Red Carpet originated from a single walk along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, where director Scott Altman was struck by the contrast between Hollywood glamour and the harsh realities of street life. Witnessing the mixture of tourists, street performers, and the city’s underbelly of dealers, pimps, and sex workers, Altman felt compelled to craft a story that captured this world.

The narrative evolved further after a chance encounter in Las Vegas with rapper Yella, whose connections and insight inspired the casting of lead actress Wittie Hughes. The film blends real-life observations, stories shared by locals, and heightened imagination to deliver a crime-thriller grounded in gritty realism. Many of the actors were first-timers or non-professionals, bringing authenticity and unique talents to the project.

Shot in just 7 days, the production faced extreme limitations in time, resources, and crew. Altman combined minimal crew, improvisation, and condensed scripting — inspired in part by a chance conversation with filmmaker Yann Demange (Top Boy, White Boy Rick), whose advice helped shape the film’s balance of raw realism and stylised storytelling. The film’s aesthetic reflects Altman’s lifelong fascination with street culture and first-hand experiences of life in challenging environments, from LA’s Skid Row to slums in Southeast Asia.

The title Red Carpet carries layered meaning: it evokes the glamour of awards ceremonies, hints at danger with connotations of blood, and refers to a street term describing a working girl who is “too good to work the streets,” symbolising the film’s themes of aspiration, risk, and survival.