What's a film festival without the opportunity for power chit chat? Star Schmooze, presented by Star! and Citytv at the CHUM Television building, has long been one of the Toronto International Film Festival's "Oh my god, I've just got to get a ticket to that party!" events. Every year, CHUM director of special events and merchandising Francine Socket huddles with her colleagues, including CHUM event organizers Pashalia Bitzionis, Julie Fortunato, and Erin Smith, to plan a soiree with the right mix of glitz, entertainment, and networking opportunities. For this year's event, the team tapped caterer By David's to supply the food and design firm 3 Design to assist with the decor. "We created an upscale nightclub feel with unique props and decor elements such chandeliers in the lounges," said Socket.The eye-grabbing crystal chandelier in the main lounge weighted 114 kilograms—custom rigging was required to hang it from the ceiling. Other lounges had smaller chandeliers, hung in arrangements of three from the lighting trusses. Lounge furnishings included dark-brown leather couches and black coffee tables. The entrance featured gold, Renaissance-style statues of women and black Art Deco vases filled with roses, branches, birds of paradise, and feathers. Guests passed through a curtain of black ribbon and feathers to enter the party. Bars in the main party space had white-leather bar stools and clear glass vases filled with black tinted water, red roses, feathers, and green foliage. By David's food stations offered everything from popcorn in traditional popcorn boxes to po-boy sandwiches and mini moo-shu servings.
Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Connolly, and Henry Czerny were a few of the well-known celebrities who hung out in the V.I.P. lounge. This modern space featured white, high-back bar stools and diamond-plate cocktail tables with battery-operated, red flickering votive candles. Gobos of film reels in red and blue played on the walls, as guests dined on delicacies from the Tandoori wrap, tempura, and basil chicken and jasmine rice food stations.
Star! broadcasts the party live, so naturally there were TV screens throughout tuned to the program.
Samuel L. Jackson, Billy Connolly, and Henry Czerny were a few of the well-known celebrities who hung out in the V.I.P. lounge. This modern space featured white, high-back bar stools and diamond-plate cocktail tables with battery-operated, red flickering votive candles. Gobos of film reels in red and blue played on the walls, as guests dined on delicacies from the Tandoori wrap, tempura, and basil chicken and jasmine rice food stations.
Star! broadcasts the party live, so naturally there were TV screens throughout tuned to the program.
3 Design supplied a 114-kilogram crystal chandelier for Star! and Citytv's annual Star Schmooze party at the CHUM Television building during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Black Art Deco vases filled with roses, branches, birds of paradise, and feathers decorated the entrance.
Several lounges were created with a dark brown colour palette and framed by a bar made of lighting trusses that overlooked the lower level of the parking lot.
By David's served popcorn in traditional popcorn boxes.
Chandeliers in arrangements of three hung from lighting trusses in the smaller lounges.
Floral arrangements decorated the cafe-style outdoor smoking area.
Battery-operated red votive candles jazzed up the V.I.P. lounge.
