What You Need to Do NOW

Producers

  • • Arrival in LA: Saturday, March 1 (The program begins on Sunday, March 2)
    • Departure from LA: Thursday, March 6 (Do not book return flights before this date)
    • Recommended areas to stay: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City (close to most meetings)
    • Many participants are staying at: Best Western Plus Sunset Plaza (Group pickups for key events will be arranged from here)
    • Apply for ESTA (Visa Waiver for U.S. Travel) - Only use the official ESTA application site to avoid extra charges.
    • Apply here: ESTA Application

  • Arriving at LAX
    • Easiest option: Take a taxi (other options require a shuttle from the terminal).

    Getting Around in LA
    • Best options: Uber & Lyft
    • Download & register before your trip.
    • UberX is a reliable and cost-effective choice.
    • No cash needed – Payment & tips are handled in the app.
    • Always rate drivers 5 stars unless the experience was poor (below 4.6 ratings can remove drivers from the platform).

    Discount Codes
    • Uber: Use code “BWWVCER8S9PC” for 50% off first five rides (max $10 per ride).
    • Lyft: Use code “DAVE723” for 50% off first two rides (max $10 per ride).

    Local Recommendations
    • Yelp is great for finding restaurants, cafes, stores, and services based on reviews.

  • To ensure smooth scheduling and effective presentations, please send the following:
    • Short Bio – A brief introduction about yourself and your key experience (no more than 1000 characters).
    • Project Materials – Logline, synopsis, financing status, and documentation of chain of title (to confirm undisputed rights to the underlying materials).
    • Presentation – Send the presentation as a Keynote, PowerPoint, or PDF.

    Send all materials to:team@nowla.org
    Deadline     for submission: February 21st

  • All producers are experienced, but pitching to the U.S. industry can be different. Below is an optimized 7-minute format to maximize impact, focusing on what agencies, financiers, and distributors care about most:

    1. Opening Hook (30 sec - 1 min)
    • Start with a compelling logline – one or two sentences that instantly sell the concept.
    • Why this story now? What makes it urgent, fresh, and relevant?

    2. Core Story & Unique Selling Points (2-3 min)
    • Beginning, Middle, and End – A concise overview of the story (no need to be vague; they will read the script later).
    • What makes this story stand out? (Genre innovation, strong character arcs, world-building, etc.)
    • Target audience & marketability – Who is this made for, and why will it travel internationally?

    3. Talent & Creative Team (1 min)
    • Key attachments (director, lead actors, writer, DP, etc.).
    • If no major attachments yet, what is the strategy for securing them?
    • Past successes of the director/producer/writer that indicate credibility.

    4. Budget & Financing Status (1 min)
    • Total budget & how much is already secured.
    • Sources of soft money (government grants, tax incentives, pre-sales, etc.).
    • What type of partners are you looking for? (Co-producers, distributors, sales agents, financing, packaging, etc.)

    5. Comparable Successful Projects (1 min)
    • What other successful projects share similar attributes to yours?
    • Industry comparisons help position your project in the market.

    6. Closing Strong (Final 30 sec)
    • Clear next steps – What are you looking for from them?
    • End with confidence, not desperation – Present the project as an opportunity, not a favor.

Program