| EVENT REPORT 02.20.09 4:38 PM |
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Mindful of Public Perception, Oscar Gift Suites Increase Charity Focus
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 | An outdoor bar at GBK's suite at the SLS Hotel
Photo: BizBash |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
It's not entirely a new thing for gift suites surrounding big award shows to align themselves with charities. But what's new this Oscar season in Los Angeles is the extent of the suites' focus on (and publicity about) their philanthropic connections—perhaps an effort to ease the perception of celebrity gluttony in the midst of the difficult economic times.
High above Beverly Hills at a private residence, Hachette Filipacchi Media's Haven suite setup began Wednesday and continues through today. By night, the venue is featuring a series of events from studio parties to fashion shows, and by day, the property features spa services like manicures and cellulite-reducing procedures, as well as product gifting. The Creative Coalition and Warren-Tricomi are joining forces with celebrities in attendance to tape public service announcements for the Creative Coalition's "It Starts with the Arts" campaign, a program supporting the arts that will appear in print and broadcast.
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RELATED TOPICS
Oscars, Award Season, Gift Suites, OPI, American Laser Centers, Chrysalis, Creative Coalition, Warren-Tricomi, RevitaLash, Milus, Hachette Filipacchi |
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| NEWS 02.18.09 11:17 AM |
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Oscar Week: Vanity Fair's Back, Mercedes Moves to Montage, Governors Ball Tones Down, Suites Abound
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 | The 2008 Governors Ball
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
The catastrophic state of the economy hardly bears repeating here—except to say that it hasn't done much to diminish the sheer number of Academy Awards-related event offerings on this week's calendar, even if it has affected those events' budgets. From an array of suites to Vanity Fair's apparently triumphant return, many guests' dance cards—even in this recession—are completely full.
The plethora of gift and hospitality suites around town include GBK’s “Circus of the Senses” at the SLS Hotel on Friday and Saturday. The event will give 20 percent of its proceeds to four charitable organizations. Melanie Segal’s “Be the Change” Oscar lounge, presented by Sensé Beautiful Science, will take to the Pali House on Thursday and Friday. Silver Spoon’s suite today and tomorrow benefiting the Chrysalis organization offers spa treatments, caviar tasting, and gifts. Stuart Weitzman's Oscar styling suite kicked off yesterday at the London West Hollywood hotel, and runs through Saturday with beauty treatments and a chance to peek at the shoe designer's 2009 red-carpet collection.
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Oscars, Award Season, Vanity Fair, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gift Suites, Chrysalis, 95.3 the Beat, Brandaid, Sense Beautiful Science, Tag the World, Essence Magazine, Stuart Weitzman, Governors Ball, W.W.E., Global Green, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, U.S.-Ireland Alliance, Montblanc, Unicef, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Children Uniting Nations, Dior, BMW, Chopard, VH1, AIDS Project Los Angeles |
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| NEWS 02.16.09 1:53 PM |
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Economy Is Coloring Oscar Week—But Events Are On and Telecast May Be Musical, Upbeat
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FROM LOS ANGELES
Will the economy cast a pall over Oscar week? The short answer is yes and no.
In a year when an upbeat movie, Slumdog Millionaire, is expected by some to sweep top honors, the overall tone of the show might be upbeat as well. With new producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark, who are behind the movie Dreamgirls, the award ceremony may have a reimagined format—although no one is disclosing too many details yet. Hugh Jackman is the program's host—despite the fact that that spot is typically reserved for a comedian. So some expect to see a music-focused show, according to Reuters, which also pointed out that, earlier in the month, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Sid Ganis promised the show's producers "are going to take some risks, many risks, some bold."
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RELATED TOPICS
Oscars, Award Season, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Budgets, Gift Suites, Hugh Jackman, Vanity Fair, Governors Ball |
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| NEWS 02.05.09 5:30 PM |
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Despite a Few No-Shows, Robust Slate of Grammy Events to Blanket L.A.
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 | Will.i.am kicking off the "Worlds on Fire" exhibition
Photo: Kevin Parry |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
Despite some notable high-profile absences, there are still plenty of contenders for guests' time on the Grammy week calendar this year—including some newcomers to the scene.
On Monday, Will.i.am and Gen Art kicked off the week with the opening night of the "Worlds on Fire" artist exhibition downtown. Portraits honored 2009 nominees such as Al Green, Beck, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Madonna, M.I.A, Nas, Nine Inch Nails, Paul McCartney, and Radiohead. Jacob’s Creek supplied beverages, and guests browsed a silent auction. Proceeds benefited the Black Eyed Peas’ Peapod Foundation and other local charities for L.A. youth. The exhibit runs through Sunday at the Pacific Electric Lofts.
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RELATED TOPICS
Grammys, Recording Academy, Award Season, Gift Suites, Gen Art, In Touch Weekly, Asics, Jacob's Creek, Rhino, Peapod Foundation, Nu-Soul Magazine, Lite Brite, Universal Motown Republic Group, Island Def Jam, Los Angeles Magazine, L.A. Works, MTV Games, Rock Band |
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| EVENT REPORT 01.12.09 10:59 AM |
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Economic Climate Tinges Golden Globes Suites—But Hardly Banishes Them
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FROM LOS ANGELES
As has become de rigeur when big award shows roll into town, a robust slate of gift and hospitality suites blanketed Beverly Hills and the surrounding areas in the days preceding the Golden Globes, which were presented last night. But did the economy affect the offerings?
"Established brands can weather the storm. The HBO Luxury Lounge runs itself, and we sell at least half of it out a year in advance," said Britt Johnson of Mediaplacement, which produces the network's suites at the Four Seasons. This year, the event again brought 12 vendors to the second floor of the hotel. "As much as people are cutting back in advertising, this sort of marketing seems to do better because it's really effective. When you get 100 shots with celebrities [together with products], you don't have to do that three or four times a year."
In addition to product giveaways, HBO's setup also offered beauty treatments from an all-white lounge down the hall where L'Oréal Paris makeup artists, hairstylists, and manicurists set up shop.
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RELATED TOPICS
Award Season, Golden Globes, Gift Suites, HBO, In Style Magazine, Zune, Visual Impact Now |
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| NEWS 01.08.09 10:53 AM |
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Golden Globes Weekend: Who's Going Where
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FROM LOS ANGELES
On Sunday night, the Golden Globes ceremony will take place in the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton, after last year's hiatus from all the pomp. But the frenzy of activity—perhaps minimally dampened in tough economic times as another strike threat looms—starts days earlier. Here's a look at the related events.
The usual proliferation of gift and hospitality suites will take over town, albeit with a somewhat softer character this time around. Kari Feinstein's Style Lounge is getting one of the earliest starts, kicking off today at the Zune L.A. space to benefit Visual Impact Now, which provides eyecare to children. (Feinstein is also staging a version of the suites at Sundance a week later.) GBK Productions will bring its suites to the 9900 Club in the old Friar's Club space, around the corner from the Hilton, on Friday and Saturday.
HBO's Luxury Lounge, with its L'Oréal Paris beauty suite, will take to the Four Seasons on Doheny on Friday. The Boom Boom Room's children's and parenting wares gift suites will open at the Century Plaza on Friday and Saturday.
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RELATED TOPICS
Golden Globes, Award Season, Gift Suites, HBO, In Style Magazine, NBC Universal, Cartier, Warner Brothers, Los Angeles Confidential, Visual Impact Now |
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| Q & A 01.08.09 8:00 AM |
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Sundance's Sarah Pearce Adds Opening Gala While Fighting for Sponsor Dollars
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 | Sundance Film Festival's Sarah Pearce
Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival |
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Sarah Pearce is the director of operations for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah—which opens next Thursday, January 15, and runs through January 25. Affiliated with the organization since 1999, Pearce oversees all operational departments, including ticketing, the filmmaker office, sponsorships, theater operations, security, production, and technical services.
Sundance opens with a gala next week. Why add it this year, and what’s in store?
The reason behind adding a gala is because we are having our 25th anniversary of the festival, and we wanted to create an event that was intimate that celebrated the anniversary, as well as an opportunity for us to raise some extra money in this hard economic time. It’s not formal—nothing is formal at Sundance—but it is intimate and high-end in caliber. We’re going to have a nice dinner, special programming, and performances and appearances by people and filmmakers who have been with us for a long time.
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RELATED TOPICS
Sundance, Proposition 8, Sponsorships, Gift Suites, Budgets, Economy |
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| NEWS 01.07.09 3:56 PM |
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Is Golden Globes Swag Waning in the Recession?
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 | Kari Feinstein's suite setup for the Emmys
Photo: BizBash |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
As the Golden Globes draw nearer, a host of gifting suites are getting ready to open their doors around town. But Variety reports that the offerings may be scaled back this year, or at least have a softer tone. Organizers such as On 3 Productions, GBK Productions, and Kari Feinstein PR are seeing a decline in paid sponsor participation and feeling the need to associate their events with charity tie-ins during the economic downturn, during which the exchange of goods for, well, nothing, might seem distasteful. The charity component is not new this award season, and has been steadily picking up speed in recent years, as we've reported.
Golden Globes organizers told Variety that between last year's strike and this year's economic calamity there's always some issue surrounding the show. Feinstein's partner Mike McGuiness told the Hollywood trade, "This year the pain in the ass is equal but different." —Alesandra Dubin
RELATED TOPICS
Golden Globes, Award Season, Gift Suites |
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| NEWS 09.17.08 11:50 AM |
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Emmy Parties and Suites: Who's Going Where
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 | The scene at HBO's 2007 Emmy party
Photo: Gabor Ekecs |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
A scant couple weeks after MTV's Video Music Awards brought a less-than-staggering number of big events into town, the 60th annual Emmy awards show will take to the Nokia Theatre on Sunday night with an anything-but-underwhelming slate of parties and suites on its heels.
On Saturday night, Entertainment Weekly's sixth-annual pre-awards bash, presented by Revlon, will take to the Beverly Hills Post Office. ID-PR is handling publicity.
Sunday night following the awards is when the crush of competing events takes over town. The Academy of Televsion Arts & Sciences' Governors Ball will be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center's West Hall with a "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"-inspired look, produced by Sequoia Productions. Meanwhile, TV Guide’s sixth annual party will take over the Kress, with design by Event Eleven. And HBO's party will take over the Fountain Plaza at the Pacific Design Center with over-the-top design, as is typical, by Billy Butchkavitz.
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RELATED TOPICS
Emmys, Gift Suites, Going Green, TV Guide, People Magazine, ET, HBO, Architectural Digest, Entertainment Weekly, YouthAIDS, Environmental Media Association |
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| NEWS 09.04.08 11:29 AM |
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MTV's VMA Weekend: Who's Going Where
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 | Maxim's 2007 VMA party in Las Vegas
Photo: BizBash |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
Of course, MTV has a packed lineup of official events related to its Video Music Awards in town this weekend, but unofficial events also abound. Here, some of the entries on the weekend calendar:
Blender will host an intimate group of about 150 for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on Saturday at Bardot in Hollywood in honor or nominee Katy Perry. Franki Chan will DJ.
Good Charlotte and the Veronicas will perform, and Samantha Ronson will DJ, at In Touch Weekly's "Icons & Idols" party on Sunday after the awards. The party—sponsored by Tigi Bed Head, Three Olives, and Burger King—will be held at the Chateau Marmont. Vox Entertainment will handle the sound, lighting, and staging for the concert.
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RELATED TOPICS
MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, Blender, Verizon Wireless, Pepsi, In Touch Weekly, Bed Head, Good Charlotte, The Veronicas, Gift Suites |
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