It's not often that a film without studio backing opts to host not one but two red carpet premieres, but Standing Ovation—executive produced by James Brolin—did just that. Working with Precision Event Group, the teen-centric film held bicoastal screenings in Los Angeles on July 10 and Philadelphia on July 13 that put the focus on the young actors.
"We had these kids that were choreographed and knew how to do these different numbers," said Precision's Jason Wanderer, explaining that the film centers around two rival song and dance teams trying out for a music video contest. "It was a no-brainer that we should weave them into both events."
Wanderer had the film's 16 principles sing and dance for the press on the pink carpet in Los Angeles, then give a post-screening performance on a stage on Universal Walk. Some 600 guests headed to the after-party at the Hard Rock Cafe could stop and watch the kids singing and dancing just as they'd seen them moments earlier on the big screen. At the after-party, staffers donned neon pink wigs in honor of the movie's "Wiggies" team.
Shot in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, Standing Ovation stars 26 children, all unknowns from the region, which is why producer Diane Kirman and others involved with the film wanted to throw a local premiere. Attended by 800 guests, the Philadelphia event mainly entertained the movie talent, their families (each actor received 10 tickets), and local journalists. Despite a looming foreclosure, the Prince Music Theater was able to host the screening—the pink carpet took over the parking lot across the street—and the nearby Hyatt at the Bellevue housed the after-party.
Precision spent two days building out the hotel's ballroom, relying on local and New York vendors to supply rentals, linens, furnishings, lighting, and more. The after-party footprint had a "kids-only" floor in the ballroom's balcony, a move that granted the many tweens in attendance autonomy while allowing parents to keep a watchful eye from below. Upstairs, the menu literally catered to its audience, with chicken tenders, individual pizzas, and pigs in a blanket offered alongside the much in-demand s'mores, cupcakes, and sugar cookies dusted in crystals.
The film's principles once again stole the show, performing three numbers on stage during the party.
