Disney Launches Creator Event Created in L.A.
Disney’s inaugural creator gathering, Created in L.A., kicked off at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. Over 350 creators, innovators and industry leaders converged to discuss the future of creator‑led storytelling and its business model. Disney executives, including President Dana Walde…
By Felo News Desk · Published
On Thursday night, the iconic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood became the launchpad for Disney’s first-ever creator‑centric event, Created in L.A. The evening drew more than 350 creators, innovators, and industry leaders from around the globe, all eager to exchange ideas, forge new relationships, and chart the future of creator‑led storytelling and its commercial potential.
From Pitch to Premiere
The idea behind Created in L.A. began with Jon Youshaei, a creator, entrepreneur, and media personality who has held leadership roles at YouTube and Instagram. Youshaei, who is known for in‑depth interviews with high‑profile creators such as MrBeast, Mark Rober and Kevin Hart, pitched Disney the concept of showcasing creator videos on the big screen. He envisioned a night where the same content people watch on phones and laptops could be celebrated on a red‑carpet stage, surrounded by 350 of the world’s most creative minds.
Disney executives heard Youshaei’s enthusiasm and said yes. The result was a two‑day event featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and networking sessions. The first day opened with Youshaei’s presentation, where he highlighted the collective reach of the attendees: more than 800 million YouTube subscribers, 80 million Instagram followers, and over 350 million TikTok fans—an impressive 1.6 billion‑strong audience.
Disney’s Vision for Creator Collaboration
President and Chief Creative Officer Dana Walden opened the event with remarks about the significance of the El Capitan Theatre, a venue that has hosted premieres of classics like The Lion King, The Avengers, Frozen, Coco and Lilo & Stitch. Walden emphasized the unique relationship creators have with their audiences—knowing them intimately, listening to feedback in real time, and adjusting content instantly. She contrasted this immediacy with the traditional studio model, where films and series can take years to reach audiences.
Walden expressed hope that the two‑day event would be a learning exchange: “We’ll exchange ideas and learn from each other—some of what makes your storytelling so special rubs off on us, and some of what we’ve learned about telling stories over many decades will be useful to you.” She concluded by inviting creators to collaborate on future projects, suggesting that Created in L.A. could be the start of new storytelling partnerships.
Global Participation and Networking
Attendees represented a wide array of countries, including Argentina, Australia, England, the Netherlands, Canada, Georgia and Morocco. The diversity of voices underscored the global reach of creator culture and the potential for cross‑cultural storytelling. Throughout the evening, creators had opportunities to network with Disney executives, discuss potential collaborations, and explore the business side of creator‑led content.
Celebrating Emerging Talent
The night concluded with the presentation of the Golden State Award, an accolade recognizing filmmakers with significant subscriber counts or impactful work. The first recipients were Lucas and Curtis Nicotra, known online as Sticks, for their film The Technoblade Movie. The award was presented alongside Zach King’s parody of Star Wars, titled Cardboard Strikes Back, which also received a Golden State Award.
These recognitions highlighted the event’s focus on celebrating both established and emerging creators, reinforcing Disney’s commitment to nurturing new storytelling talent.
What’s Next?
While the event’s first day concluded on a high note, the second day of Created in L.A. promises deeper dives into monetization strategies, platform partnerships, and the evolving role of creators in mainstream media. Disney and the creator community are poised to explore how traditional storytelling techniques can blend with the agility and authenticity of creator culture.
As Disney continues to adapt to the digital age, Created in L.A. serves as a tangible step toward integrating creator‑led content into the broader entertainment ecosystem. The collaboration between Disney’s seasoned storytelling expertise and the fresh perspectives of creators could herald a new era of innovative, audience‑centric narratives.
For now, the event has set the stage for future collaborations, leaving creators and Disney executives alike eager to see what stories they can craft together.
Key facts
- Disney’s first creator event, Created in L.A., launched at El Capitan Theatre
- Over 350 creators from 7 countries attended, showcasing 1.6 billion combined followers
- President Dana Walden highlighted the immediacy of creator content versus traditional film timelines
- The event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between Disney and creators
- Golden State Award honored emerging creators like Sticks and Zach King for impactful work
Why it matters
Created in L.A. bridges the gap between traditional studio storytelling and the rapid, audience‑centric world of online creators, opening doors for fresh narratives and new business models in entertainment.
Frequently asked questions
What is Created in L.A.?
Created in L.A. is a two‑day event organized by Disney to bring together creators, innovators, and industry leaders to discuss the future of creator‑led storytelling and its business model.
Who organized the event?
The event was conceived and hosted by Jon Youshaei, a creator and former executive at YouTube and Instagram.
Where did the event take place?
It opened at the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, a venue known for film premieres.
What award was presented?
The Golden State Award was given to creators with significant subscriber counts, including Lucas and Curtis Nicotra (Sticks) and Zach King.
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Dana Walden Envisions Partnerships Between Creators and Disney at Created in L. A. Kickoff Event: ‘Maybe We Can Tell Some Stories Together’”
