Miami isnβt just the U.S. gateway for South American drug lords, making it the subject of both the 80βs TV series and new film Miami Viceβitβs also arguably the party capital of the East Coast. So to throw a huge bash for the filmβs world premiere, Universal Pictures took a tip from the professional party pack in Miami and created an outdoor nightclub.βWe were going for a cool Miami hot club feel,β said Hollace Davids, Universalβs senior vice president of special projects. βIn Miami, because itβs so steamy, itβs not uncommon to have cool party environments around the pool or outdoors.β
Universal constructed the party for 1,300 on a parking lot down the block from the two Mann theaters in Westwood that held the screeningsβthe Bruin and the Villageβbut the ambience was strictly Miami Beach, emphasis on "beach." Surrounding the perimeter were palm trees and cabanas draped in filmy white fabric. Some of the cabanas housed white ottomans piped in black and photos of Santo Domingo, where the studio partly filmed the $135 million movie. Others held poster-size shots of stars Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as Ricardo Tubbs and Sonny Crockett.
Other seating sat near a square pool lit in changing colors on the fringe of the V.I.P. area. The pool had white padded cushions along the edge, inviting guests to dip their toes. Poolside seating was an experiment for Universal, which is trying to create unconventional gathering places. Davids didnβt declare it a complete success. βPart of the problem was, the parking lot wasnβt as flat as it could have been,β she said. βWe expected it to be more level.β
Girls in hooded silver minis, outfits inspired by the club scene in the film, danced on an X-shaped runway near the entrance. Guests joined the party on a 24-square-foot square dance floor nearby, under the gaze of DJ Diallo Riddle, who spun an eclectic mix of hip-hop and music from the movie.
But the visual focal point lay deeper inside, where a large truss lit by a constantly changing swirl of colors surrounded a circular bar. Over the bar were metal frame boxes covered in red PVC film, each holding three crystal chandeliers. But no long lines were visible either at the bars or the 24 buffets, where guests munched on expertly prepared basics like ribs, chicken, and Caesar salad.
βIrene Lacher
Posted 08.09.06
Photos: Line 8 Photography
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Universal constructed the party for 1,300 on a parking lot down the block from the two Mann theaters in Westwood that held the screeningsβthe Bruin and the Villageβbut the ambience was strictly Miami Beach, emphasis on "beach." Surrounding the perimeter were palm trees and cabanas draped in filmy white fabric. Some of the cabanas housed white ottomans piped in black and photos of Santo Domingo, where the studio partly filmed the $135 million movie. Others held poster-size shots of stars Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell as Ricardo Tubbs and Sonny Crockett.
Other seating sat near a square pool lit in changing colors on the fringe of the V.I.P. area. The pool had white padded cushions along the edge, inviting guests to dip their toes. Poolside seating was an experiment for Universal, which is trying to create unconventional gathering places. Davids didnβt declare it a complete success. βPart of the problem was, the parking lot wasnβt as flat as it could have been,β she said. βWe expected it to be more level.β
Girls in hooded silver minis, outfits inspired by the club scene in the film, danced on an X-shaped runway near the entrance. Guests joined the party on a 24-square-foot square dance floor nearby, under the gaze of DJ Diallo Riddle, who spun an eclectic mix of hip-hop and music from the movie.
But the visual focal point lay deeper inside, where a large truss lit by a constantly changing swirl of colors surrounded a circular bar. Over the bar were metal frame boxes covered in red PVC film, each holding three crystal chandeliers. But no long lines were visible either at the bars or the 24 buffets, where guests munched on expertly prepared basics like ribs, chicken, and Caesar salad.
βIrene Lacher
Posted 08.09.06
Photos: Line 8 Photography
Related Stories
Summerβs Super Movie Opens Big
NBC Globes Party Evokes Vintage Rails