The film focused on the resurgence of hope stimulated through the arts and through children in a country that had just survived a war. The documentary was completed in April of 1998 and shown in Los Angeles and Croatia.

In the summer of 1998, the newly born and named Trade City Productions returned to Croatia with a troupe of ten actors to performe in the International Children's Festival and at neighboring refugee camps.

Determined to find a local home for Trade City they searched for a non-traditional space to stage their second play High Glamour in Ypsilanti. The warehouse on Pico in Santa Monica was perfect for the desired effect of a full experience rather than a passive "night at the theater." A month-to-month lease was signed and the transformation began.

In 2000 Trade City introduced two programs, Out Loud and The Simple Stage which were opportunities for new and under-represented voices in the community to present their writings, propose new project ideas, and develop their work.

The work continued and knowledge of the innovative programming spread - largely through word of mouth. People began attending, volunteering, submitting ideas, hanging out, and forming a community from all over the diverse Los Angeles area. Trade City grew organically attracting and inspiring those who appreciated the philosophy of openness in an environment for free expression. Soon an active and loyal 20-person volunteer base and a subscriber base of over 300 regular attendees was built. Trade City established a reputation for being open and accessible to artists in need of new opportunities.

In August of 2001, after two years of successful events, the management of the Pico space changed the terms of the lease. Despite the efforts of all involved, a satisfactory agreement could not be reached and Trade City was forced to close its doors.

Although disappointing at first, This course of events provided Trade City with a much-needed opportunity to establish a more solid foundation for the organization.