| EVENT REPORT 02.24.09 2:58 PM |
PRINT | SEND TO A FRIEND |
|
| High Technology |
| The Independent Film Channel gave its Spirit Awards Party a high-tech look with digital posters and interactive texting. |
|
The Independent Film Channel transformed the function rooms of a beachy Santa Monica hotel into a color-splashed, high-tech playground meant to be as edgy as the cable channel for its after-party celebrating Film Independent’s nearby Spirit Awards ceremony on Saturday.
Lauren Burack, IFC’s vice president of promotions and events, teamed up with longstanding collaborator David Stark Design and Production to create IFC’s biggest event all year. (This year’s bash drew nearly 1,000 denizens of the independent film world.) The party’s prominence makes it an important branding opportunity for the channel, which aired the Spirit Awards ceremony live. So the IFC logo was an intricate element in the design of the three downstairs function rooms of Shutters Hotel on the Beach.
|
|
CONTINUED > |
|
|
PHOTO GALLERY |
 | The Independent Film Channel transformed the function rooms of Shutters for its after-party celebrating the Spirit Awards.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | Walls lined with brightly colored tubing and LED and plasma screens projected visual riffs on the IFC logo.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | David Stark created the look.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | A specialty cocktail list drew inspiration from the Spirit Awards.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | Momjeans, a.k.a. Danny Masterson, served as DJ.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | The press wall got a color-blocked treatment.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
 | Shutters served as the party's beachy venue.
Photo: George Pimentel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walls lined with colorful illuminated tubing and LED and plasma screens projected visual riffs on the IFC logo and digital images of posters promoting the channel’s original series. Those images combined with an ambient rainbow of constantly changing colors from lighting throughout the space and the illuminated bars and DJ stand, creating a kinetic atmosphere that displayed IFC’s self-referential theme of television in the digital age. Lime green, purple, magenta, and yellow gels highlighted the space, which had been darkened to showcase the blue LED lights.
The channel always likes to include an interactive element in the party, and this year’s entry was an LED screen projecting revelers’ text messages greeting each other and declaring other guests’ hotness. The texting telephone number was announced on cards topping cocktail tables, which also held containers of glow sticks.
IFC stocked bars with such signature drinks as “Indie Ginspiration” (gin, pureed ginger, mint, honey, lime, and soda water), “Red Carpet Special” (whiskey, dry vermouth, bitters, and a cherry garnish), and “Spirit Award” (vodka, lemon juice, mint, simple syrup, and a cucumber-slice garnish). And guests nibbled hors d’oeuvres reminiscent of another, famous electric circus—Times Square. Waitstaff circulated with trays of mini hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and lamb gyros, as well as roasted nuts and truffle-flavored popcorn. The grueling economy didn’t slice into the variety of snacks, but the trays were sparser this year.
Still, IFC didn’t scrimp on hiring a celebrity DJ, going with Momjeans, a.k.a. Danny Masterson. A couple of hours and cocktails into the late-afternoon/early-evening party, Momjeans’ tunes had the crowd up and dancing, and they continued until bars shut down promptly at 8 p.m. in another cost-conscious move.
—Irene Lacher
RELATED TOPICS
Film Independent, IFC, Award Season, Spirit Awards
MORE EVENT REPORT STORIES
American Music Awards Begin With Redesigned Arrivals, End With Downsized After-Party
Us Weekly Takes to Voyeur With Scantily Clad Models, Burlesque Feel
MoMA Gets Suitably Whimsical and Macabre for Tim Burton Tribute
New Moon Premiere Beckons 10,000 People and 2 Live Wolves
Chrysalis Benefit Cuts Ticket Prices in Half, Draws Same Crowd
MORE STORIES ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent's Spirit Awards Heading Downtown to L.A. Live
The 2009 BizBash L.A. Event Style Award Winners
Spirit Awards' Pop-Up Sponsor Lounges Look Like Permanent Installations
MORE STORIES ABOUT IFC
South by Southwest Drawing Familiar Brands to Austin
IFC Concert Bridges South by Southwest's Film and Music Festivals
| More Suppliers/Venues to Consider |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|
Annenberg Community Beach House
The Annenberg Community Beach House combines elements of the historic Marion Davies Estate with new amenities to create a unique community resource that's open to all—no membership required. The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a new public facility on five acres of oceanfront. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
Lounge Appeal Inc.
Lounge Appeal is a lounge furniture rental company ready to take your event to the next level. We rent high quality lounge furniture for weddings and all types of special events. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
Creative Graphic Services
With 30 years of printing experience (local to Los Angeles), CGS offers event industry clients a wide range of digital printing services, all produced in-house. Step-and-repeat walls, banners, signs, vehicle wraps, and fabric printing are all available. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
