Alex Pissios

A lifelong Chicagoland resident, Alex Pissios grew up the son of Greek immigrants before leaving home to study English literature at Northern Illinois University in nearby DeKalb. Although he originally intended to follow his father into the field of special education, he ultimately focused his professional efforts in the real estate sector.

Alex Pissios found success in the early 2000s as a developer of properties around the United Center (the home arena of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks). By the economic recession of 2008, however, the real estate industry had begun to faulter, and Pissios had begun to examine other business opportunities.

Alex Pissios found what he was looking for with the help of his uncle, Nick Mirkopoulos. Living in Toronto, Canada, Mirkopoulos owned and operated the Canadian production studio that provided facilities for the Oscar-winning Chicago among other films and television programs.

Partnering with his uncle, Alex Pissios purchased 60 acres of the defunct Ryerson Steel complex in the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale. On this site, they built Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. The largest independent production studio outside of Los Angeles, this facility currently houses 52 separate soundstages.

Over the years, Cinespace Chicago would earn the nickname “Hollywood of the Midwest” for the sheer scale and outstanding quality of its productions. It has served as the physical hub for more than 40 major motion picture projects including Divergent, Transformers, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The studio is also responsible for a number of groundbreaking and popular TV shows including Empire, Shameless, and Chicago Fire.

Under Alex Pissios’ leadership, Cincespace Chicago has given back to the community at large by sponsoring organizations that range from Safe Haven to Latinos Progressando. "If you are not making a difference in the lives of people and in your community, then you need to ask yourself what you are really doing," says Pissios. "One of the core values of the work we do at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios is to have a positive community impact."

Among their other charitable efforts, Alex Pissios and Cincespace Chicago have a history of involvement with regional healthcare organizations. Pissios has personally volunteered as a “Caregiver for a Day" with Sinai Health System, and Cincespace Chicago has donated $50,000 to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Pissios and Cincespace Chicago have also worked with celebrities such as Christian Bale to promote foster care awareness through SOS Children's Villages Illinois.

In 2018, the nonprofit Anixter Center honored Alexander Pissios and Cinespace Chicago for his philanthropy and community service to individuals living with severe behavioral health issues and disabilities. In 2021, Pissios led Cinespace Chicago’s participation in IFA Chicago’s inaugural Fall into Film Block Party, an event to celebrate and support local filmmakers and other creatives.

At the end of 2021, Alex Pissios parted ways with Cinespace Chicago following its billion-dollar acquisition by TPG Real Estate Partners. Although he is no longer involved with the day-to-day management of Cinespace Chicago, he remains an active and committed member of the greater Chicagoland community.