Super Exciting - Night on Broadway January 31st!

Hey everyone... If you are local to the Los Angeles please mark your calendars for January 31st. We are looking at producing one amazing event! We will have 5 historical theatres in action - The Million, Tower, Palace, Los Angeles, and Globe! We got something programmed on almost every stage, then we are closing Broadway between 4th and 7th - Vintage Car Show, Food Truck Gallery, and Local Business Pop Up Shops! Come out and enjoy the evening celebrating the 7th Anniversary of Bringing Back Broadway!

 

For more information visit our Bringing Back Broadway Facebook Page! 

Just a little Ground Breaking! Greenland USA's Metropolis Project in DTLA

Talk about a whirlwind project! It's was three weeks of let's "Make it Happen!" We were very excited to be working with the new big project in town... the Greenland USA's Metropolis project. The Ground Breaking Ceremony took place literally on the first day of construction! It was truly a ground breaking - as we closed the event construction crews began to come on to the lot! Since it was a morning event we planned to load in as much as possible the day before... including the construction vehicles that we were using as a backdrop for the dirt digging ceremony. And, Joella had to take a moment to play... 

Ok, so back to serious. Last minute signage going up! Greenland USA is a part of Greenland Group based out of Shanghai, China. Luckily, Mumtaz President has a background working with Asian client's as there was a cultural and language learning curve. It was very exciting working with new people on a fabulous new project in DTLA. So, the event details... we wanted to try to keep the company and project logos prominent in everything because not only was this an event to introduce the project to the community, but also the company.  The project is the 1st phase of the $1-billion dollar venture constructed on the vast parking lot along the Harbor Freeway, just north of Staples Center and L.A. Live. This major endeavor includes the future home for a 38-story residential skyscraper and a luxury hotel, altering L.A.’s skyline. Dignitaries who attended the ceremony enjoyed an American breakfast and an Asian-inspired breakfast, champagne and entertainment. Catering was provided by Someone's In the Kitchen - all we can say is ROCKSTAR service! Amazing!

It was kinda like the magic hour when it hit 945am - We started the procession of the two Chinese Dancing Lions. It's always wonderful to see in person - it takes a team to put together a truly exciting and heart pounding (to the drums) performance. East Wind Youth Group... Outstanding.... So, they started at Registration and moved into the event to perform the traditional good will blessing!

  

Our Greenland USA CEO, I Fei Chang and Greenland Group CEO Mr. Zhang preparing to make their offering to the lions.

After the formal remarks we unveiled the "dirt digging" stage... It was tons of fun to watch the over 40+ media outlets push for position. So proud of our team - our PR rep, Christie, rocked the house!

 

In addition to other dignitaries - above are Greenland USA CEO, I Fei Chang, Central City Association's President, Carol Schatz, L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar, Greenland Group CEO Mr. Zhang, Mayor Garcetti's Deputy Mayor Kelly Bernard, and LA Chamber President Gary Toebben.

Afterwards guests were invited to head a block away to view the full model of the project in Greenland USA's new Los Angeles office. Media were also invited to conduct their full interviews in their new conference rooms.

We have to give a special shout out to our team! 1st to the amazing Kristi Schoenrock at A Rental Connection. You always pull magic out of thin air for us! Thank you... Can't forget our vendor partners too: Jorge - J&M Entertainment, Flo - Red Carpet Systems, Kent - Z Valet, Mike - M2 Printing, Emily Ivey and Earl Gibson - Photography, Joann Roth Oseary - Someone's In The Kitchen, Jaime - Draken Security, and Shereen - Wisteria Lane Florals.

GUEST BLOGGER: Hillary Harris - Adding Hollywood Magic to Special Events at Warner Bros. Studios

It's always incredible when you get to take time and really connect with fellow industry colleagues and especially those that have been doing what you're doing for so much longer! Loved meeting with Hillary and having established a true beginning to a wonderful new relationship above what's just professional. Here's to good friends and to an amazing blog post below! Thanks Hillary! 

Guest Blog by Hillary Harris

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of having lunch on the lot with Joella Hopkins of Mumtaz Marketing & Events at the Warner Bros. Fine Dining Commissary. Over our lunch of the chef’s special crab cakes, gazpacho and burgers, we talked about everything. My favorite part of the lunch was when Joella told me the story of how she came by the word “mumtaz” for her company.

What was great about it was the way she pulled me into the story – describing everything in detail and engaging all the senses. I felt as if I was with her on her journey inside a pyramid in Egypt. I felt the heat of the desert and the cold dark environment inside the stone. I listened in the silence she described and felt the joy she felt when she emerged. And I understood the word, mumtaz; the exceptional experience – she encountered.

After our lunch, I thought a lot about that word and realized that mumtaz is something we are always creating on the lot -- the exceptional experience for our clients and their guests. Here are a few.

ANOTHER WORLD

The backlot of Warner Bros. has many faces, from a steamy futuristic street in the vein of Blade Runner’s futuristic Asian look …

… to a wild, mod sixties lounge look. 

This is also New York Street, believe it or not! Video digital mapping allowed the studio façade to be completely transformed. As you can see, it’s surprising how easily locations with traditional architecture such as Brownstone and New York Streets can slip into something more exotic. With the right mood, décor and lighting, guests are swept away into another world with sight, sounds, feeling and taste, completely enveloping their senses.

And then some other locations are simply exotic on their own such as the jungle/lagoon area. 

Our lagoon can be drained, as it was here, to create a beautiful and wild setting in the middle of the city! This gorgeous event was the premiere for Game of Thrones. Or, the lagoon can remain filled for the perfect Twilight look, or Cajun Bayou.

HOLLYWOOD MAGIC

Soundstages are a huge part of the studio experience and we are able to hold events on them between productions. Because it’s so unusual, the location immediately ensures a memorable, and well-attended, event. Who doesn’t want to have dinner on a working soundstage? Instant magic.

This event fell right between the wrap of a TV show and the start of a movie. It was the perfect venue for a hugely successful fund-raising event for Providence St. Joe’s.

HISTORY

And of course, there is the history of the lot – our 90^th anniversary was this year in fact! To bring all this magic to the guest experience, events can begin at the SJR Theatre. Here, in the shadow of the famous water tower, a red carpet greeting and step-and-repeat wall can be done for charity, association and corporate events as well as Hollywood events. From here, it’s an easy few steps to Brownstone Street where so many iconic movies and TV shows have been filmed and where, as you’ve seen, event designers can create a multitude of fantastic looks.

After lunch, Joella enjoyed a VIP tour with me at the wheel of my studio golf cart (it’s the only way to get around the lot and a lot of fun as well). As she learned, Warner Bros. has many more locations for events – 13 in all. And we have several additions underway to the WB experience which I’ll be revealing in the coming months on my blog. So stay tuned. There’s a lot happening on the lot and I’m looking forward to sharing it all with you.