The Beverly Hilton swarmed with the guests and staff of at least six major parties on Golden Globes night, and among the big-name returnees to the event landscape this year was the NBC Universal/Focus Features party, presented by Cartier, held under a clear-roof tent on the top deck of the hotel's garage.
There were some significant differences this year, though, necessitated by a budget reduction of about 20 percent. Under the financial and creative direction of staff from the NBC Universal entertainment divisions involved—including NBC Universal’s Hollace Davids, NBC’s Francine Spray, and Focus Features’ Carlotta Florio—Angel City Designs created an updated take on old-school discotheques.
Working with the reduced budget, the Angel City Designs team—led by Mark Yumkas, Damon Drescher, and Diane Mann—created a luxe, glittery look under the tent. "To maintain a level of design acumen appropriate for the event, we did things like install clear roof panels in the center of the tent, resulting in not having to design and install a ceiling fabric treatment," said Yumkas. "We also cut back our installation timeline by a full day for all vendors, resulting in a significant reduction in labor."
Other budget-minded choices included the use of some tables that didn't require linens, less-expensive building materials such as drapery and upholstery fabrics, and a lighting design that required fewer fixtures than previous years. The menu offered more comfort food and fewer high-priced items such as shellfish.
Angel City Designs draped the walls of the tent in plush purple fabric layered with reflective silver circle bead curtains. A 40- by 40-foot truss pergola stood in the center of the tent, and the legs of the structure showcased satin-covered, four-sided columns accented with molding and mirror panels. Additional silver circle bead curtains accented the structure, and an LED star curtain covered its roof. Four custom chandeliers, constructed from more than 60 mirrored disco balls in sizes ranging from six inches to four feet, hung from the ceiling of the tent.
Mirror tile covered an oversize circular main bar and covered DJ Biz Markie’s console table. L-shaped sofas provided seating, and raised platforms on opposite sides of the tent held three circular high-back black leather banquettes with a round table inside each. Purple satin cloths accented with a silver paillette overlay covered the tables, which C.J. Matsumoto & Sons topped with flowers.
This year, in conjunction with Dick Clark Productions, the tent also housed a broadcast stage for a post-awards celebrity interview show, broadcast live from the party on NBC, the broadcast network for the Globes telecast. Angel City Designs also provided scenic elements for the broadcast set that matched the colors and reflective theme of the event design.
