The 63rd Primetime Emmy awards aired live on Fox from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Sunday night, spawning a host of related events, both officially and unofficially related to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Here's a look at production, decor, and entertainment highlights from Emmy week's big events—from Fox's environmentally friendly awards arrivals and the academy's big Creative Arts and Governors Ball bashes, to parties for major players like HBO and Entertainment Tonight.
Fox, in partnership with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, set up an arrivals and media area at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards that put the focus on clean energy. Josh Mark, Fox executive director of special event production and creative services and director of sustainability, oversaw the arrivals, with decor design from YourBash! The red carpet was made from 25,000 square feet of locally sourced recycled carpet, produced in the only LEED-certified carpet facility in the world. Made from 50 percent recycled content, the carpet will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Long Beach and to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.
Fox also partnered with Kinetic Lighting to provide energy-efficient fixtures throughout the red-carpet area. The low-energy LED and fluorescent lighting vastly reduced power consumption, using only about 20 percent of the power traditionally used for red-carpet arrivals.
In addition, the red carpet was powered by more than 200 locally manufactured solar panels. In the five days leading up to the broadcast, the solar panels, provided by SolarWorld, produced about 925 kilowatt hours of energy, enough to power a typical family home for around two months. The solar panel system was tied into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power utility grid and significantly reduced Fox's power consumption. The 390-foot red carpet is the largest ever to be lit entirely by low-energy LED and fluorescent lighting.
Fox, working with YourBash!, set up a media center in a tent that was meant to look like a fully finished space.
Jackson Catering provided the food for the working press tent, which focused on farm-to-table concepts and locally sourced ingredients. Fox provided reusable cold cups for the caterer's lemonade, served from lemonade machines. All food waste and biodegradable disposables were composted following the event, and all recyclable materials used were collected and sorted.
HBO's after-party took to the fountain plaza at the Pacific Design Center. HBO's Cindy Tenner and Nancy Lesser oversaw the event, working with longtime design collaborator Billy Butchkavitz. The design theme embraced circles and spheres, and had a palette of tangerine and raspberry.
Elevated cylindrical lounges positioned throughout the party space gave guests a bird's-eye view of the party, where 24-foot-tall upholstered walls outlined the perimeter and created a dramatic backdrop for art and projections.
Sculptural metal spheres were used in the construction of everything from the dining table centerpieces to the 18-foot diameter chandeliers. Vibrantly colored custom textiles and carpeting covered in circular patterns furthered the design theme.
Already billed as the largest seated dinner in the U.S., the Governors Ball at the Los Angeles Convention Center following Sunday's 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards grew to the largest guest count in its history, with a total hovering around 3,900. Working with ball co-chairs Joe Stewart and Sheila Manning, along with the ball committee, Cheryl Cecchetto with her team at Sequoia Productions produced the gathering for the 14th consecutive year.
The ball had a '60s mod black-and-white look. With a theme of "mod illusions," the event employed lots of movement, projection, and other surprises, such as black-and-white-costumed performers who interacted with guests throughout the night in the convention center's west hall. A 60-foot-wide elevated circular dance floor and revolving orchestra platform served as the centerpiece. Suspended over the center stage were tiered beaded formations meant to replicate the look of sea anemones.
Costumed performers parted drapes for guests. There were 42 performers in all.
Entertainment Tonight's Emmy party lit up Vibiana again this year. Shari Kaufman, executive communications consultant for ET and The Insider, oversaw the event, working with Carleen Cappelletti from Bounce on the large production.
Visit California sponsored ET's party, resulting in a look and feel inspired by the Golden State.
Bob Stillo oversaw the production of Fox's after-party at Fig & Olive.
Stillo worked with Robb Smith at Laurels Custom Flora & Events on the event's clean-looking design.
Emmys host Jane Lynch was among the guests.
Entertainment Weekly celebrated the ninth anniversary of its annual pre-Emmy party by joining forces for the third time with the TV & Media Committee of Women in Film, Los Angeles, to kick off Emmy weekend with a party at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood to honor the female Primetime Emmy nominees.
Pucker poured its spirits. L’Oréal Paris was the presenting sponsor.
At C.A.A.'s party at Bouchon Beverly Hills, chef Thomas Keller worked with Katie Holmes to create macaroons in the kitchen.
The Creative Arts Emmy ball at the Los Angeles Convention Center, produced by Sequoia Productions, had the same look as the Governors Ball, which would follow the Primetime Emmys on Sunday.
The black-and-white gala included performers suspended overhead, encased within bars, and strolling among guests.
Cloris Leachman danced with one of the black-and-white-clad performers at the Creative Arts ball.
For the picture editors nominee event on August 30, the academy's Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre became a French Quarter-themed space. (The writer nominee reception later in the week had the same look.)
The academy's Barbara Chase conceived the design for the picture editors event, working with Savore Cuisine & Events.
On 3 Productions once again produced HP's lounge backstage at the Nokia Theatre in celebration of the Emmys. HP made a donation of $100,000 on behalf of celebrities who stopped by to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation.
From its "Toast Bar," I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter gave out a gift collection including a sterling silver spreader, a premium gold-hued toaster, and a V.I.P. gold card for home delivery of the product. Among the many other brands represented were Nespresso, New Balance, AMC, and Hasbro.
Visionary Group designed and constructed the decor for two spaces for L'Oréal at this year's HBO gifting suite at the Four Seasons. In the main room, the team constructed a backdrop of tufted walls using tan silk. The custom fabric-covered buttons on each wall corresponded to colors of L'Oréal's new Le Gloss lip gloss.
The various colors of gloss were displayed in large apothecary jars and vases, and the flooring of the display was a custom-built, red plexi floor that glowed from underneath. L'Oréal logos branded the look.
In the salon room, Visionary Group's Robert Badgley designed an apothecary-themed space the incorporated a variety of textures, giving the space depth. Red shag carpeting ran wall-to-wall, contrasting with matte, stained crown molding and high-gloss walls. A snakeskin couch was the centerpiece of the patio, paired with brushed silver nesting tables.
At GBK and Tic Tac's lounge, which raised funds for CancerCare, GBK created an entire red carpet gown out of mints. More than 70,000 limited-edition pink grapefruit and fresh mint flavor Tic Tacs were used in construction of the gown, which took more than 180 hours to create and weighed close to 150 pounds.
