptcy reorg—marked by new finance and strategy leadership—shows a clear pivot from being a production-for-hire to a studio model that finances and distributes original series. At the same time, talent and agency ecosystems like WME are signing transmedia IP studios (for example, the Turin-based transmedia outfit The Orangery) to develop graphic‑novel-to-screen pipelines. Together, these moves create new entry points for creators who can offer strong travel story concepts and modular IP that travel well across formats.

Media groups are no longer just commissioning single shows — they want studio-grade IP and creators who can scale across streaming, short-form, and licensing.

Where production companies are investing: the emerging and mature hubs

Production investment follows three basic drivers: talent and agency presence, tax and grant incentives, and local creative infrastructure (studios, post houses, co‑work labs). Below are cities to prioritize in 2026 and why they matter for travel creators.

Los Angeles — the obvious engine

Why it matters: Headquarters or major offices for studios, agencies, and exec talent. Executive hires at companies like Vice and the LA roots of WME mean more development dollars and production crews in town. LA is still the easiest place to meet showrunners, producers, and brands who want travel content scaled for platforms.

Opportunities: studio mentorships, branded partnerships, pitch markets, and co‑productions. If you have a travel IP or series bible, LA is where buyers congregate.

New York — commerce, editorial and branded content

Why it matters: Strong editorial outlets, ad agencies, and documentary houses. Travel content that has a design, culinary, or culture focus often finds buyers here.

London & Turin — transmedia and European pipelines

Why it matters: Europe’s transmedia studios and agencies are packaging IP for global deals. The recent signings of European studios by major agencies indicate growing European investment. Turin (home to emerging transmedia firms) and London (as an international finance and distribution hub) are ideal for creators who build IP from local storytelling and visual design.

Berlin — creative community & festival circuit

Why it matters: A high concentration of indie producers, festivals, and cross-disciplinary artists. Berlin is often where experimental travel storytelling, AR/VR projects, and festival‑ready short documentaries incubate.

Toronto — North American co-production gateway

Why it matters: Subsidies and TIFF proximity make Toronto a magnet for international co‑productions and travel documentaries that want festival exposure and broadcast partners in both Canada and the U.S.

Lisbon & Porto — affordability plus digital‑nomad ecosystems

Why it matters: Lower operating costs, a thriving freelance community, and welcoming visa programs for remote workers. Creative houses and boutique studios are growing here, offering lower-cost production support for travel series and episodic formats.

Seoul — tech‑forward production and K‑content spillover

Why it matters: South Korea’s global content play translates into deeper investments in production tech, post-production, and formats that export. For travel creators who can tap into K‑content aesthetics or collaborate with Korean studios, Seoul opens Asian markets and streaming partnerships.

Mexico City — cultural density & rapid growth

Why it matters: A mix of low overheads and high creative output; growing film infrastructure and stronger international interest in Latin American travel stories.

How to find and win creator residencies in these hubs

Residencies and fellowships are no longer only for painters and novelists. In 2026, residencies are tailored for multimedia creators—offering production credits, editorial support, pre‑seed budgets, and distribution introductions. Here’s a pragmatic path to secure one.

Step-by-step: Applying for residencies and fellowships

Target the right programs: Search city film commissions, cultural institutes, festival fellowships, and studio incubators. Filter by those that list travel, documentary, or transmedia explicitly.
Build a compact proposal: One page danger: keep it tight. Your one‑pager should include logline, 3‑episode arc (if series), sample visual references, budget range, and a one-paragraph distribution plan.
Show IP potential: Media companies want ideas that scale. Include merchandising, photo-exhibitions, or a companion podcast as extra value.
Gather local partners: Partnering with a local fixer, DMO (destination marketing organization), or production house increases acceptance odds and unlocks co-financing. For DMOs and loyalty work, see Feature Engineering for Travel Loyalty Signals for ideas on measurable KPIs.
Leverage short reels: A 90–120 second sizzle reel or highlight video is often worth more than a long treatment. Keep it mobile-optimized.
Follow submission windows and feedback loops: Many residencies have rolling invites and curated pitch days. If you get constructive feedback, revise and reapply; persistence pays.

Funding: where the money comes from in 2026

There are more diversified funding routes now. Studio-backed development, agency packaging, public film incentives, private grants, and brand partnerships coexist. Here’s how to map them to your project.

1. Studio & agency development

Companies like Vice (now building studio capabilities) and agencies like WME are actively acquiring or partnering with IP owners. To attract studio interest, emphasize clear intellectual property and multi-format adaptability. If you can show the project can become a series, a licensing line, and short‑form spin, you’re more attractive.

2. Local film commissions & public grants

Every production hub has a film office or cultural fund. These bodies offer cash rebates, location scouting support, and one-off grants for cultural projects. Register your project with the local film commission early—many incentives require preliminary approval.

3. Brand partnerships and DMOs

Destination marketing organizations are increasingly commissioning creators to produce high-quality travel stories. Brands are looking for authentic storytelling with measurable KPIs. Pitch a clear audience and engagement plan, not just creative ideas.

4. Non-dilutive grants and foundations

Look for arts councils, documentary funds, and cultural exchange grants. These are ideal for projects with social impact, environmental themes, or heritage storytelling.

5. Direct-to-consumer and micro‑patronage

Membership platforms and micro-patronage can pre-finance a season if you have a dedicated audience. Bundle perks (prints, behind-the-scenes, contributor credits) to convert fans into funders.

Collaboration hubs: where creatives meet teams and brands

Collaboration is more than co‑working. Look for hybrid production hubs that offer equipment libraries, sound stages, post houses, and curated match-making between creators and brands.

Studio collectives: Short-term rental stages with embedded production services (camera packages, grips, editors). See our studio field review for compact setups that speed production.
Co-production networks: Regional alliances that pool financing and distribution—useful for cross-border travel series.
Agency partner days: WME-style packaging events where agencies bring IP and producers to meet creators.
Festival markets & pitch forums: MIPCOM, TIFF, Berlin’s co‑production market—ideal to pitch travel formats to buyers. For ideas on non-traditional venue activations, see the Rooftop Microcinemas in Dubai writeup.

Practical tools: shot lists, gear guides, and contributor portal essentials

When you win a residency or funding, execution speed matters. Below are plug-and-play resources to help you deliver broadcast-ready travel content in 2026.

Essential travel shoot shot list (compact for a 5-day location block)

Opening Establishing (3–6 shots): Wide cityscape/landscape at golden hour, aerial sweep, city grid or coastline.
Atmosphere B-roll (12–20 clips): Streets, markets, transport, textures, local crafts, food close-ups.
Character Moments (6–10 clips): Locals in motion, host interactions, candid expressions.
Detail Shots (10–15 clips): Signage, hands, patterns, menus, ticket stubs—helps with pacing in edit.
High Production Set Piece (1–2 sequences): A guided hike, a boat ride, or market walkthrough planned with multi-cam if possible.
Soundbed (10–20): Ambient room tone, street noise, local music snippets, oral histories.
Closing (1–2 shots): Sunset silhouette, night skyline timelapse.

2026 compact gear guide for travel creators

Prioritize lightweight, high-quality, and multi-use. The following checklist balances image quality and mobility:

Mirrorless full-frame camera with 4K60 and log profiles
One fast wide zoom (e.g., 16–35 or 24–70) and one tele zoom (70–200)
Compact cinema camera or external recorder for RAW/ProRes if budget allows
Imaging stabilizer: small gimbal and a travel tripod
ND filters, variable ND for run-and-gun motion
Lightweight drone (check local drone restrictions and permits) — see hands-on notes from the SkyPort Mini review for FPV inspection tips.
Portable audio: dual lavaliers, a compact shotgun, and a field recorder
Power: universal batteries and fast chargers; carry-on power banks for critical gear

Contributor portal checklist for teams and DMOs

When you’re building a collaborative project, your contributor portal should include:

Clear rights and licensing templates (who owns what, usage windows, royalty splits)
Standardized release forms for talent and property
Asset upload guidelines (naming conventions, codecs, metadata fields)
Shot list and editorial style guide with examples
Timeline and deliverable checklist per episode/segment
Communication channels: Slack or Discord workspace and weekly check-ins

How to pitch travel IP to studios and agencies in 2026

Pitching is as much about packaging as it is about story. Studios want scalable IP that can be monetized across platforms, territories, and merchandise.

Pitch blueprint

One-page hook: Logline + anchor episode + why audiences will binge.
Three-episode arc: A clear beginning, middle and cliffhanger ending for season one.
Visual references: Mood board or 60–90s sizzle reel.
Monetization map: Distribution windows, brand tie-ins, licensing ideas, and downloadable assets you can sell (photo sets, prints, VR tours).
Budget band: Low/medium/high options and where you’ll use proposed funds.
Team bios: Short CVs for director, producer, and key creative collaborators.

Case studies: What the recent deals tell creators

Two recent examples illustrate the marketplace dynamics creators must read in 2026:

1) Vice Media’s studio pivot

Vice’s C‑suite expansion—bringing in finance and strategy leaders—signals a move to finance and own more content IP rather than only provide production services. For creators, that means more development deals that include seed budgets and distribution commitments, but also higher expectations for scalability and IP packaging.

2) WME packaging transmedia IP

WME signing The Orangery—an IP-rich transmedia studio from Europe—shows agencies want projects that start with a storyworld (graphic novels, comics) and extend into screen and merchandise. Travel creators who can present a world (not just an episode) have an edge.

Advanced strategies: stand out and stay funded

To thrive in 2026, combine creative craft with business-savvy moves:

Build modular IP: Create story elements that can be reassembled for short-form social, episodic streaming, podcasts, or photographic prints. For vertical and mobile-first formats, check the AI Vertical Video Playbook.
Leverage data: Use audience analytics from past projects to demonstrate market fit to brands and studios.
Secure upfront rights: If you plan to sell prints, VR experiences, or soundtrack licensing, secure those rights in contributor agreements early.
Co-produce across hubs: Use local incentives in multiple cities to stretch budgets and enter multiple regional markets.
Use AI tooling wisely: AI can accelerate transcription, rough-cut editing, and metadata tagging—freeing time for creative direction. Always review AI outputs for ethical and copyright concerns. For broader creative automation patterns see Creative Automation in 2026.

Checklist: First 90 days after acceptance to a residency or development deal

Finalize a 1-page production schedule and shared calendar
Confirm legal/rights workflows and release forms
Lock the local fixer and fixer budget
Create a 60–90s sizzle to use for brand and distribution outreach — see our compact studio vlogging setups for quick sizzle production tips
Plan a marketing timeline for trailer, social drops, and partner activations

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

No IP clarity: Avoid vague ownership terms. Spell out who owns what in writing.
Underestimating logistics: Factor in permitting, customs for gear, and insurance early.
Single-platform thinking: Don’t optimize only for one platform. Build assets for multiple windows.
Poor metadata: In 2026, discoverability hinges on metadata—tag everything properly for licensing marketplaces. For workflow templates and delivery patterns, see Future-Proofing Publishing Workflows.

Final takeaways: Where creators should focus now

Media companies are actively reshaping the production pipeline in 2026—Vice’s studio ambitions and WME’s transmedia packaging show that the market rewards creators who offer scalable IP, strong visual storytelling, and local production partnerships. Cities across North America and Europe are vying to become production hubs by offering incentives, incubators, and creative communities. Creators who combine tight pitching, modular IP design, and pragmatic logistics win residencies and funding.

Call to action

Ready to pitch or apply? Start by downloading our free 1-page pitch template and 5-day shot list (link in the Scenery Creator Toolkit). Join the Scenery.Space Creator Hubs newsletter to get curated residency openings, funding alerts, and co‑production calls tailored to travel creators in 2026. If you have a travel IP in development and want a free 15‑minute review from our editorial producers, submit a short pitch at our contributor portal—fast feedback helps you iterate and win the deal.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.