22 Show-Stopping Ideas From Summer's Biggest TV Premieres

Special Event Contractors engineered and built an elevated platform that served as the party pavilion, and the black-and-white photos were projected onto the 65-foot-tall wall of Paramount Studios’ Blue Sky Tank. The moving projection was created by Bart Kresa Design. Meanwhile, Images by Lighting emphasized Butchavitz’s use of pattern and the color red. “The lighting enhanced and amplified the raw graphic statement that I was trying to convey,” said Butchkavitz. 

The after-party for the seventh season premiere of HBO series Game of Thrones took place July 12 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The star-studded event, which was produced by Billy Butchkavitz Design, featured a screening of the episode accompanied by a live orchestra. Afterward, guests traveled across the street to the rooftop of the Classic Parking garage. The structure had no elevators, so Special Event Contractors created a series of bridges and ramps that allowed guests to walk to the roof.

During the event, projections by Bart Kresa Design moved continuously, depicting images such as a dragon flying and breathing fire, and montages of every cast member’s official character posters. “Together we were able to create a special little Game of Thrones kingdom in the sky,” said Butchkavitz, who worked alongside his brother Brian under the direction of Lauren McMahon, senior vice president of awards campaigns and special events at HBO.

“My goal was to create a Game of Thrones museum,’ explained Butchavitz. Images by Lighting helped create a moody, winter-like environment, and spotlighted the event’s Game of Thrones-style paintings, sculptures, photography, textiles, and more. Paper costumes inspired by the show's costumer designer, Michele Clapton, were highlighted in display cases throughout the event. 

Town & Country Event Rentals carpeted the entire 40,000-square-foot rooftop, and also supplied dining tables, chairs, and other rentals.

The DJ booth—where DJ Daisy O’Dell entertained the crowd—was a white replica of the show’s Iron Throne, and the dance floor depicted a map of the fictional setting of Westeros. Statues of the Night King, a villain from the show, stood on both sides of the booth. Other entertainment, such as dancers and stilt-walkers, were provided by Fire Groove Entertainment, and food was provided by the Food Matters. 200 Proof handled staffing.

Amazon Studios teamed up with Agenc Experiental & Digital Marketing on August 2 to create a whimsical, family-friendly experience for the premiere of Lost in Oz. The screening and after-party echoed the show’s modern, futuristic take on The Wizard of Oz. When guests entered NeueHouse in Hollywood, they found a blank, raw space. When they emerged from the 47-minute screening, however, the space was transformed into a dream-like environment, with neon decor and a 20-foot turning gear kinetic tower installation. 

Throughout the party, guests could enjoy kid-friendly interactive moments such as a photo booth, a tablet-controlled racetrack, and a chemistry set activation where they could make their own slime, bouncy balls, and whirlpools in a jar. Drinks and snacks were served by 200 Proof. 

For the premiere of HBO documentary series The Defiant Ones, which was held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on June 22, designer Billy Butchkavitz went for a dramatic, sculptural look. Cube sculptures produced by Agile Eye Solutions defined the three sections of the party, and the red color scheme took inspiration from the color of Beats by Dre headphones.

The four-part documentary follows the relationship between rapper and record producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine. Butchkavitz centered the premiere-party decor around bold images of the two, drawing from HBO’s ad campaign that featured black-and-white photos of legendary musicians with the word “defiant.” The event’s decor also featured artwork from Iovine’s Los Angeles residence.

The sculptural elements continued to the flowers, greenery, and vases, and servers from 200 Proof wore black shirts with the word "defiant."

For the launch of TNT’s new series Will, which centers on a young William Shakespeare, the network worked with Empire Entertainment to produce a premiere screening on New York’s Bryant Park lawn in June. Guests viewed the premiere episode on a large screen while enjoying food from Hester Street Fair vendors, including the aptly named “To Banh Mi or Not to Banh Mi.” After the screening, guests walked to the Bryant Park Grill, which had been transformed into a festive Elizabethan party.

The event’s decor took inspiration from the unconventional period drama, juxtaposing Elizabethan England with punk-rock street art. Shelves were stacked with books and skulls, and tapestries and British rustic furnishings sat alongside on-theme rock posters. The event’s soundtrack featured music from the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Jam.

At a photo booth, guests posed with on-theme props in front of street-art-style posters. There were also tattoo and calligraphy stations, and guests enjoyed British pub food and drinks throughout the evening.

HBO comedy series Insecure celebrated the premiere of its second season with a block party on July 15, which took place at Miracle Theatre and the South Market Street block in Inglewood, California. The event, which was produced by Team Epiphany, drew inspiration from the show’s setting, and featured food and drinks from local eateries including Earle’s on Crenshaw and Randy’s Donuts. 

Guests were able to shop at local Inglewood stores, and to visit a custom pop-up shop with local vendors. They were also gifted “Hella Swag Bags.” DJ Kiss and Ms. Nix performed at the block party, and cast and crew mingled with fans. There were also Insecure-theme photo booths available.

The block party also featured an exclusive screening of the season-two premiere. Attendees could enjoy popcorn and on-theme drinks.

To promote the new series Snowfall, which tells the story of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles in the 1980s, FX hosted a public pop-up experience in downtown L.A. in June. Inside the ’80s-theme space, graffiti covered the walls, DJs played old-school hip-hop music, and coffee tables took the shape of classic cassette tapes. 

The space was designed to depict the location and era when Snowfall takes place. A ceiling-length mural of Los Angeles streets cut through the middle of the room. 

HBO’s Ballers celebrated its season-three premiere with a retail pop-up shop in West Hollywood. The store, which was open to the public July 21 to 22, featured luxury items from six brands—such as ROC96 x MadeWorn, Buscemi, and Pyer Moss—that were meant to help guests experience “the style of a baller.” 

“We are excited to bring the Ballers aesthetic to life for our fans,” said the show’s costume designer, Tiffany Hasbourne, in a press release. “This is going to be the most action-packed and stylish season of Ballers yet, so there was no other way to launch than with a fully immersive experience to capture that energy and offer our audience the opportunity to shop the Ballers-inspired collection.”

At the shop’s V.I.P. launch event on July 20, artist Logan Real customized shoes for guests, while DJ Wonder performed. 

Outside, branded cars drew attention to the pop-up. The activation was produced by Team Epiphany.

The premiere party for the final season of Orphan Black took place June 6 at Vandal in New York. Hosted by BBC America and produced by Shortlist Agency, the event featured a colorful mural with illustrations of the various clones played by the show’s star, Tatiana Maslany. One section of the wall served as a backdrop for a photo booth. 

To get into the venue, guests walked through a long hallway that featured audio and signage of quotes from the series. 

TBS promoted the the second season of its deserted island comedy Wrecked with a fan experience involving a pop-up “island”—a floating barge transformed with scattered luggage and airplane seats, mechanical boar rides and other games, and plenty of sand and palm trees. A large TBS sand sculpture greeted attendees and stood in front of the island’s focal point: a real salvaged fuselage branded with Lotus Airlines, a nod to the show. Hadley Media produced the activation, which debuted June 15 in Marina Del Rey, California, then traveled down the coast before docking at the marina outside the San Diego Convention Center for the duration of Comic-Con International.