Beyond the red carpet: What Tudum says about the future of entertainment storytelling

There are assignments that change you, and then there are experiences that remind you exactly why you do what you do. My trip to Netflix’s “Tudum” global fan event was both.

As someone who has spent over 15 years in entertainment journalism — interviewing stars, chasing exclusives and living in the adrenaline rush of media deadlines — I thought I had seen it all. But “Tudum,” held in the heartbeat of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, shattered my expectations and reshaped yet again the way I see entertainment marketing and storytelling in the age of streaming and digital culture.

It wasn’t just an event. It was a movement.

Netflix, being the global streaming powerhouse that it is, could easily mount the biggest fan event or should we call it the “MET GALA” of fandom anywhere in the world.

A few years back, it was in Brazil even, but they were very particular about holding it in the center of it all in Hollywood. A great homage, too, to redirect focus on such a setting, where we all are slowly moving on from but still should not forget when it comes to entertainment settings.

Walking into the “Tudum” venue felt like stepping into the future of global entertainment events. Netflix had created a massive, immersive playground for fans and media like us alike. The sheer scale of the production was overwhelming — towering LED screens, interactive fan zones, life-sized sets from hit series and the palpable energy of creators, talent and fans from all over the world.

‘Squid Game’ stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun

It was the first time we experienced what they called a hype entrance. Usually the fountains and smoke machines and high-energy, dramatic reveal that creates maximum visual impact are only for the stars and main characters of a said show. But this time, Netflix made sure that we experienced it for ourselves and did this to all the hundreds of creators and stars from all over the world to experience.

There was even the MC who so diligently made sure he knew our names properly as he hyped up the fans for each of our entrance! An insane experience indeed to start off the event!

As a journalist, I was there to observe and report. But as a creator, which we all now are, I was there to absorb and be inspired.

What stood out to me most was how Netflix understands the evolution of fandom — and of creators. “Tudum” wasn’t just for passive audiences. It was an open invitation for participation.

The author joins The Thing, from ‘Wednesday,’ on the red carpet.

It was a living, breathing celebration of what connects us: story.

The exclusive previews and first looks with stars from “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game,” “Knives Out,” “Happy Gilmore 2” and so many more, the program itself had so much audience participation and sentimental look backs that reminded us in the audience and the millions of viewers around the world why they were watching the title since day one or why they were watching it in the first place.

Many moments tugged at our hearts. We were given front-row access to what’s next — and why it matters.

What struck me deeply was how content-centric “Tudum” was. As a journalist who also thrives in traditional media and the digital creator world — especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook — the event was a goldmine of visual content and storytelling opportunities the moment we arrived at our hotel and the next two days before the actual event.

We had three social events. The first was with creators from APAC, next was the brunch-ette themed rooftop party at the posh Pendry hotel in West Hollywood, where we already got to bond with creators from the other parts of the world.

It was cute because by the end of the event, we saw the Filipino creators who were born and raised abroad and ended up bonding with them.

We met Angelo and Lexy Marasigan who are now based in Los Angeles, Emerson Mallari and Sabrina Olaso who are based in Canada, Ayn Bernos who flew in with me and of course, Filipina superstar Liza Soberano, who is so hard-working in LA.

On a side note for the fans, what we can appreciate about Liza is how she is such a stickler for upping her skills. After learning the Meisner acting technique, she is studying again to broaden her offerings in the auditions she has in Hollywood. She also will be featured in the cinematic podcast of the hot director Sarah Bahbah.

“I’m actually very nervous about it coming out but also very excited because I was very vulnerable, it was a pretty big moment for me personally,” she said.

Going back to “Tudum” learnings, Netflix understands that storytellers today don’t just want to watch shows — they want to live inside them. Right smack in the middle of the red carpet was a huge hand which was “Thing” in the much awaited “Wednesday” Season 2, which is coming this August. From the pre-party, red carpet to the after-party, too, there were video themed stations of your favorite movies and shows and life-size sets that you can easily download and share with the world that are also a marketing strategy for the show while the storyteller is enjoying the experience. It’s always going beyond the title with Netflix.

And of course, with capturing everything, the event that “Tudum” right now ushered in is making it possible for the storyteller to be posting real-time updates, behind-the-scenes reels, reaction videos and even exclusive interviews with showrunners and stars with the set-up they put in place. The engagement was massive because they already thought what we were thinking even before we got there and more. They also had in mind that the guests, audience felt like they were right there with us, and that’s the power of this new era: access, authenticity and amplification. Tudum!