The Vision
The objective was to create far more than a traditional movie premiere. Film Studio Neon wanted nearly 200 guests to feel as though they had stepped directly into the world of I Love Boosters. A vacant Los Angeles retail storefront became Metro Designers, the fictional fashion retailer featured in the film, using original production artwork, exterior signage, custom decals, branded window displays, and a monochromatic yellow interior. The experience then transitioned into a vibrant screening environment featuring 15-foot-high drapery, seven-color fabric treatments, custom carpeting, and theatrical lighting.
The Event
Pipe Dream Events partnered with Film Studio Neon to transform a vacant Los Angeles retail storefront into an immersive premiere and screening environment for I Love Boosters, directed by Boots Riley. The approximately $22K production was designed for nearly 200 guests and included 160 linear feet of 15-foot-high perimeter drapery, seven-color projection wall and ceiling treatments, custom carpeting, theatrical lighting, branded graphics, and spatial division. Together, these elements transformed the empty commercial space into a cinematic environment inspired directly by the visual world of the film.
The Challenge
The primary challenge was converting a completely vacant commercial storefront into a functional premiere venue for nearly 200 guests. The open floor plan required temporary architectural solutions that could create distinct retail and screening environments without permanent construction. The team also had to coordinate approvals for exterior branding, signage, and event operations within a property not originally designed for this type of production. Minutes before doors opened, a restroom door handle broke, requiring an emergency locksmith to resolve the issue without delaying guest arrival or the screening schedule.
Our Approach
Pipe Dream Events used drapery as the primary temporary architectural solution, installing approximately 160 linear feet of 15-foot-high perimeter drapery across two runs to reshape the open storefront without permanent construction. The production plan incorporated 16 uprights and bases, 16 horizontals, swag detailing, and rigging hardware. A seven-color striped projection wall and ceiling treatment was coordinated with the custom carpet, while theatrical lighting, retail fixtures, branded graphics, and décor created separate retail and screening environments within the same vacant space.
The Transformation
Pipe Dream Events transformed a completely vacant retail space into an immersive environment inspired by the colorful world of I Love Boosters. Through custom drapery, vibrant carpeting, lighting, retail fixtures, and film-inspired branding, the open space became a monochromatic storefront that opened into a dramatic, rainbow-filled screening room turning an empty shell into a fully realized cinematic experience.
The Results
The approximately $22K transformation was completed for a premiere experience hosting nearly 200 guests. Attendees immediately shared photos and videos across social media, extending the immersive environment beyond the venue and generating additional visibility around the film. Director Boots Riley and cast members including Keke Palmer and LaKeith Stanfield attended the premiere and introduced the film before the screening. The conversion of the vacant storefront into distinct branded retail and screening environments became one of the production’s defining achievements.
Key Takeaways
This project demonstrates Pipe Dream Events’ ability to transform unconventional spaces through temporary event architecture and detailed production execution. For an approximately $22K production, the team converted a vacant commercial storefront into multiple immersive environments using 160 linear feet of 15-foot-high drapery across two runs, seven-color wall and ceiling treatments, custom carpeting, lighting, rigging, and branded design elements. The project shows how strategic drapery and spatial planning can completely redefine an existing space without permanent construction.
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Event type | Immersive film premiere and screening experience |
| Project | I Love Boosters |
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Event date | May 12, 2026 |
| Project value | Approx. $22K |
| Guest count | Approx. 200 guests |
| Drapery | 160 linear ft. of 15-ft-high perimeter drapery |
| Drape configuration | 2 runs with swag detailing and rigging hardware |
| Projection treatment | Wall and ceiling fabric treatment striped in 7 colors to coordinate with custom carpet |
| Structural equipment | 16 uprights and bases + 16 horizontals shown in production plan |
| Environment | Vacant retail storefront transformed into distinct retail and screening environments |
| Services | Drapery, rigging, projection treatments, carpeting, lighting and spatial transformation |
