Get ready to be inspired! Cinemagic, the super cool film and TV charity, teamed up with the legendary Imagine Entertainment for an unforgettable event in LA. This epic gathering gave young, aspiring filmmakers a chance to rub elbows with the big names and get a sneak peek into the movie-making magic.
The adventure kicked off at Imagine Entertainment’s swanky HQ, where participants dive into awesome activities like workshops, panel talks, and behind-the-scenes tours of the famous production company. Industry pros dropped some serious knowledge, sharing their stories and tips to light that filmmaking fire in the next generation.
This collaboration with Imagine Entertainment was the highlight of Cinemagic’s week-long mission in LA. Aimed at sparking creativity and recognizing young talent from Northern Ireland and Los Angeles, it all wrapped up with the Cinemagic Los Angeles Showcase. Held on June 28th at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, this glitzy event, supported by Belfast City Airport, drew 500 VIP guests from film, TV, entertainment, and business. Big-time sponsors included NI Connections, NI Bureau, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, The Maybourne Beverly Hills, Screen Ireland, BritWeek, ELMA, CIACLA, and Loyola Marymount University.
The Showcase was all about celebrating the talents in the Belfast City Airport IGNITE program and premiering Cinemagic’s latest short films. These flicks, created by young filmmakers from LA and Northern Ireland, showed off their skills and gave them a chance to network with industry insiders. Cinemagic’s role in boosting new talent and celebrating global success was front and center.
Throughout the week, students from 12 schools and colleges in Northern Ireland and LA enjoyed VIP talks at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, plus tours and masterclasses at leading film and TV studios. Star speakers included Emmy-winning TV Producer Jillian King (Rachael, Red Table Talk); Dan Dark OBE, EVP of Worldwide Studio Operations at Warner Bros Entertainment; Ross King MBE, LA Correspondent for ITV Breakfast programs; Peter Devlin, Production Sound Engineer (Black Panther, Star Trek); and Shelley Reid, entertainment biz exec and indie producer.
Joan Burney Keatings MBE, Cinemagic’s Chief Executive, was buzzing with excitement: “Partnering with Imagine Entertainment has been beyond amazing. Our young participants were blown away by the pros at Imagine. This experience has totally fired them up to chase their film dreams.”
Imagine Entertainment, known for its hit movies and TV shows, welcomed the young creatives with open arms. Co-chairmen Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, along with their team, shared their personal journeys and offered some real-world advice on breaking into the industry.
One of the coolest moments was a masterclass where participants pitched their movie ideas and got feedback from the Imagine Entertainment crew. This interactive sesh helped the young filmmakers sharpen their skills and boost their creative confidence.
The partnership between Cinemagic and Imagine Entertainment shows just how important it is to support young talent and give them chances to learn from the finest in the biz. The event wrapped up on a high note, leaving everyone pumped and ready to take on their next big project.
Published by: Khy Talara
