In Los Angeles and New York City, Empire produced two VIP screenings of Chance The Rapper’s new concert movie Magnificent Coloring World. Partnering with AMC Theatres, these exclusive screenings took place at Universal Citywalk on Friday and AMC Empire 25 in Times Square on Saturday for Chance The Rapper’s family, friends, and a few lucky fans who won tickets. This incredible film will be playing across the country in AMC Theatres in 35 cities until August 26.

To mark the release of Focus Features’ Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, Focus Features partnered with Empire to bring the iconic Brasserie Les Halles back for one weekend only—and give friends and fans of Anthony Bourdain the opportunity to celebrate his legacy in the restaurant where it all began.

No one has transcended the culinary world and single-handedly transformed how entire generations thought about and connected with food—and the rest of the globe—like Anthony Bourdain. Tony spent the first two decades of his adult life toiling away in hot, cramped kitchens until his essay “Don’t Eat Before Reading This” appeared in The New Yorker, gained immediate acclaim, and spawned his groundbreaking memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, which became a New York Times Bestseller and catapulted him from Executive Chef at NYC’s Brasserie Les Halles to worldwide renown as the host of multiple food and travel shows including No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

Tony’s untimely death in 2018 led thousands of his fans and admirers to revisit the Les Halles space on Park Avenue South and pay tribute to their favorite globetrotting storyteller and foodie, but unfortunately the restaurant was shuttered two years earlier in 2016, after nearly 25 years in business.

Bringing back Brasserie Les Halles for one weekend took enormous tenacity and a touch of luck. The Park Avenue South location came under new ownership in 2017 and went through a full demolition and renovation in 2018-2019. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the reopening of the new restaurant was delayed, which created an opportunity to rent the space and convert it into Brasserie Les Halles through exterior branding, interior design, and tabletop elements reminiscent of the original Les Halles’ Parisian and Art Nouveau aesthetic.

The first night of the four-day pop-up was an invite-only event for friends of Tony and Roadrunner’s filmmaker, Oscar-winning director, Morgan Neville. After attending a special screening of the documentary, guests headed to the restaurant for a dinner that featured Les Halles classics including French onion soup, steak frites, and chocolate mousse, while punk rock tunes from Tony’s favorite artists like The Stooges, Ramones, and Iggy Pop reverberated throughout the brasserie.

The following three nights were open to diners who booked their tickets in advance through event partner RESY. All 900 tickets sold out in just minutes. Diners were comprised of fans, friends, and former colleagues of Tony’s who traveled from across the country and as far as Spain to attend the event.

Empire brought on Great Performances to run the kitchen and front of house staff. Focus Features, Empire, and Great Performances collaborated and consulted with Philippe Lajaunie (Owner & Co-Founder of Les Halles) and Jose de Meirelles (original Executive Chef and Co-Founder of Les Halles) to ensure that the menu stayed true to the original Les Halles.

Empire is a leading producer of experiential marketing events and experiences in New York City and around the globe.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain opened in theaters on July 16^th and opened to $1.9 million dollars at the domestic box office. The strongest opening for a specialty film this year—narrative or documentary—and top opening doc of the year.

For the American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) Summer Celebration, it delivered a dazzling, virtual showcase of soaring artistry including excerpts of classical, iconic ballet pieces along with the premiere of three new works: Collage & Creed by Silas Farley, Desire by Helen Pickett, and City of Women by ABT Principal Dancer, James Whiteside. All pieces were performed and filmed in quarantined “ballet bubbles” in different locations across the United States.

The First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, delivered welcoming remarks. Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tony Award-winner and ABT Family member, hosted the Summer Celebration with a special guest, ABT Dancer, Erica Lall.

The program also paid tribute to the ongoing ABT Heals series of live recitals for patients and hospital staff at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, highlighted the ABT Across America tour that took place in July, and honored ABT Heroes–medical advisor Dr. Robert Galvin and Jennifer Garner, actress and ABT’s champion supporter–who have helped the company to navigate the pandemic.

Empire worked in close partnership with American Ballet Theatre to develop the creative and run-of-show, coordinate and record speakers remotely, and oversee technical and video production. The program celebrated the spirit of summer and ABT’s “ballet bubbles” by bringing to life themes of nature and vibrant colors through eye-catching landscapes, dancer silhouettes, ambient nature sounds, animations, and sweeping transitions.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events, and is proud to work with leading arts organizations like America’s National Ballet Company®.

To support American Ballet Theatre and its magnificent dancers, brilliant choreographers, and education programs, please visit: https://www.abt.org

ABT’s Summer Celebration program is available for a limited time on ABT’s YouTube Channel.

We were proud to partner with Japan Society for the second year to produce their Annual Dinner. This year was an online celebration that brought together influential leaders, notable public figures, and captivating performers, who are all committed to the organization’s mission of building bridges between the U.S. and Japan.

Headlining the program was a fireside chat between Japan Society Chairman and Chairman Emeritus of Perella Weinberg Partners, Joseph R. Perella, and Henry R. Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of KKR. These two titans of finance discussed the ongoing issues that define and influence future opportunities within the U.S.-Japan space.

The evening also featured a conversation between former JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, marking the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's landmark Moonshot speech. This year, NASA and the government of Japan formalized the lunar Gateway partnership, supporting long-term human exploration on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program and opening a new chapter in U.S.-Japan relations.

Guests enjoyed entertainment by the Ryoma Quartet, a Japanese-Western eclectic fusion of traditional Japanese instruments—tsugaru shamisen, shinobue, drums, and violin—that expressed a new form of sound incorporating rock, funk, and electro grounded in classical tradition.

Empire’s New York and Tokyo offices collaborated to direct, film, produce and livestream the 60-minute program all around the world, helping the Japan Society raise over 1.3 million dollars.

To learn more about the Japan Society please visit https://www.japansociety.org/​

As the world’s best athletes prepared for Tokyo 2020, OMEGA, Swiss Luxury Watch Manufacturer and Global Sponsor of the Olympics, with the help of Empire Japan, delivered a special social media campaign showcasing a full range of Tokyo 2020 Olympic inspired timepieces.

Traveling around Japan and incorporating iconic Japanese landscapes, three watches were showcased, including the limited edition, Olympic Collection Seamaster Diver 300M Tokyo 2020—a 42mm stainless steel watch that is mounted with a blue ceramic bezel ring filled with a white enamel diving scale.

Empire Japan covered all aspects of production, including photography, model arrangements, location selection, and costume styling.

OMEGA’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRgkxCVtbbo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRbZdiCNzLZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRWhnQUgDzh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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When The Flaherty wanted to shift its annual Film Seminar into a virtual event, they turned to Empire to deliver a highly interactive, user-friendly platform to feature this year's films and discussions.

The 10-day film seminar featured over 43 films, with filmmakers and attendees joining from 30+ countries and five continents. Programmed by Janaína Oliviera, the 66th edition of the Flaherty Film Seminar, Opacity, sought to forge openings and new possibilities of cinematic existence, especially for subjects that have been excluded or are less valued on conventional screens. The films and subsequent discussions dove deep on topics ranging from diasporic cinema and oral histories, to decolonizing the archive and indigenous storytelling and sovereignty.

Each day, The Flaherty hosted a morning and evening session with one film screening and discussion per session. All film content was revealed just minutes before the session began and subsequently removed at the end of each session to keep attendees on their toes throughout the week. In addition to the main programming, The Flaherty hosted supplementary breakout sessions and after-hours programs via zoom where more attendees could dive deeper in smaller groups.

Empire’s scope of work included registration management, microsite design & development, and overall technical production.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

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The inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest presented by the Robert Randolph Foundation brought together a star-studded lineup of artists, influencers, activists, and sponsors for a virtual festival.

The five-and-a-half-hour livestream, which took place just two days after Juneteenth was officially signed into law as a federal holiday, has garnered over one million views via juneteenthunityfest.com and media partners LiveXLive, Ebony.com, and YouTube.

The inaugural Juneteenth Unityfest paid tribute to the breadth and depth of Black culture while also celebrating future potential.

The celebration kicked off with a stirring recording of Jimi Hendrix’s “Star-Spangled Banner” from his historic 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival appearance. Symbolic of the cultural shift in the mindset of the nation at the time, the performance was a perfect introduction to reflect the power and influence of Black voices and how they have impacted the course of American history.

Following the recording, the live performances kicked off with Nile Rodgers & CHIC, who brought the energy with the timeless hit single, “Good Times.” Festival founder and chairman Robert Randolph then welcomed viewers before turning the program over to the evening’s hosts: actress and author, Amanda Seales, and comedian, JB Smoove.

One of the highlights of the night was undoubtedly the remarks made by Ms. Opal Lee. Lauded as the ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ the 94-year-old activist’s commentary embodied the enthusiasm, determination, and relentless perseverance she exhibited to preserve the significance of Juneteenth. Having stood in the White House just days ago, witnessing her life's work come to fruition, the weight of her words were incredibly emotional and provided a moment of reflection on how far the nation has come and a reminder of the work there is left to be done.

There was no shortage of talent as the night blazed on with outstanding performances by Earth, Wind and Fire, India Arie, Darius Rucker, Dave Matthews & Carter Beauford, Ledisi, Black Pumas, Aloe Blacc, Keb’ Mo’, Bebe Winans, Jimmie Allen, Khruangbin, Lucky Daye, Phony Ppl, Michael Franti, Judith Hill, Sheléa, The Soul Rebels and Korean Soul.  Performances took place at partner venues including Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, Mobeon Studio, Burbank, CA, and at various locations throughout the country.

Celebrity spotlights kept the event moving in between performances, with appearances by Phylicia Rashãd, Wayne Brady, Billy Porter, Craig Robinson, Van Jones, Jon Hamm, Aisha Tyler, LeVar Burton, Zach Galifinakis, Jason Wright, Gail Devers, Zina Garrison, Wilson Cruz, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mollie Taylor Stevenson Jr., Baratunde Thurston, and Roger Guenveur Smith. Lynn Nottage, Holly Robinson Peete, Jesse Williams, and Djimon Hounsou also made appearances, sharing personal anecdotes about what the holiday means to them. The landmark event closed with final remarks by Robert Randolph, followed by a recording of Jimi Hendrix performing “Purple Haze” at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival, which brought the event full circle. Finally, Nile Rodgers & CHIC played the festival out with a performance of “We Are Family,” summing up the sentiment of unity felt by performers and viewers alike.

A recording of the entire festival is available now via the official website and can be accessed by those who missed it until July 19. To view the recording, please visit: www.juneteenthunityfest.com.

Juneteenth Unityfest was made possible by phenomenal sponsors and partners like Heal America movement to fight racial injustice, EBONY as the official media partner, and LiveXLive as the official streaming partner. Additional sponsors included Crown Royal Regal Apple, Amazon, P&G’s Widen The Screen initiative, and NFL’s Inspire Change initiative. Getty Images and OWN also provided special content.

A significant portion of the content and context for the festival came from the 35+ community partners who shared their stories about their contributions to the culture. Participating organizations include AARP, The Africa Center, African American Museum in Philadelphia, Benedict College, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives (FDFI), Hip Hop Caucus, HOLA, Invisible Warriors, Jobs For The Future (JFF), The Links Incorporated, Mile High United Way, Muhammad Ali Center, The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, Reelworks, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Umoja Events Juneteenth NYC Festival, Unity Unlimited, Inc., Usher’s New Look, and We Are Family Foundation.

Juneteenth Unityfest was produced by Empire Entertainment in collaboration with the Robert Randolph Foundation, Red Light Management with creative direction, and writing by Paul Oakley Stovall. For more information on Juneteenth Unityfest, presented by the Robert Randolph Foundation, visit www.juneteenthunityfest.com or follow on social media, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Apex For Youth hosted their 29th Annual Inspiration Awards Gala to support and raise funds for underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low income families in NYC.

This year’s program celebrated “Power in Community, Resilience in Unity and Strength in Love,” featuring a star-studded line up of incredible Asian Americans. Presenters included Journalist and Author, Lisa Ling, Actress, Producer and Activist, Gemma Chan, Actor Henry Golding, and Non-Profit Leader, Entrepreneur, and Former Presidential Candidate, Andrew Yang, sharing stories of strength in the AAPI community. This year’s Inspiration awards honored CEO & Founder of Rise, Amanda Nguyen, Actor and Producer, Daniel Dae Kim, Filmmaker John M. Chu, and Golden Globe-winning Actress, Awkwafina, for their incredible impact, leadership, and empowering voice of this generation.

In addition to the livestream, more than 500 guests gathered across nine restaurants in New York City to celebrate the 2021 honorees, applaud the student speaker, and feast together in person. Another 300 Apex fans in Hong Kong, LA, Chicago, and Toronto hosted viewing parties, contributing to the wildly successful QR-code paddle raise conducted by President & Co-Founder of Goldhouse, Bing Chen. Overall Apex raised $1.75M towards their vital work supporting Asian youth.

It was a remarkable night of gathering, reflecting, and celebrating Asian American voices and stories to recognize the crucial work of Apex for Youth.

Empire worked closely with Apex to develop, design, and run the show for the livestream, coordinate and record speakers remotely, facilitate the livestream, manage video editing and production, and provide technical production and support at 8 New York City locations.

Empire is a leading producer of virtual, hybrid, and live events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

For more information and to view the livestream visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFdkQbMM5-c​

Empire joined Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of New York once again to produce the Catholic Charities Gala, hosted by Lynda Baquero, NBC 4, New York and celebrating a Renewed Spirit of Hope. The program was livestreamed on a sleek and classic-themed microsite for a virtual audience, underscoring the incredible initiatives and members of Catholic Charities that support underserved communities throughout the greater New York area.

Empire worked alongside Catholic Charities to develop and produce an engaging script, original video production, and run-of-show for the program featuring His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities. The event honored Frank Bisignano, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Member of the Board of Directors, Fiserv, Inc., for his support and continued partnership with Catholic Charities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Highlighting community and youth services, the evening incorporated testimonials and interviews from program directors, volunteers, youth advocates, imagery from community centers, and emergency food programs, the stories of those impacted by the organization’s work.

The program also featured a tribute video to Frank Bisignano which included interviews from his daughters highlighting Frank’s character, before His Eminence presented the Deus Caritas Est award, and a Catholic Charities Centennial Campaign Video thanking donors for their continued support.

Empire’s scope of work included script writing, development of run-of-show, remote recordings, four on-site video productions at locations across New York, video editing, speaker advancement, live stream, program graphics, and microsite design. Additionally, Empire delivered five shortened video assets, one which would be used for an in-person gathering of vaccinated individuals at the Cardinal’s home the night of the event.

Empire is honored to work with Catholic Charities of Archdiocese of New York to help support the vital work they do, especially during unprecedented times.

View the full livestream here: https://catholiccharitiesgala2021.org/

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New 42 rang in the start of summer with one of the first live events to be held in New York City since the start of the pandemic.

Let’s Get this Show on the Street, a once-in-a-lifetime event, celebrated the re-opening of the vital cultural community in the heart of Times Square and the importance of arts education to change lives.

New 42 partnered with Empire to produce a socially distanced, public-facing concert, which was attended in-person by teachers and arts educators from all five New York City boroughs. In addition to the in-person event, Empire also produced a fully livestreamed program for the New 42 virtual audience. Working in tandem with the City of New York, New 42 and Empire were able to close 42nd Street between 7th and 8th avenues to bring the event to life.

The program featured performances by Sara Bareilles, Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, Dance Theater of Harlem, Chop & Quench featuring Sahr Ngaujak, Bill Irwin, the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, the Brooklyn United Marching Band, and DJ Duane Harriott, with video testimonials to arts education by John Leguizamo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kal Penn, Alison Pill, Michael James Scott, and Andrew Thomas and Lorenzo Carter from the NY Giants.

New 42 President and CEO, Russell Granet, and New 42 Board Chairman, Fiona Rudin, kicked off the program cheering the return of in-person theater and performances. The event honored the NYC Department of Education, with an award being accepted by Meisha Porter, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. Introducing Meisha was one of Broadway’s brightest stars, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The event also honored Jody Arnhold with the Marian Heiskell Award. Paying tribute to Jody Arnhold were Ballet legend Misty Copeland (virtual) and dance teacher DeAngelo Blanchard. The program also included a visit by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who spoke to the tremendous work that all of New York City’s teachers and arts educators have done throughout the pandemic as well as welcoming back in-person arts and entertainment to New York City!

Empire’s role included managing all technical production (staging, rigging, audio, video, livestream), permitting, layouts, scripting, talent booking and management, stage and production management, website development, as well as developing and managing a thorough on-site covid safety plan for all staff, crew, talent, and guests. Empire also worked with New 42 to create a safe and efficient on-site guest experience for registration and social distancing.

Empire is a leading producer of major civic and municipal events and is proud to work with organizations like the New 42 and Times Square Alliance to bring back live, in-person events.

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