Home | The LA Experience

THE LA EXPERIENCE is a 21st Century visitor adventure that is equal parts history & culture museum and immersive entertainment hub.

Before relocating to its permanent home on the LA River, THE LA EXPERIENCE will launch as a temporary visitor destination in advance of and during the ‘28 LA Olympic and Paralympic Games at the iconic Santa Monica Pier.

THE LA EXPERIENCE will be located in a 30,000-50,000 sq. foot custom tent situated south of the Santa Monica Pier. This site is a “must see” LA tourist attraction (it is the second most Instagrammed spot after Disneyland) with significant foot traffic. The IOC broadcast center will be just south of the tent, guaranteeing global TV exposure.

These exhibitions will be unified around a central welcome atrium which will house a variety of iconic LA hospitality and merchandise options, as well as additional standalone interactive experiences.

LA’s iconic food scene is celebrated with miniature versions of some of LA’s most iconic restaurants. These delicious options will be complemented by a full bar offering classic cocktails and new, LA-inspired inventions and a variety of merch options that feature eclectic LA outfits and one-of-a-kind art and collectibles by local designers and manufacturers.

THE EXPERIENCES

Experiences

CITY OF DREAMS

THE SOCAL SOUND

SPORTS CITY

CITY OF DREAMS

The central, marquee experience brings the history of LA to life, from its earliest roots to the birth of Hollywood to its current day status as a global cultural and creative hub.

The experience begins with a full wrap-around film experience, a deeply immersive six-minute narrative that transports you through space and time. As the experience ends, the dome splits open, inviting you to "step inside" this piece of epic cinema.

Once you step through the screen, you find yourself in a dreamland of things to see and do. Oversized scenery, interactive games, and dynamic audio-visual installations bring LA's history as an industrial, creative, and cultural life to jaw-dropping life.

THE SOCAL
SOUND

In the Socal Sound, 360-degree wrap around projections make the case for LA the capital of global music in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Hyperlocational audio highlights individual songs, lines, and snippets of dialogue while an archival video montage celebrates the people and places how make the LA music scene so vital.

The ceiling of the room features an interactive map of LA. As the 25-minute immersive documentary progresses, the streets and neighborhoods (like Laurel Canyon, Sunset Strip, Central Avenue, Compton) light up, giving a geographical understanding of the unique geometry of our city and the ways it has helped and hindered artist expression.

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SPORTS

CITY

The third experience puts you inside of the some of the greatest moments in LA sports history. From dunking over Bird at the Forum to ripping down the barrel in Malibu, fun and playful interactive photo ops and gamified sports experiences give you the feeling of becoming one of the iconic champions in the greatest sports city on Earth.

THE TEAM

The LA Experience is being brought to life by some of the most experienced executives and creatives in the immersive entertainment industry.

Harry Chandler

FOUNDER, BOARD CHAIR

Harry is a former media executive and is now an accomplished multimedia artist and civic leader. Previously, he worked as an executive and producer in the internet, feature film and network television businesses for companies including 20th Century Fox, Showtime, Hearst Entertainment, CBS, Dream City, the Los Angeles Times and Overture. He is a graduate of Stanford and attended graduate school at UCLA’s Anderson School and Film/TV Department.

Matty Dowlen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Matty has been producing events, artworks, and experiences since 2000, primarily as the production and operations lead for Obscura Digital, a creative studio at the forefront the immersive experience industry. Matty played a crucial role spearheading the development of the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. As CEO of Brilliant Work, Matty oversees the creative and operational vision for the company while leading a team of industry’s best producers and creators, delivering every project on time, on budget, and with the original creative vision fully intact.

Scott Nuñez-Peterman

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Scott is an ECD with over 20 years of experience delivering end-to-end creative direction and technology development for large scale events, interactive installations, and live shows. As Chief Creative Officer of Brilliant Work, he leads a team of world-class creatives across a wide variety of practices - from live action filmmaking and animation to interactive technology research and development to scenic design and production.

ADVISORS

The core team is augmented by a diverse group of advisors, representing a wide variety of disciplines and constituencies - from the entertainment industry, major city cultural institutions, local communities, and city government.

Eric Avila

Historian

Eric is a Professor and Core Faculty of Chicana/o Studies at UCLA. Avila received his PhD, MA, and BA in U.S. History from UC Berkeley.

Alice Bucknell

Game Designer

Alice is an artist, writer, and educator with a particular interest in game engines and speculative fiction. Bucknell received a MA in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and is on faculty at SCI-Arc.

Dr. Mark Cohen

Neuroscientist, Inventor, Musician

As an undergraduate student at Stanford and at MIT, Mark moved fluidly between majors in music, architecture, mechanical and electrical engineering, and ultimately in Human Biology. He was a co-inventor of functional MRI technology. He teaches at UCLA and is a founder of two biotech startups.

George Davis

Museum Director, Businessman

George formerely ran the Calif. African American Museum, and has been a senior executive at such companies as Technicolor, Sony Pictures and Globe Cast Satellites.

Bill Deverell

Historian

Bill is the Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences at USC Dornsife and Professor of History in the Van Hunnick Department of History. Professor Deverell teaches and writes about the American West. He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in History from Princeton and an A.B. American Studies from Stanford.

Juan Devis

TV Producer

Juan is a celebrated producer, creator and showrunner of TV shows primarily about L.A. . Prior to launching Ninety Three Media with former ICM chief executive officer Jeff Berg, he was the Chief Content Officer at KCET, where he, received over 30 Emmys.

Lynell George

Journalist

Lynell has had a long career in L.A. journalism as staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly, focusing on social issues, human behavior, visual arts, music and literature. Her writing has also appear in many other national publications.

Kimberly Johnson

Educator - Gabrieleno Tongva

Kimberly has been deeply involved in Native American politics and culture throughout her life. She earned a MA in Public Health and is now a PhD Candidate in Native American Studies at UC Davis.

Jordan Kerner

Film Producer

Jordan is a feature film producer, His most recent film, The Smurfs, grossed over $500 million. Kerner’s career in the entertainment industry has also included stints at CBS, ABC, Universal and QM Productions. A graduate from Stanford also with a JD-MBA from Berkeley and San Francisco.

Irma Munoz

Community Advocate

Irma is the Founder and Executive Director of Mujeres de la Tierra-an environmental equity non-profit. She is recognized for her leadership and development of creative and impactful approaches with community engagement. She graduated from the UC San Diego with a BA and earned a JD from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Noah Nelson

Immersive Exp. Journalist

Noah is the founder of No Proscenium, a publication dedicated to exploring the immersive and experiential arts. He teaches at CalArts and holds a BA in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University.

Jesse Nicita

Entrepreneur

Jesse brings extensive experience leading the global development of iconic artists and entertainment brands. He is the co-founder of Living Album Experience, a location-based entertainment company that invites guests to explore environments inspired by the lyrics, sounds and legends of the greatest albums ever recorded.

Jonathan Spaulding

Curator

Jonathan is an author, curator, and consultant focused on museum exhibition development. He has worked with the Agua Caliente Indians, USC, the Natural History Museum of LA,, the San Diego History Center, the Autry National Center. Jonathan has a B.A. from the UC Santa Cruz and a Ph.D.in history from UCLA.

Jimmy Spencer

Sports Media Executive

Spencer has built lasting and deep relationships among the world’s most influential athletes and influencers within sports culture. Jimmy is the SVP Talent Partnerships at Fulwell, formerly SpringHill Co..

Steve Tight

Former Disney Parks Exec

Steve has built and run international resorts/parks for Caesars and Disney (Hong Kong, Paris). Tight received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Rachael Warby

Music Producer & Conductor

Rachael is the founder and Artistic Director for MUSE/IQUE, telling music history through stories and live music. Formerly, she was the Assistant Conductor for the LA Philharmonic, and Music Director of the Pasadena Pops.

Alicia Yaffe

Music Industry Executive

In her time at major labels, management companies, and as an entrepreneur, Alicia has consistently created growth opportunities for legacy IP. With an eye towards building communities and elevating music as a force for good in the world, she is currently focused developing new experiences to make live entertainment more accessible.

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