Hollywood’s Party Season in Full Swing – Zegna, AFI Fest, Britannia Awards

Do you feel it in the air? If you’re anywhere near Hollywood, Beverly Hills or pretty much any part of Los Angeles, the party heat is on. It’s the beginning of the movie awards season run, and everyone who is a contender is out and about, as fetes of all types are stacking up.

And while some are straight-up actual awards, like the BAFTA Britannia Awards that were held at the Beverly Hilton on November 9, others are simply celebrations designed to help to add style to the stars’ looks during this hectic time. That’s why the new Blow N’ Go! LA hair salon celebrated its grand opening on November 6 and Ermenegildo Zegna chose November 7 to christen their new Rodeo Drive shop in Beverly Hills; everyone has to look good on the red carpet, dontcha know?

Jeremy Renner and Gerard Butler share a bromance moment at the Zegna Rodeo Drive store opening bash. Photo courtesy Ermenegildo Zegna/Getty Images.

Gerard Butler attended the Zegna fete, but he probably won’t be getting any nominations for “Olympus Has Fallen,” which released back in March 2013. But since a sequel, “London Has Fallen,” has already been announced, he’ll still be able to afford those pricey bespoke suits offered on the second floor. Two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner made that scene, too; and while his 2013 starring role in “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” isn’t going to win him any prizes, the buzz is hot on his next flick, “American Hustle.” That David O. Russell-helmed (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “The Fighter”) drama hits in December, just in time to make the cut, so he might be a contender after all. Edward Norton joined in the fun both at the store and at the after party, too, held later at the JF Chen gallery, along with Sharon Stone, Joe Jonas, Gavin Rossdale, Jim Parsons and Joe Manganiello.

Sharon Stone at the Zegna after party. Photo courtesy Ermenegildo Zegna/Getty Images.

 

The A-list continued to make the rounds on November 8, as the AFI Fest 2013 Presented by Audi went into high gear. George Clooney led the charge into the newly renovated TCL Chinese Theater, where “August: Osage County” had a star-studded unspooling. Cooney and Grant Heslov produced the intense film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts; they joined stars Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Misty Upham, Julianne Nicholson and Chris Cooper for the unspooling. Stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts didn’t make that scene, but Roberts did turn up the next night at the Britannia Awards to present Clooney with his Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. 

"August: Osage County" producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov attend the AFI Fest showing of the film. Photo courtesy Getty Images for Audi.

  

Those prizes, presented by British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, drew even more famous faces – and many of the season’s serious awards contenders. From the night’s award winners including Idris Elba, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sir Ben Kingsley, Kathryn Bigelow and Benedict Cumberbatch to hot stars like Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Sean Penn, Sigourney Weaver and Salma Hayek, it was a presage of all the awards events soon to come, including the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, SAG Awards and more, all leading up to the Academy Awards, coming up on March 2, 2014. 

Julia Roberts at the BAFTA Britannia Awards. Photo courtesy BAFTA.

To be in the know heading into Oscar season, be sure to see the films likely to receive Best Actor nods for these men, all starring in fact-based stories: Chiwetel Ejiofor for “12 Years a Slave,” Idris Elba for “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” Matthew McConaughey for “Dallas Buyers Club” and Tom Hanks for “Saving Mr. Banks.” 

The 2013 Hollywood Film Awards Pack a Huge Celebrity Punch

 

While Angelenos may not have noticed that the 17^th Annual Hollywood Film Festival came and went from October 17-21, 2013, the world will certainly sit up and take notice of the corresponding Hollywood Film Awards, handed out on Monday, October 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

That’s because somehow, someway, festival director Carlos de Abreu has positioned that gala as “the first mandatory stop in the awards season,” and everyone decided to believe him. And we mean everyone. It doesn’t matter that the winners know ahead of time that they will take home a trophy; in fact, as “August: Osage County” star and Best Supporting Actress winner Julia Roberts pointed out, “knowing I won is the reason my husband is here with me tonight!”

Actress Julia Roberts kept those offending shoes on for this photo op. (Photo courtesy HFA2013, Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Roberts was something of a fashion victim, as the bright red Rupert Sanderson spiked-heel pumps she chose to go with her Elie Saab cocktail dress failed her. She pattered out onto the stage in her bare feet to accept her prize from Sean Penn.

That moment came after a surprise visit from Kanye West, who turned up to launch the festivities by honoring “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen. “I flew in from San Francisco to give this Breakout Director Award to someone I call my friend,” West explained breathlessly. He then raced back out the door, flew back to San Fran and got engaged to Kim Kardashian (it was her birthday).

Kanye West and Steve McQueen. (Photo courtesy HFA2013, Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

West wasn’t the only star who blew in and out of the evening’s program. Viola Davis gave her co-star Jake Gyllenhaal the Best Supporting Actor Award for his work in their film “Prisoners,” then promptly disappeared. “It was an honor to work with you . . . wherever you are!” Gyllenhaal said with a bewildered look around. “She booked out,” he laughed.

Viola Davis and Jake Gyllenhaal share a brief moment at the 2013 Hollywood Film Awards. (Photo courtesy HFA2013, by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

But the stars just kept on coming in as the glittery night progressed. Jack Black handed Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and Richard Linklater the Screenwriter Award for “Before Midnight”; Geoffrey Rush honored up-and-comers Michael B. Jordan, Sophie Nelisse and David Oyelowo with the Hollywood Spotlight Award; and Jennifer Garner actually stayed onstage after she presented her “Dallas Buyers Club” costar Matthew McConaughey with his Actor Award.

“In the last couple of years, I started choosing experiences,” McConaughey explained, “characters who live on the fringe. I lost money – for the first time in my career, true story – but I’ve had a hell of a time!”

Then Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin took the stage, to perform “Atlas,” his band’s Song Award winner; and it was on to more mega-watt stars. Robert Downey, Jr., snorted as he gave Jared Leto his Breakthrough Award for his transgender role in “Dallas Buyers Club,” “to a guy who has been acting for over 20 years.”

Leto got a bit misty as he admitted that, “I have never received an award for anything I have done on screen, until now. And to get the Breakout Award at age 41 is amazing.”

And the night wasn’t over yet. Bruce Willis turned up to give producer Jerry Weintraub the Hollywood Legend Award; Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner awarded the costume and production prizes; Jane Fonda and Forest Whittaker handed Lee Daniels the Director Award for “The Butler,” and Octavia Spencer anointed Sandra Bullock with the Actress Award for “Gravity.”

Sandra Bullock arrives at the 2013 Hollywood Film Awards. (Photo courtesy HFA2013, Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

 

“I’m happy that Hollywood has not sent me out to pasture,” the gorgeous 49-year-old actress giggled. “I don’t want to go out to pasture, it’s cold out there!”

The night finally wound down with the last trophy, the Career Achievement Award, going to Harrison Ford. All in all, it was definitely a posh kickoff to the coming season of Hollywood celebrating Hollywood, even if no one who attended really knows just who chooses these particular accolades.

As Julia Roberts said, “Thank you Carlos, the mysterious Carlos, for the party.”

Off to See the Wizard Once Again – in IMAX 3D

For anyone who grew up loving "The Wizard of Oz" (and really, who does not love that wonderful film?), this is a very important week.

For starting today, September 20, 2013, "The Wizard of Oz" is back in theaters! IMAX 3D theaters, in fact, as Warner Bros. has done an extensive restoration to the classic film. Celebrating its 75th anniversary (marked from the start of production in 1938; the movie released in theaters in 1939) with this incredible achievement, the studio is releasing Victor Fleming's masterpiece for one week only in IMAX theaters across the United States. It's a unique chance to see this eye-poppingly fantastic flick as never before.

We were lucky enough to catch an early screening of the film at the newly renovated TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in the heart of Hollywood (it's what used to be Grauman's Chinese Theatre). The theater reopens today, and it is an amazing transformation.

The gorgeously renovated TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Photo courtesy Greg Epstein Photography

Not only is it now the largest IMAX theater ever, with much more leg room and comfortable high-backed seats, it also retains all of the majesty and beauty that has made this a legendary place since 1927.

The theater now has a completely different pitch, so no more bad sight lines. Photo courtesy Greg Epstein Photography.

And the footprints of the stars are still right where you expect them to be, on the sidewalk outside the main entrance (the theater is on Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland and Orange streets). In fact, just this week, 93-year-old "Oz" Munchkin Jerry Maren (he's one of the Lollipop Kids) added his hand and foot prints into the cement there.

Even Judy Garland's Dorothy dress is on display in the lobby at the moment, another little slice of movie history:

Dorothy's dress on display in the lobby of the TCL Chinese Theatre. Photo by Jenny Peters.

And the movie? The movie is so wonderful on the big screen, I swear I was smiling the whole time. Not to mention singing along with some of the songs and giggling like the five-year-old kid I was when I first saw it on television. There's no comparison to seeing it in IMAX 3D (although the 3D effects are kept to a minimum); and considering that this was the first time I had ever seen "The Wizard of Oz" on a big screen, it fulfilled every expectation I had for it, and then some.

Watch for the swan flapping its wings in the background when Dorothy and the Scarecrow meet up with the Tin Man; my guess is that you've never noticed that before. The Cowardly Lion is even cuter than ever in this version and when they arrive at the Emerald City, the Horse of a Different Color will make your eyes pop out of your head! Speaking of the Emerald City, be sure to look closely at the costumes of the happy denizens of that bright-green city. They are amazingly detailed and in this version, you'll realize that you have never quite noticed them on a smaller screen, even if you've seen it as many times as I have over the years. And those flying monkeys? They still scare the bejesus out of me.

So run, don't walk, to the nearest IMAX theater that is showing this classic, and take the kids, grandkids and anyone else who wants the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go off to see the Wizard on the big screen.

The restored version will be available on a Blu-ray 75th Anniversary Edition on October 1, too. But go see it at the movies if you possibly can!

Hello Kitty Takes Flight with EVA Air

File this under wacky moments in travel journalism. When I got the invite to the EVA Air celebration of the launch of their Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Boeing 777 jet at LAX, I just had to check it out. And from the moment I arrived at the Imperial Flight Center in El Segundo, CA, I knew this wasn't going to be just an ordinary party!

Kitty welcomed us; and she even had her own oversized boarding pass.

Next up, they handed me my press credentials and a unique USB jump drive: this one just might be a collector's item:

Then it was out to the huge tent, erected on the runway, where stewardesses who had just flown in on the inaugural flight from Taipei, Taiwan, to Los Angeles, California, greeted me with a smile.

They will be flying on the three weekly Hello Kitty flights from LAX to TPE; you can see the special schedules on EVA Air's website dedicated to those flights.

And once you board the plane, you'll be in Hello Kitty heaven.

The inside of the boarding door is pink and the cabin is chockablock with special Hello Kitty touches.

It seems awfully likely that these pillows are going to walk off the airplane with the departing passengers, doesn't it?

Even the food on the flight follows the theme.

It is almost too cute to eat.

At the party, bigwigs from Sanrio Company and EVA Air rubbed shoulders with Japanese rock star Yoshiki and, of course, Hello Kitty herself!

So for all you Hello Kitty fanatics out there, it seems like now would be the time to head for Taipei.


All photos by Jenny Peters, except interior and food shots. Those are courtesy EVA Air.

Nominees Let Audi Lead the Way Into Emmy Week

It's become an annual tradition, the Audi Pre-Emmy celebration held every year at Cecconi’s restaurant in West Hollywood on the Sunday before the Primetime Emmy Awards are handed out. As usual, the German auto manufacturer pulled out all the stops for the 2013 bash, starting with the sweet rides that allowed all the nominees and other stars to arrive in style. They rolled out a fleet of Emmy logo-ed A8 L and Q7 TDI clean-diesel sedans (they’ll use them again on September 22, the night of the awards, as they are sponsors of the show, too) for the A-list invitees.

  “Modern Family” stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell made their yearly pilgrimage to the Fourth Annual Audi Emmy Week Bash. 

The “Modern Family” juggernaut rolled in early, led by nominees Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. They gathered with co-stars Eric Stonestreet (he has two Emmys for his work on the show) and Sarah Hyland to discuss the chances that their show will grab the gold for the Outstanding Comedy Series for the fourth year in a row; it seems the Audi party is a lucky charm for them, since the bash is in its fourth year of existence, and the cast always turns out in force.

Sarah Hyland and Allison Janney share a laugh at the Audi Pre-Emmy celebration.

 

“The Big Bang Theory” star and Supporting Actress in a Comedy nominee Mayim Bialik made the packed scene, and hopes the party luck rubs off on her show, so it can finally knock them off this year and take home the big prize. “The Americans” guest star Margo Martindale had found out earlier in the evening at the Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards that she hadn’t won this year, but that didn’t stop her from making the round of the packed party. “So You Think You Can Dance” nominee Cat Deeley had lost out earlier too, as “Project Runway” hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn took that prize; but Deeley made sure to check out the Altuzarra gowns on display inside the restaurant.

Not getting nominated for his work in “The Mentalist” didn’t seem to bother handsome Owain Yeoman, for he’s had more important things on his mind lately. “We just got married, last Saturday!” he crowed, pulling his new wife, jewelry designer Gigi Yallouz, close. There were loads of happy couples in the crowd, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who escorted his new husband, Justin Mikita, to the soiree, and “Man Men” stunner Jessica Paré, who stayed laminated to her dreadlocked boyfriend John Kastner, who looked the complete opposite of her TV husband Jon Hamm.

  Jessica Paré prettied things up at the Audi party, wearing a sleek Bibhu Mohapatra cocktail dress.

Allison Janney, Kate Flannery, “Homeland” bad guy Navid Negahban, “Major Crimes” knockout beauty Kearran Giovanni and a host of other familiar television faces went past in the swirl, but the one person everyone wanted to chat with was RJ Mitte, whose series “Breaking Bad” was the talk of the town.

“I can’t say anything about what’s coming up,” he announced with a laugh about this, the final season of the multiple Emmy Award-winning show, with just a couple of episodes to go. “They would kill me!”

  RJ Mitte won’t give up any “Breaking Bad” finale secrets to Kate Flannery at the Audi bash.

Photos courtesy WireImage/Audi.

Let the Games Begin! Bergman’s Emmy Style Lounge and Party Kicks Off the Fall Season

How do you know that the doldrums of August are over and the fall party season in Hollywood has begun? For the last four years, the sign is the invite to Doris Bergman’s Annual Emmy Style Lounge and Party, an all-day extravaganza of luxury gifting, arriving in your in box.

This year, Bergman took over the chic Fig & Olive restaurant in West Hollywood on a beautiful late-summer day (Thursday, September 12), reserving the inside for red-carpet shots, Veved Iced Vodka tipples, Tequila Azul Imperial shots and a sumptuous buffet lunch, while using the outdoor patio to showcase an assortment of products that drew a very familiar crowd.

There was Ed Begley, Jr., standing in the Begley’s and Bill’s booth with Nature’s Flavors partner Bill Sabo (aka “The Flavor Guy”), proudly offering sips of their all-natural sodas, in flavors like raspberry, cola, pomegranate and even Bananas Foster; “Mad Men” star Rich Sommer stopped by for a taste, as did “Breaking Bad” favorite R.J. Mitte. “We want to bring a healthy alternative to those sugar-packed sodas people drink right now,” Sabo explained. “There’s no sugar, no calories, no fat, no sodium in our drinks, and they still taste terrific.”

Bill Sabo, Ed Begley, Jr., and Rich Sommer enjoying their natural sodas at the Emmy Style Lounge. 

 

There was just a bit of fat (!) in the luscious toffee brownie crunch truffles that PK’s Chocolates handed out, and the amazing vanilla ice cream covered in Jack Daniels salted caramel sauce that was made before our eyes with a Nitrocream machine wasn’t exactly dietetic either, but it sure was yummy. Slim star Illeana Douglas threw caution to the wind and tried some ice cream, then made her way to the Single by Galina Sobolev dress booth, where she swooned over the luxe, brilliantly patterned looks.

Hollywood legend Robert Wagner strolled the garden with his daughter Katie, naturally spending the most time with Art Lewin, whose bespoke custom-made suits are perfect for such a stylish man. Emmy nominee (for his guest role in “Scandal”) Dan Bucatinsky checked out those suits, too; and he picked up a Purple Girl t-shirt for one of his galpals, too.

Emmy Nominee Dan Bucatinsky got cute with Purple Girl Clothing. 

Emmy nominee and “Glee” favorite Dot Marie Jones lingered over the My Saint My Hero “Blessing” bracelets, while actress and KFI radio talk show host Lisa Ann Walter was wowed by designer Deborah Lindquist’s Eco Couture elegant bustier gowns, many made from recycled kimonos and other gorgeous fabrics. And all the gals – including “Dancing with the Stars” beauties Sharna Burgess and Chelsie Hightower, Estella Warren and Sofia Milos – took home Classy Sachet lacey unmentionables, as well as fishnet stocking from Dulcenea Lingerie, hair products from Slash salon, a “Dial a Smile” teeth whitening kit from Whitening Lightning, skin products from Model in a Bottle and La Curcio.

 Robert Wagner brought his daughter Katie Wagner to the Emmy Style Lounge.

And the best swag of the day had to be the Scytodes Security Glove, designed to keep women safe while jogging, walking or hiking alone. It’s a brilliant idea, a Spider-Man inspired device that comfortably slips onto the outside of your hand, with the trigger nestled in your palm. It shoots pepper spray with a quick flick of your finger at an assailant – or (just kidding) at those rabid fans that Hollywood celebrities can sometimes encounter, especially during the fall party season!

All photos courtesy Doris Bragman.