On an uncharacteristically rainy night in Los Angeles, a group of actors, influencers, and members of the press met in a parking lot in Hollywood, ready to be transported to a mysterious location for dinner. All they knew was that the event would be promoting Freeform's upcoming series
Good Trouble, a spin-off of popular family drama
The Fosters.
After loading into a van and taking a quick drive up the Hollywood Hills, attendees discovered their dinner venue:
three large moving trucks parked in an open-air field directly below the iconic Hollywood sign. The trucks were branded with Freeform and
Good Trouble signage, and the back of each opened to reveal three distinct, design-forward dining rooms inspired by the show's themes of friendship, love, and young adulthood.
The idea of meshing the wildly disparate appearance of an empty truck and a really warm communal dining experience was inspired by
Good Trouble's pilot episode, in which two women in their mid-20s move to Los Angeles only to have their U-Haul towed and all of their possessions stolen. Ultimately, the pair finds their footing after a fun communal dinner with their new roommates. It was really about creating this compare and contrast about what it means to be entering young adulthood and how quickly things can go awry and our inability to expect the unexpected.
The organizers themselves discovered how quickly things can go awry when the forecast called for pouring rain on November 29, the night of the first dinner. The rain was a big challenge due to the uniqueness of the location and the need to get people up safely. A heated tent was added to the cocktail area, outdoor carpeting kept guests from sinking into the mud, and staffers were on hand to help navigate the wet stairs leading into the trucks. Once seated for dinner, attendees were given warm blankets.
Other than slight modifications, though, the evening moved forward as planned with an on-theme meal from Love Catering. Designed to reflect upgraded versions of common foods young roommates eat, highlights of the nine-dish meal included hot dogs covered with edible gold foil; chocolate sprinkle doughnuts filled with bacon, tomato, and ketchup; and fruit-covered panna cotta in the shape of faces and hearts.
Ultimately, the goal was to bring an intimate group—each night was limited to 30 people—together to eat, bond, learn about the show, and get to know the cast in an unexpected environment.
Next, Freeform took the experience to the fans. This past weekend, the three trucks were parked on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, where consumers were able to learn about the series, check out the decor, and taste a modified version of the meal. A fourth truck also traveled around Los Angeles, serving as both a mobile billboard and as a vending machine where fans answered questions about what kind of “good trouble” they planned to get into over the weekend. Depending on their answer, they were entered to win a series of related prizes like hangover kits, breath mints, playing cards, or even underwear.
So, would you host a dinner party in a moving truck? After seeing this awesome event, we know we would! Get inspired and
devour the details of hosting your very own exciting experience!
