'Essence' Black Women in Hollywood Pre-Oscar Luncheon
Large-scale, 25- by 12-foot screens (more than double the size of screens in years past) flanked the stage, a look, with the use of edge blended projectors, that was designed to "immerse guests in classic, iconic imagery," according to Caravents' Cara Kleinhaut. The displays rotated images of the honorees with specialized graphics, sponsor logos, and Imag video from five cameras within the room.
Honoree Oprah Winfrey, with students from her leadership academy, drew a frenzy on the arrivals carpet and brought the house down on stage. But did her presence attract additional sponsor dollars? Not especially, said Purdie Montgomery: "We are 70 percent confirmed before we even share our honorees. Additionally, most of them are returning partners of two years or more."