Fast Company Announces First L.A. Creativity Counter-Conference

NEW YORK, April 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast Company, in partnership with 72andSunny, announced today that it will host its first ever Creativity Counter-Conference in Los Angeles, May 6 – 7, 2015. Over the course of two days, the event will gather some of the most creative minds in business, technology, design, and entertainment for a series of inspiring one-on-one conversations and hands-on sessions.

The event will also celebrate the newest additions to Fast Company's annual "Most Creative People In Business" list, which will be announced online May 11 and in the June issue, on newsstands May 18.

CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS

• The Honest Company's Jessica Alba, Brian Lee, Christopher Gavigan and Sean Kane
• Pitch Perfect 2 Screenwriter Kay Cannon and actress Rebel Wilson
• Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton
• American Apparel CEO Paula Schneider
• OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Co-presidents Sheri Salata & Erik Logan,
• Difficult People, an original scripted Hulu series, co-creator, writer and star Julie Klausner
• "Funny or Die" CEO and President Dick Glover
• SoulPancake CEO Shabnam Mogharabi
• Big Gay Ice Cream Co-founders Douglas Quint & Bryan Petroff,
• Reformation Founder and CEO Yael Aflalo

THE AGENDA

Day 1, May 6: Neighborhood Deep Dives
Attendees will gather in the neighborhood of their choice—Hollywood, Downtown L.A., Playa Vista or Santa Monica—for a series of intimate and engaging sessions hosted by some of LA's most intriguing leaders in the offices and work spaces where their ideas come to life.

Highlights include:

• A behind-the-scenes tour of the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network's new Hollywood-based production studio led by Co-presidents Sheri Salata and Erik Logan
• An insightful discussion about the journey of a script from ideation to completion with Hulu executives and Difficult People's Julie Klausner
• A visit to the Playa Vista headquarters of TOMS and a discussion with leaders from across the business about new ways of incorporating giving into corporate missions
• A tour of Reformation's downtown factory—the first sustainable sewing factory in the country—followed by a conversation with Founder and CEO Yael Aflalo on the company's efforts to reduce the impact of fashion on the environment

THE AGENDA, con'td.

Day 2, May 7: Counter-Conference
The event will continue on the campus of 72andSunny's Playa Vista headquarters with a full-day schedule that will include keynotes, conversations and hands-on workshops, followed by end-of-day cocktails, dinner and a comedy performance by L.A. based, "The Super Serious Show," presented by Funny or Die, the Emmy-winning comedy video website. Comedian Kurt Braunohler, who has appeared on "Conan," "@midnight," and "The Tonight Show" is confirmed to headline the show.

Keynote highlights will include:

Creativity in Comedy: In anticipation of the May 15 release of Universal Pictures' "PITCH PERFECT 2," screenwriter Kay Cannon and actress Rebel Wilson will share behind-the-scenes stories from the film, with a focus on the business of comedy, the power of female-led roles in entertainment, and how to infuse imagination into a film franchise. 

The Creative World of Being Honest: The Honest Company founder and chief creative officer Jessica Alba will share how she uses creativity as an entrepreneur.

Re-Imagining "Reading Rainbow:" Actor and producer LeVar Burton will discuss the next chapter of creativity for the "Reading Rainbow," following the record-setting Kickstarter campaign to revive his popular series. 

The Creative Turnaround of American Apparel: CEO Paula Schneider will talk in detail about the future of the company post-Dov Charney and how she used creativity to manage the brand's pivot.

TICKETS
To purchase tickets and to see the complete schedule of events, times and locations, go to fastcompany.com/fcla

SPONSORS

Microsoft: At FC/LA, Microsoft and Fast Company present a brand-new initiative that seeks to identify, celebrate, and guide a new age of creative, socially driven actions called Create GOOD. We're asking the creative community to nominate non-profits that we can pair with the world's foremost creative thinkers and doers, to connect, collaborate and literally make new things happen. On-site at 72andSunny, we'll ask this "creative class" to tell us more about their nominated non-profit and why they care about it through an interactive video booth. Three will be selected and flown to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to lead a workshop dedicated to furthering that cause through the creation of a logo, website, creative, business plan and much more. For additional information visit creategoodwithmicrosoft.com.

Virgin Atlantic: Virgin Atlantic recognizes that industry leaders view business as an adventure. And they want to help them make it epic. Through social and live activations, FC/LA attendees will get to experience the innovations that Richard Branson's transatlantic airline has introduced in Los Angeles to help them make the most out of every business journey. On May 6, Fast Company and Virgin Atlantic will reveal the details of a secret Neighborhood Deep-Dive in London in June. Guests will be invited to share how they make business an adventure (by Tweeting @Virgin_Atlantic with #LetItFly) for the chance to win a spot on an epic, expense-paid trip to experience it first-hand. Prize includes round trip, Upper Class service between LAX and London on their new 787. On May 7, guests will enjoy cocktails and photo opps at a pop-up version of Virgin Atlantic's brand new LAX Clubhouse, which officially opens at the end of April.

Chivas Regal: As the exclusive spirits sponsor, Chivas Regal joins Fast Company in celebrating entrepreneurs at some of LA's most groundbreaking start-ups. Chivas will be providing creative libations to toast the culmination of a year-long partnership called "The Venture," in which the two brands collaborated to identify aspiring social entrepreneurs whose startups use business as a force for good. The Venture will be revealing global finalists on May 11, who are competing to win $1 million dollars to further their businesses.

Zico: ZICO^® Premium Coconut Water™ presents a "Productivity Workshop," where guests at FC/LA will engage with creative influencers who are changing the way we work today. To help jumpstart fresh thinking, ZICO will present a walking content session, which will encourage participants to flourish inside and out by tapping into Fast Company's relationships with unstoppable entrepreneurs who will share their productivity tips and creative inspiration.

Illy: Illy will serve coffee to FC/LA attendees throughout the day on May 7 to raise awareness about their documentary, "A Small Section of the World," directed by Lesley Chilcott. The film tells an inspirational story about a group of women from a remote farming region of Costa Rica whose ideas sparked a revolution in the coffee growing world. The trailer can be viewed at asmallsectionoftheworld.com.

ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is one of the world's leading business media brands, with an editorial focus on creativity and innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc. and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

ABOUT 72AND SUNNY
72andSunny creates cultural impact on behalf of brands. The company is recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 2015 and is a two-time "Agency of the Year" winner for Advertising Age and Adweek. With offices in Los Angeles, Amsterdam and New York, 72andSunny's clients include Activision, adidas, Axe, Carl's Jr./Hardee's, Carlsberg, ESPN, Google, Samsung, Smirnoff, Sonos, Starbucks, Target, Tillamook and truth. For more information, visit www.72andsunny.com.

Fastcompany.com/fcla | #FCLA15 | @fastcompany

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