The third annual Night On Broadway Festival (NOB) hosted by Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar brought downtown to life on January 28th. NOB is an arts and music festival held in celebration of the historic Broadway Theatre District in downtown Los Angeles. This year marked the second year of participation by FilmL.A. at the sponsor level. It was also a year that saw event participation top 75,000 in total guests.
During this night long festival, the beautiful, historic theatres along the Broadway corridor came alive with tours, performances, live music, and dancers. The seven city blocks on the row featured street art, a Ferris-Wheel, and various forms of interactive entertainment, all celebrating the best of the city.
FilmL.A.’s Community Relations team staffed a booth during the festival answering questions from residents and industry professionals who wanted to know who we are, what we do or had production related inquires.
“Participating in events like Night On Broadway help FilmL.A. reinforce its mission and support the communities we serve,” said Arturo Piña, Sr. Community Outreach Liaison for FilmL.A. “The Broadway Theatre District is one of the gems of Los Angeles which sees hundreds of film and television shoot days annually. It is our goal to continue to take care of communities so that the industry will be welcomed with open arms.”
The FilmL.A. booth was enhanced year thanks to a partnership with CineDrones, a fully insured, FAA certified provider of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and production services for film, television and events. As part of our booth activation, CineDrones staff brought 2 drones to show to festival goers and provide stunning aerial views of the event.
“We were fortunate to have the opportunity to partner with Mike Fortin and CineDrones,” said Danielle Matthews Walker, Communications Coordinator for FilmL.A. “Having drones at the booth helped to draw event attendees, affording us the opportunity to discuss FilmL.A.’s services and drive home FAA requirements with regard to operating UAS in the City of Los Angeles,” Matthews Walker added.
NOB is an extension of Councilmember Huizar’s “Bringing Back Broadway” economic development initiative. The focus of this ten-year initiative is to revitalize the Historic Broadway corridor in downtown. Goals are to provide economic development and business assistance; re-activate Broadway’s historic vacant theaters, increase occupancy for one million square feet of vacant commercial space and increase area parking and transit options.
“Night on Broadway has been described as ‘a love letter to Los Angeles’ and that is exactly what it is,” said Councilmember Huizar. “Opening up a mile of Broadway to pedestrians and inviting tens of thousands of people into six historic theaters on the same night is our way of reminding Angelenos about Broadway’s past as the City’s entertainment and retail mecca, and to see firsthand that its present and future are bright. Broadway – like all Angelenos – is uniquely Los Angeles, and that is what we’re celebrating.”
For more information about the Bringing Back Broadway initiative please visit http://bringingbackbroadway.com/.