The Watts Cinema & Education Center, Inc. (WCEC), a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 to enhance opportunities in the Watts/Willowbrook community for education/vocational training, economic development and cultural experiences. The Wattstar Theatre will be a state-of-the-art feature and specialty films exhibition house and will become the first theater constructed in Watts in over 42 years.

The mission of the Watts Cinema and Education Center Inc. is to erect and operate the building (Wattstar) that will facilitate quality family entertainment, educational enrichment, global communications, and economic development through job training and business development in the entertainment industry. The project involves the construction of a 33,000 square foot structure on a 72,310 square foot site in the Watts Redevelopment project area. Watts is a four square mile community located in the southeasterly quadrant of South Central Los Angeles.