Located in the center of Hollywood, the show’s producers converted an abandoned Big Lots into a 22,000 square foot showroom, housing the work of nearly 175 contributing artists.

Nationwide Art Contest

Leading up to the show, Manifest Equality will sponsor a nationwide art contest focusing on the themes of Justice, Equality, Unity, Respect, Civil Rights, and Love. Submissions will be reviewed by a number of high-profile critics including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Annie Philbin of the Hammer Museum.

The show will not only feature hundreds of the top contemporary artists, but live DJs and several bars.

The Artwork of Manifest Equality

The artwork of Manifest Equality focuses on the legal battles of equal rights, and the shockwaves surrounding the passage of Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Equality for All

Through unity and education, the producers of Manifest Equality hope to harness the power of “grassroots community [in order] to ensure full and equal rights” for everyone.

On the heels of “Manifest Hope”, the wildly successful campaign that focused on Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential run, Manifest Equality seeks to promote the cause of universal equal rights by “bringing inspiration through the creation of original artwork”.

The producers of the show encourage people to get involved in their communities, reaching out with programs like Courage Campaign or The Human Rights Project.

Aaron Axelrod -- The Constitution

Manifest Equality will undoubtedly be a seminal event, fusing altruism and art with community engagement and political momentum.

Manifest Equality will be held at:

1341 Vine Street

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Hours:
March 3-4: 11AM-6PM
March 5: 11AM-10PM
March 6-7: 10AM-6PM

For more information, visit http://www.manifestequality.com.

"Bug's Trip to the Store"

Author K.M. Groshek, partnered with LA based celebrity marketing/PR firm WOW! Creations, has just introduced her “Bug’s Adventure” series of children’s books.

“Bug’s Trip to the Store” is the first in the series, with books two and three slated for release later this year. Despite being geared towards children, “Bug’s Trip to the Store” is great for all ages, reminding us that even in hard times, we can learn important lessons and become stronger. It teaches us to make every day an adventure, taking nothing for granted.

K.M. made a splash at the WOW! Creations Lifestyle Gifting Lounge at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. “Bug’s Trip to the Store” was a featured gift collected by numerous stars including reality star of “Celebrity Fit Club” Shar Jackson, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and “Back to the Future” star Crispin Glover.

About K.M. Groshek

Kim Groshek is an avid writer, artist, and runner. Not only is she the author of the “Bug’s Adventure” series, she is the illustrator. Kim believes in “telling an authentic story that relates to her own experience”. With hard work and flexibility, obstacles can turn into learning experiences.

People of all ages will enjoy the rhythmic stories and Bug’s persistence on the road. To read more about her books, visit www.kmgroshek.com or her fan page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kmgroshek.

On March 4th, KM Groshek will appear at the WOW! Creations Lifestyle Gifting Lounge for Oscar week – held in the Penthouse of the Luxe Hotel in downtown Beverly Hills. Guests will include Oscar nominees, TV and sports stars, press, and media.

For more information, visit WOW! Creations at www.wowcreations.com or contact at wowhollywood@yahoo.com or 818-539-2206.

Distinctive Assets, an LA-based entertainment marketing company, collaborated with The Recording Academy® to produce the official Talent Gift Bags and Backstage Gift Lounge for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards. Music’s Biggest Night® was held on January 31, 2010, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Distinctive Assets is thrilled to continue a longstanding GRAMMY tradition and is especially proud that it represents the eleventh consecutive year of serving as the Official Gift Bag and Lounge.

For the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards, Distinctive Assets created a magical event – holding the Backstage Gift Lounge in a Moroccan-themed tent with a clear roof , underneath beautiful blue skies, at the Staples Center.

“Of all the award shows in which we’ve been involved over the past 10 years, the GRAMMYs remains my favorite,” says Lash Fary, founder of Distinctive Assets. “It’s truly the trifecta in our industry:  the most talented artists, the best gifts and the most incredible production team.  The experience is simply unparalleled.”

The presenters and performers were given gifts in two different forms – the coveted GRAMMY Gift Bag and the exclusive GRAMMY Gift Lounge presented by Moroccanoil^®, leader in luxury professional argan oil-infused products for hair.

This year’s GRAMMY talent included top musicians and notable celebrities in all genres.

Distinctive Assets continued its long-standing philanthropic tradition with an in-Lounge “giving station” which allowed the celebrities to autograph and donate one of their favorite new gifts to the MusiCares^® Foundation, which provides a safety net of critical assistance for members of the music community in times of need.

The GRAMMY Gift Lounge presented by Moroccanoil was open during rehearsals (January 28-30). Presenters and performers scooped up tens of thousands of dollars worth of amazing gifts, including:

A Moroccanoil signature sports bag filled with argan oil-infused Moroccanoil Treatment, Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo, Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner, Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray as well as a set of new Moroccanoil Ionic Ceramic Hair Brushes.

American Idol Justin Guarini strums a tune on a Gibson guitar.

The Lounge will once again be designed by Las Vegas’ pre-eminent production outfit Pacific Events, using furniture from Modern Studio Furnishings and floral creations from Tu Bloom Designs.

Gift Highlights

Modern Studio Furnishings

Located in Laguna Beach, California this eco-friendly company specializes in providing a modern aesthetic with traditional customer service.They carry modern and contemporary collections, including custom furniture for those unique customers.

 For this year’s event, Modern Studio Furnishings designed and custom made the furnishings for the back stage celebrity gift lounge, adorning the room with the feeling of subtle sophistication. In conjunction with Distinctive Assets, they made an Eskada Chaise Lounge signed by the celebrities in attendance. It was auctioned off with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Musicares Charity. For more on Modern Studio Furnishings, call (949) 376-0103 or visit them online at www.modern-furnishings.com.

Modern Studio Furnishings has developed Modhabitat which was born out of the need for sustainable housing for areas devastated by disaster such as the recent tragedy in Haiti. They are currently seeking an avenue for their housing solution to the Haiti relief effort. Just a few of the amazing benefits of this genius solution to rebuild after disasters are the fact that it can be para-dropped into affected areas and assembly takes 1/3 of the time it would take regular construction with unskilled labor. For more information, please go to www.modhabitat.com

From hard line rockers to pop divas to country artists, the talent at the GRAMMY gift suite were all entranced by professional poker player Lee Watkinson’s jewelry collection, Hardcore Elegance.

Pro poker champ Lee Watkinson with his ultrahot jewelry line, Hardcore Elegance.

Stars will be shining on the ground as well as in the sky, as LA Gear furnished Presenters and Performers with its newly released LA Lights.

“The GRAMMYs are an iconic part of pop culture and the fabric of Los Angeles,” said LA Gear Director of Specialty Product Lance Jackson. “This event is the perfect fit for us, and the timing couldn’t be better, with the release of our new light up sneakers.” The LA Lights went on sale December 12, 2009, at all Sportie LA stores in Los Angeles and San Diego, and online at sneaker website www.SportieLA.com/lagear.

Celebrities’ smiles will gleam a little brighter thanks to the Icing 30 Carat Revolutionary At-Home Teeth Whitening System and cosmetic dentistry package gifted by Bling Dental. Icing™ is an elite teeth whitening sytem that contains 30 Carats* of whitening carbamide peroxide.

Bling Dental's Dr. Raymond Frye, DMD.

Icing™ was designed by the creator of Bling Dental: Dr. Raymond Frye, DMD, as a professional strength celebrity teeth whitener to be used in the comfort and convenience of your home. ICING 30 Carat offers immediate, long-lasting whitening achieved with one 60-90 minute treatment. Call 1(888) ICING99 or go to: www.icingteethwhitening.com

Solstice Sunglass Boutiques gifted their spring collections to talent. Jaime Foxx picked up a pair of new hot black and white Gucci’s retailing for $220.00 shortly after T-Pain picked up the same pair in red! T-pain also picked up style “Quirky” by Juicy Couture. T was proud to be wearing his hot new and hot pink Juicy shades while bopping around chanting “Juicy”! www.safilousa.com

HIPPIE CHIPS are a unique baked potato chip–ultra light in texture yet packed with taste and crunch.  HIPPIE CHIPS are never formed–each chip has a unique shape.  There motto is Peace, Love and Gluten Free.  Hippie Chips come in six great flavors.

Hippie Chips is dedicated to supporting music–On the back of every Hippie Chips bag there is a music showcase section, which highlights a different band or artist.  We also donate a portion of our proceeds to support music programs in schools.

Hippie Chips CEO Dan Ehrlich and his wife, Jean Ehrlich.

Hippie Chips are the snack food for the Grammy’s.  All the celebrities agree that these chips are a hit! The flavors are amazing and these are delicious. www.hippiechips.net  www.rocknrollgourmet.com

Reverse Flying V guitars from Gibson USA were given to talent and some talent autographed them and gave them back, which then were auctioned off for the MusiCares Foundation. Go to www.gibson.com to read more and to check out Gibson’s new Sammy Hagar Chickenfoot Les Paul guitar… ’57 Classic in the neck and a hotter BurstBucker 3 in the bridge.

Talent got treated to deliciously fragrant, eco-friendly Soy Delicious Moisturizing Candles. They are made using 100% pure soy– not paraffin wax, making their candles eco-friendly and soot free. Environmentally sensitive, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic.

"Love at first light" Soy Delicious creator Maggie Maceiras

Soy Delicious also offer a personal spa experience. Soy contains Vitamin E and antioxidant properties, both known for their hydrating power. Once the candle liquefies, dip your finger or dipping spoon into the soy and use the oil as a rich moisturizing protein rub to massage or to keep hands, feet, cuticles and elbows feeling soft and luxurious. www.soy-delicious.com

Kimora Lee Simmons shares her house with all kinds of animals. “We have cats, dogs, birds, and everything in between!” she told us as she scoped out new Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats. She requested two blue sparkling collars with heart charms for her cats Midnight and Miyake, who are already fans of Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys. Now she’s looking forward to serving them Appetizers!

Jennifer Hudson’s mouth dropped open at the sight of the famous Fancy Feast cat inside the GRAMMYs gift lounge. Jennifer held out one hand to get a high-five from the celebrity cat while she pet and scratched the kitty with her other hand. Completely enamored with the charming feline, when Jennifer was asked if she has cats, she said, “No, but I’ll take that one!” She scooped up the “Celebrate the Moment” gift pack, then signed the Fancy Feast poster for a donation to MusiCares. Fancy Feast® gourmet cat food is the perfect way to show your love and the talents’ cats will definitely feel loved with their Fancy Feast ultimate pet gift package. www.fancyfeast.com

LANCERx Dermatology was onsite and was at home there with the stars of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards; Dr. Harold Lancer of Beverly Hills, dermatologist to the entertainment, elite and world royalty, is the expert that Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, and bodies, trust to preserve and enhance their looks, their image and their careers. Celebs were gifted his skincare line, The Lancer Method – his three-step skincare technique, luxurious robes and gift certificates to experience the grandeur firsthand. www.LancerDermatology.com

Vivitar gave the gift of making memories as they gave the Vivitar DVR 850W- which is a pocket size digital video camera great to use for sports (even underwater sports) as it shoots five meters underwater.  www.vivitar.com

Royal Underground gifted the ladies their rocker chic clothing. Royal Underground clothing is cloaked in intrigue, long on comfort, and as impressive as a combination of designers and owners Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx and Kelly Gray could be thought to be.

Its cashmere and antiqued leather and carries details that you come across by chance, like naughty little secrets. It’s an outgrowth of a world that loves its hardcore rock music but hungers for prestige. Royal Underground; edgy cool with the aura of unattainablilty. www.royalunderground.net

Recycling Rocks

For the second year, Waste Management sponsored a “green corner” within the Lounge where they will highlight their new “Recycling Rocks” campaign by giving a messenger bag made of recycled materials filled with eco-friendly goodies.

Live Nation, the world’s largest live music company, and Waste Management, Inc., the largest waste services provider and recycler in North America, have collaborated in a multi-year agreement encompassing Live Nation’s venues, concerts, tickets and online platform. www.livenation.com/recrocks

Under the agreement, Waste Management becomes the official waste services and recycling sponsor of 66 Live Nation venues across the country. Waste Management will promote recycling at all Live Nation venues, including concessions and backstage areas. What a difference this is going to make! For a multitude of options to help you recycle too, go to www.wm.com, www.greenopolis.com

MTG, out of Japan, was onsite and gifted the Re-Fa Platinum Electronic Roller, which helps achieve younger skin. This device is quite phenomenol; it is based on the science that our bodies have a natural bio-current. As we age, our body’s ability to produce this bio-microcurrent weakens and our skin ages.

The Re-Fa Platinum Electronic Roller is designed to generate a microcurrent that closely replicates the body’s natural bio-current. It has a proprietary 3D-V construction, which fit the angles of the face and body beautifully. Besides being coated with Platinum, it is fitted with ceramic rings of composed of 16 different types of natural ores. It has a waterproof construction, and is fitted with a solar panel, requiring no power connection. It is fitted with magnetic rings in the rollers that makes it possible to generate the necessary microcurrent, even where only limited natural light is available. In a word, this product is simply amazing.

Along with this,  Twinklist ultimate foot and hand care packages was gifted; the kit is all you need for attractive healthy feet and hands, utilizing the most up to date materials and technology www.mtg.gr.jp

Celebs were also treated to Organasense, the Australian certified organic skincare line.  They use Australian and French ingredients, cultivated from eco-friendly materials with a hundred years of tradition and history for three generations. Utilizing 60 different organic ingredients, high potency antioxidants, a natural permeation technology, low-temperature mixing technology and natural preservative patent technology to bring you one of the finest skincare systems in the world. Exquisite Agapara ladies handbags were also gifted.

Lounge Perks

The Lounge featured iPod docking stations from Harman International, the leader in audio and multimedia for the home, car and professional stage.

Talent visiting the Lounge was also treated to Misis sterling silver jewelry,  Marley Coffee, the gorgeous new Palm Pixi/ Palm Pixi Plus, Ciroc Vodka and more...

Grammy Bag Sneak Peak

The official 52nd Annual GRAMMY Gift “Bag” was actually a $715 Mobilizer NXT^® Hardside Officer’s Trunk (compliments of Victorinox Travel Gear) filled with a bevy of items such as a bi-coastal health club membership to The Sports Club/LA, a private island retreat at The Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay, DeLeá essential oil fragrance, Enerjii jewelry, SteelSeries Siberia v2 full-size headsets, WildCharge Technology by PureEnergy Solutions, Modern Meditations – Rock Goes Zen CD sets, an all-inclusive fitness retreat from Live In Fitness Enterprise, WooLoot Sport watches, Slimware portion-conscious dinnerware, argan oil-infused  Moroccanoil Treatment and Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray, Chocolatines by Sweet Endeavours, fūl backpacks, The Jerky Kids beef jerky, a new human-powered vehicle known as the Yucycle, LA Confidential magazine, chic pet products by Petprojekt, Johnny Rockets meal cards, Tag It Green recycled jewelry, OhMiBod musical massager, The Buzz Killers’ Buzz Killer card, dinner at Saam (at the SLS Hotel’s Bazaar by Jose Andreas), beauty packages from The Organic Pharmacy, People magazine, Custom Crystals embellished tank tops, Whitney Houston Deluxe Anniversary Edition CD, Elvis 75 – Good Rocking Tonight CD, Metamorphosis post-treatment skincare, Riazul Tequila, Colgate Wisp Plus Whitening, food and gaming packages from ESPN Zone, Music Connection magazine, smart heat hair tools, jewelry that gives back from Zorbitz, exclusive blu electronic cigarette starter kits, Luxurious Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, BCBG Max Azria fashion items, Anastasia eyebrow shaping, PackIt patented eco-gel, i360 music infused headwear, Netranie Devanan hot stone massages,  Incoqnito leather cuffs and other last-minute surprises.

All of the attendees at the GRAMMY Celebration^®, the official after party, will also get to share in the gifting extravaganza with fabulous Moroccanoil product-filled gift boxes made exclusively for the event.

For a complete list of all the nominees and winners, click here…

Distinctive Assets

Established in 1999, Distinctive Assets not only produces the Gift Bags and Backstage Gift Lounges for many major award shows but also provides product placement, product introduction, event production, public relations and branding opportunities within the entertainment industry and beyond.

More on Moroccanoil

The originator and industry leader of luxury, professional argan oil-infused styling, finishing and conditioning products for the hair, the Moroccanoil brand is world renowned for its proprietary lightweight, instantly-absorbed formulas designed to give hair a silky, lustrous shine, a frizz-free and static-free finish, and revitalize hair while speeding drying time up to 40%. In less than three years, Moroccanoil has pioneered a new product category and become a runaway hit among fashion and beauty insiders. The products maintain a cult following among editorial, fashion, celebrity, film and television stylists as well as their celebrity clients. Moroccanoil’s argan oil is harvested under a free trade program, which provides substantial socio-economic support to thousands of families in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco. Moroccanoil products are sold exclusively in fine salons.   Consumers can find the nearest salon by visiting www.moroccanoil.com.

The Recording Academy

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.

Musicares Mission

MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares’ services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.
www2.grammy.com/musicares

Talent that attended the Distinctive Assets official Backstage Gifting Lounge for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards:

Aaron Carter, Bethenny Frankel, Alex Band, Celine Dion, From Alice in Chains, Jerry Cantrell, Melda May, Mike Inez, Jennifer Hudson, Sean Kinney, Kate Voegel, William DuVall, and Kimberly Caldwell, All American Rejects, Chris Gaylor, Kimora Lee Simmons, Mike Kennerty, Lady Antebellum, Hillary Scott, Nick Wheeler, Lalah Hathaway, Tyson Ritter, Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli, Melissa Rivers, Anthony Hamilton, Miranda Lambert,  Atreyu, Dan Jacobs, Rihanna, Atreyu, Travis Miguel, Roberta Flack, Black Eyed Peas, apl.de.ap, Shar Jackson, Taboo, Taylor Dayne, Charlie Wilson, Tia Carrere, David Foster, DJ Tony Okungbowa, Elliot Yamin, Foo Fighters, Rami Jaffee, George Clinton,  Green Day, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool, Greg Grunberg, Jamie Foxx, Jason Derulo, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Jam,  Justin Bieber, Justin Guarini, Kelly Hansen, Kris Allen, Kurt Elling, Lady Antebellum, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Leon Russell, Linkin Park, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda, Lionel Richie, LMFAO, Skylar “Sky Blu” Gordy, Stefan “Redfoo” Gordy, Maxwell, Michael Johns, Mick Fleetwood, OneRepublic, Brent Kutzle, Drew Brown, Eddie Fisher, Ryan Tedder (special Zach Filkins, Randy Jackson, Slash, Smokey Robinson, The Fray, Ben Wysoki, Dave Welsh, Issac Slade, Joe King, T-Pain, Zac Brown Band, Chris Fryar, Clay Cook Coy Bowles, De Martini, John Driskell Hopkins, Zac Brown.

GRAMMY VIPs/Executives Who Attended:

Bill Freimuth, Barb Dehgan, Branden Chapman, Angelia Sanders, Daryl Friedman, Nancy Tellem, David Grossman, Christina Sepluveda, David Wild, Evan Greene     Gaetano Frizzi, George Flanigen, Jack Sussman, John Cossette, Ken Ehrlich.

NARAS Executive Office Neil Portnow, Peter Anton, Rick Engdahl, Walter Miller,Wayne Zahner.

Photos by Jane Emery

The Celebrity Vault, Beverly Hills’ premier purveyor of iconic celebrity / Rock n’ Roll photography and fine art, hosted the January 28th opening of renowned photographer Erik Voake’s new collection, entitled “Roxy 365”. Aside from the general public, numerous rock legends were in attendance – including Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols,  Cisco Adler, and Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats. A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition went to benefit The Painted Turtle, an innovative camp and family care center for children with life-threatening diseases.

Roxy 365

The idea behind “Roxy 365” is simple: document every show at the world-famous Roxy Theatre for 365 days. The result is a provocative set of images capturing icons of Hollywood and music – from Matthew McConaughey to Slash. In addition, the exhibit placed a special focus on photos including DJ AM, who passed away tragically in August of 2009. Each image conveys the tantalizing prospect of a story left untold.

The Roxy Theatre

The Roxy Theatre is, without a doubt, the premier music venue on the Sunset Strip. Opened in 1973, The Roxy is an intimate 7,500 foot setting that has played host to thousands of the world’s greatest musicians. The Roxy is known for its eclectic lineups that include high profile debut gigs from Gnarls Barkley, Mickey Avalon, and the like. The Roxy has also hosted landmark shows by icons like Bob Marley, The Sex Pistols, and Bob Dylan. Recent performances include Them Crooked Vultures, Mika, Keane, Flo Rida, AFI, Wolfmother, and many more. www.theroxyonsunset.com

Erik Voake

Voake is highly respected in the worlds of photography and cinema – having directed numerous music videos for A-list artists. Most recently, he was tapped as a co-producer and DP for the Lion’s Gate feature film “A Day in the Life”, featuring Mekhi Phifer, Omar Epps, Michael Rapaport, Bokeem Woodbine, and Drina Deniro. At the same time, most of Voake’s personal projects focus on social, political, or environmental themes. www.erikvoake.com

The Celebrity Vault

Established in 2007, The Celebrity Vault specializes in bringing rare and iconic images to collectors. Because of their relationships with renowned celebrity photographers, The Celebrity Vault is able to present exclusive and rare images of Hollywood and Rock n’ Roll icons. The Celebrity Vault has been met with an overwhelmingly favorable media response by outlets such as People, Star, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, E! Entertainment, Art & Living, Good Morning LA, NBC News, and Peninsula Magazine.

www.thecelebrityvault.com

The Painted Turtle

A portion of the proceeds from the Roxy 365 exhibit at The Celebrity Vault went to benefit The Painted Turtle – a camp dedicated to providing a year-round nurturing environment for children with serious illnesses. Beyond caring for their medical needs, The Painted Turtle inspires children to reach beyond their illnesses, providing education and respite for children and families.

www.thepaintedturtle.org

After the 15th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, which aired live January 15th, 2010 on VH1, many of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities  joined in on the celebrations at the official after-party held at the trendy Katsuya Restaurant in Hollywood, hosted by Heifer International donors, Susan Sarandon and Eva Amurri.

Star-studded Evening

The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, which kick off the movie awards season, is generally regarded as a crucial forecaster for the Academy Awards. The awards show was hosted by Emmy and Tony-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and held at the Hollywood Palladium.

TV Personality Nancy O'Dell, Adam Lambert, American Idol

Nominees  included films such as “Inglorious Bastards,” “Nine,” “Avatar,” “Precious,” “Up” in addition to actors George Clooney, Sandra Bullock, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard and many more. (See winners below) Renowned actor and philanthropist Kevin Bacon was presented with the third annual Joel Siegel Award by Meryl Streep.

Critic's Choice Awards' Best Picture winner "Avatar"'s actor Matt Gerald.

Party Hollywood-style

The official after-party, brought together A-list talent and more than 100 Broadcast Film Critics for a night of celebration. Put on by VH1, it is considered one of the most intimate events of the season, not to mention one of the most anticipated industry parties of the year.

Allisa Milano, Cuba Gooding, Jr.

This year was no exception, as guests enjoyed a long night of dancing, mingling and enjoying specialty drinks from top spirit sponsors such as Heineken, Grey Goose Vodka, and Champagne Taittinger, while having the opportunity to learn about the good work of CCMA cause partner Heifer International from Susan Sarandon, Eva Amurri and Heifer staff.

E! Entertainment's Kat Sadler; Sarah Silverman mugs for our cameras.

Solving World Hunger with Heifer

For the second year, The Broadcast Film Critics Association has designated Heifer International as its official cause partner for the evening. Susan Sarandon, Eva Amurri and the BFCA are all Heifer donors, and are committed to spreading the word about Heifer’s mission to end world hunger while caring for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer has helped over 60 million people become self reliant through gifts of farm animals and training in sustainable agriculture. Every recipient of an animal from Heifer agrees to pass on the gift, sharing their animal’s offspring and training with another family in need, so that one gift to Heifer ripples outward through an entire community.

Adam Lambert, with Roger Widynowski, Vice President Music / TV Publicity US, 19 Entertainment stops to say hello to our host Scott Harden.

Critics’ Choice Movie Awards

The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards are bestowed annually by the BFCA to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Since its inception in 1995, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards has been a star-studded event of the awards season and historically, the most accurate predictor of the Academy Award nominations.

Bright little stars Bailee Madison and Jae Head.

And the Winners Are..

Best Picture The Hurt Locker
Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Best Original Screenplay Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Best Adapted Screenplay Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
Best Acting Ensemble Inglourious Basterds
Best Actor Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Best Actress (tie) Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia; Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Young Actress Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones
Best Documentary The Cove
Best Foreign Language Film Broken Embraces
Best Animated Movie Up
Best Comedy Movie The Hangover
Best Score Michael Giacchino, Up
Best Song “The Weary Kind,” Crazy Heart
Best Costume Design The Young Victoria
Best Make-Up District 9
Best Action Movie Avatar
Best Cinematography Avatar
Best Visual Effects Avatar
Best Art Direction Avatar
Best Editing Avatar
Best Sound Avatar

Molly Shea (Sunset Tan) and LATP host Scott Harden hang with "The Hangover's" Ken Jeong.

Broadcast Film Critics Association

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) is the largest film critics’ organization in the United States and Canada, representing hundreds of television, radio and online critics. BFCA members are the primary source of information for today’s film going public. The very first opinion a moviegoer hears about new releases at the multiplex or the art house usually comes from one of its members.

VH1’s Stats

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

Sponsors of the After-Party

The sponsors of the event were as follows: Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Heineken, Grey Goose® Vodka, Lotus, Heys Luggage, Yellow + Blue Wine (Tetra Pak), Champagne Taittinger, Hawaii Partners: Oahu Visitors Bureau, Honolulu Film Office, Turtle Bay Resort & Aston Hotels & Resorts, Montecristo Premium Cigars, Heifer International (Cause Partner) and W Magazine.

To donate to Heifer International, visit: www.heifer.org

Stay tuned for LA’s the Place interviews with many of these stars from the Critics Choice Awards afterparty!

Coldspring, an ultimate love story, chronicles three documented lifetimes as well as two earlier ones that they intuited to demonstrate the evolution of karma from lifetime to lifetime through a person reincarnating within their own family, friends and community. This karmic evolution takes place over a span of 12,000 years. The book follows three people who continue to meet in different lifetimes fated to follow their karmic path leading to jealousy, betrayal, and finally…murder.

Based on True Story

Three of these lifetime occurrences are actual true murders that happened in the small town of Coldspring, NY. Cheri Mancuso’s own great Aunt Bernice Kenyon in 1935 is the last murder of the story. This book starts the journey of Cheri Mancuso’s and Jon Scarano’s connection to each other. They discovered an undeniable karmic connection between the two authors and Bernice Kenyon, Harold Farnsworth and Freddy Lindsay. Coldspring is the first of a trilogy book series. The books to follow are: The Trial and The Resolution.

Cheri Mancuso’s Bio

Cheri, with twenty years of psychic practice, gives individuals and sometimes police in Southern California help in locating missing objects or people, contacting the passed on, speaking with Spirit Guides and so much more. Also, besides her practice in Southern Califonia, Cheri & Jon spend much of their time on their 25 acre farm in upstate, NY among the quiet life with the Amish with their german Shepard Conner who was adopted after her Spirit Guides told her he would appear. Three days later, Conner an abandoned puppy of 7 months ran on the property and has been there since Oct. 2003.

Jon Scarano’s Bio

Jon Scarano is the first-generation American son of Italian immigrants and a native of South Plainfield, New Jersey. He served his country during the Vietnam conflict as an enlisted man with the United States Marine Corps. He has studied metaphysics, tarot, mystical symbolism and numerology for over forty years and currently teaches private classes on these subjects with his partner, Cheri Mancuso. He is clairsentient, clairaudient and is a Reiki Master. Coldspring is a result of Jon and Cheri’s creative and psychic talent. It is their first collaborative publication in which the metaphysical arts have been used for character development.

These are first edition and first print. Soft cover $ 16.95, Hardcover $ 26.95. Go to: http://www.thecoldspring.com/#story

The book is also available through Cheri Mancuso, simply email her to get a copy of this spellbinding story for yourself or others as a holiday gift: cherimancuso@earthlink.net

Kids write and create their own story and illustrations. Then, they can just send the book back to Scribble Press in the enclosed envelope or drop it off at the Santa Monica location and Scribble Press takes care of the rest. Include a photo in the envelope with your book and get it back with a Dedication Page, About the Author, and even an author photo on the back cover. Scribble Press will mail the finished book to the author or it can be picked up in the store.

Extra copies of the book are $15 and make a great gift item to share with friends and family.

Scribble Press

Created by two moms, Darcy Pollack and Anna Barber, Scribble Press is a place for kids and families to write, illustrate, and publish their own books. The store is a fully equipped art studio complete with printing and bookbinding on site.

For more information visit www.scribblepress.com or call (310) 899-0495.

The success of works like Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret have led to many people revisiting concepts like goal setting and positive thinking. Advanced Cosmic Ordering (www.advancedcosmicordering.com) is connected to that discussion as the website’s founder Bradley Thompson promises insight into realizing your life dreams in anything from finances to personal relationships.

The website for the Advanced Cosmic Ordering instructional guide begins with a simple question: What if you could simply order you’re life’s desires by placing a call to a Universe Order Hotline? In asking the question, the website promises to provide the fundamentals, secrets and shortcuts to cosmic ordering. Bradley Thompson and Advanced Cosmic Ordering suggest on the home page that applying the tenet of cosmic ordering can help you achieve success in areas like:

Making More Money than You Can Handle

Buying a Brand New and Luxurious Home

Finding Your Beautiful, Ideal Partner

Making More Friends and Social Connections

Advanced Cosmic Ordering

Advanced Cosmic Ordering, a cosmic ordering guide with insight from manifestation professionals that include Thompson, Karl Moore and Michael Masterman. The guide examines cosmic ordering processes in a variety of life areas, including wealth, relationships, health, career and life experiences. The book checks in at just over 110 pages in length and examines issues like:

The Seven Steps to Instant Cosmic Ordering

The Top Three Myths About Cosmic Ordering

The Cosmic Revelations That Can Change Your Outlook on Life

The Truth Behind Cosmic Ordering Gurus

The Secret Way to Literally Test Your Cosmic Ordering Skills

The book additionally examines other factors in cosmic order, discussing what they refer to as Abundance Saboteurs and Energy Vampires as well as discovering your Anam Cara.

Recorded Instruction

Advanced Cosmic Ordering also provides a 30 minute Cosmic Ordering recording that guides you through the entire Cosmic Ordering Process. There are also five visualization recordings, each lasting ten minutes and correlating with the teachings in the written guide.

Purchasing the Kit

The Advanced Cosmic Ordering instructional guide is available for purchase at the price of 47.95. In addition to the previously mentioned features, the kit further includes:

45-Minute Cosmic Ordering Binaural Beats Recording

10-Minute Digital Caffeine Wake-Up

100 Magical Abundance Affirmations

Two Free Hypnosis Sessions

Bradley Thompson

A self-development author, Thompson’s books include Developing Your Own Subliminal-Studio, Be Psychic and Lucid Dreaming in Seven Days. Thompson claims over fifteen years of experience with cosmic ordering and is also known for his Subliminal Power tool, which is currently used on over 1 million desktops throughout the world. His 5-part Encoding System” is currently used on many subliminal CD’s.

Through his work with the WCCL Network, Thompson’s client have included AT&T, the US Army, IBM, FedEx, the BBC, British Telecom, UPS, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Network Solutions, Sun, Deloitte & Touche, Dow Jones, Merrill Lynch, the Discovery Channel, Time Warner, Nationwide Insurance, Xerox, Intel, KPMG, and Microsoft.

What’s in a Name?

The name was based on a conversation held between the American playwright Sam Shepard and director Jacques Levy in which Shepard was in doubt of his abilities to produce a certain scene. Jacques suggested that if Shepard wanted an elephant to appear on stage, he simply needed to add it to his script. The company would ultimately capture an audience that would soon grow to immense capacities, thus creating a love for theater at its finest.

Elephant Size Success

Within the first two years, the company proudly presented 9 productions, including LA weekly recommended Holding Cell (Fall 1996) and Drama Logue Critic’s Pick Princess and the Peon (Summer 1997). As audience turnout escalated and production needs increased, the Elephant’s founding members came to a decision to expand, thus relocating to Hollywood, California during the summer of 1997.  Three of its original  members elected to move on to engage in new endeavors while David Fofi and Don Cesario continued to expand, enlisting additional members and constructing new stages: Lillian Theater (99 seats), Elephant Lab (70 seats),  and Elephant Space (99 seats). In its continuous effort to produce award winning independent theater throughout Los Angeles, The Elephant later opened the Elephant Asylum Theater (2003). Not only does the Asylum allow for the creation of notable playwright production, but generates opportunity for all things creative including artistic exhibits and recitals. It also provides a space to train aspiring artists, allowing them to learn via a hands on experience, as well as provide otherwise successful artists with a chance to enhance their abilities. The company also allows individuals the opportunity to co- produce productions within the Elephant company. Elephant crew members are also given the opportunity to assist outside companies as well. Those interested in such a position are urged to contact Elephant Stageworks (handles all business matters regarding the company) via email or telephone.

Fall 2009 Productions

Over a decade later, the Elephant continues to present Los Angeles with distinguished productions. It humbly boasts over its creation of more than 40 successful productions. Within the next two months, the Elephant will present five productions: Jitney (October 5- November 19), 24 Hour Rush (October15 and October 22), 7 Redneck Cheerleaders (August 4-October 21), Tape (October 27-November 19), and Eric Larue (October 20- November 19).

Nothing like an Elephant

Dr. Lyall Watson, writer and producer of Ethology themed works, wrote “If elephants didn’t exist you couldn’t invent one…there is nothing quite like an elephant.” The continued success of a play production company that stemmed from the minds of four men and grew too large for a 45 seat theater proves that an elephant can in fact be invented. A true original in it’s is own form, there is definitely nothing quite like The Elephant.

http://www.elephantstageworks.com
elephantstageworks@msn.com
Telephone (323) 962-0046

Consumers are invited to share stories (150 words or less) of why they, or a loved one, would like to be “blissed” by the Hershey’s Bliss diamond necklace. Visit www.hersheysbliss.com and share a story about yourself, your mother, wife, sister, daughter or friend. Five lucky women will be selected to share the 16.5-carat diamond necklace for two weeks and will receive the necklace, delicious Hershey’s Bliss chocolate and a signed copy of “The Necklace.” Each winner will be asked to share their experience with the necklace through a blog on the Hershey’s Bliss chocolate Web site and to help select the next winner, thus connecting women nationwide. The winners will be invited to meet in person for the first time at the Young Survival Coalition’s (YSC) spring 2010 charity benefit in New York City where the necklace will be “blissed” for the last time. Hershey’s Bliss will continue the company’s long-standing support of the YSC and raising awareness for breast cancer by donating the 16.5-carat diamond necklace to the organization’s annual fund raiser.

Hershey's Share the Bliss Contest prize.

For more information on Hershey’s Bliss chocolate and to enter for a chance to be one of five lucky women who will be “blissed” with the one-of-a-kind diamond necklace visit www.hersheysbliss.com.

Milk Studios in Hollywood played host to the opening event for SVEDKA Adult Playground 2033. SVEDKA Vodka (www.svedka.com) collaborated with Brent Bolthouse, founder of Bolthouse Productions to produce the first in a series of events that convey a vision of what nightlife could be like in 2033. A trendsetting LA event producer, Bolthouse lent his collection of personal photography to SVEDKA Adult Playground 2033 with an exhibition titled, Greenland: A Beautiful Lie. The visual journey chronicles a trip to Greenland with Thirty Seconds to Mars for the band’s environmentally themed short film “A Beautiful Lie” and was accompanied by a sexy infusion of music and cocktails.

Nightlife in 2033

When SVEDKA Vodka wanted to know what the future in nightlife would be they went to those in the know, asking nightlife impresarios like NY’s Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano (Butter Restaurant and 1OAK), NY’s Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum (Tenjune, Abe & Arthur’s, Simyone Lounge) and LA’s Allison Melnick (Playhouse) to articulate their vision of 2033 nightlife.

Brent Bolthouse, Jared Leto, Tom Green

The result is a series of sexy, chic events filled with surprises, hot DJs and celebrities partaking in a futuristic celebration that embodies the SVEDKA brand. Subsequent SVEDKA Adult Playground 2033 events will take place this fall and winter in dynamic settings that bring to life each nightlife impresarios’ expression of futuristic partying.

Milk Studios

The inaugural event hosted at Milk Studios proved that everyone wants a glimpse into the crystal ball, including the hottest party scene celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Nicky Hilton as well as television and film heavyweights like Dylan McDermott, Jason Segel and Keanu Reeves. Celebrities attending the event also included Mena Suvari, Danny Masterson, Scott Caan, Jared Leto, Benji Madden, Seth MacFarlane, Shoshana Bush and Kat Von D.

Mina Suvari, Keanu Reeves

Exciting New Cocktails

VEDKA Vodka attracted a who’s who of celebrities by being the first brand to recruit such a high profile group of nightlife heavy hitters to forecast what the future of partying will look like. In addition to experiencing the futuristic visions from nightlife heavyweights, the invited guests and VIPs were treated to the future of SVEDKA cocktails, including Fembot_Fatale and the Hot_Bot.

“The SVEDKA Adult Playground 2033 event series is an expression of SVEDKA’s creative brand platform set in the future featuring the iconic fembot SVEDKA_Grl,” said Marina Hahn, Chief Marketing Officer, Spirits Marque One LLC. “In the future there are no boundaries and we have given these nightlife influencers limitless possibilities to create a provocative three-dimensional nightlife experience providing an outrageous and trendsetting sign of things to come. SVEDKA is a rising star on the back bar and partnering with such high caliber nightlife impresarios further solidifies the brand’s position as THE choice for bar-hoppers.”

Dylan McDermott, Kat Von D, Benji Madden

The program will culminate in a SVEDKA Adult Playground 2033-themed advertorial in Details magazine where these nightlife impresarios will be photographed together for the first time ever.

SVEDKA Vodka

According to Impact Databank in February of 2009, SVEDKA is the fastest growing spirits brand in the world and was identified as the third largest imported vodka brand in the United States in 2008’s Impact’s Annual Spirits Study, behind only Absolut and Grey Goose.

A recipient of the Gold Medal for Exceptional Taste and Best Buy (BTI, 2008) and a Gold Medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, SVEDKA’s “cheap chic” positioning provides consumers with a high quality, premium product and hip brand image at an affordable price. SVEDKA is 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof), distilled five times and made from Swedish winter wheat, resulting in a smooth, clean taste.

SVEDKA products are also available in a variety of flavors like SVEDKA Clementine, an orange vodka, SVEDKA Citron, SVEDKA Raspberry, and SVEDKA Vanilla. Each of the flavors consists of 37.5% alcohol by volume (75 proof).

Alec Baldwin, actor, 30 Rock

Playboy:  Setting up this interview was like trying to shoot a moving target. It took months for you to carve out time in your schedule. Not many actors your age are so busy.
Alec Baldwin:  For me to have any career opportunities at the age of 51 is a miracle. But it’s all about 30 Rock. We’ve won every prize they give out, some twice. People need to laugh right now. Tina Fey and her writers are so good, they’ve skewed things for me.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  People send scripts now, and I read them and go [breathes in loudly], “I don’t know. It’s more cute than funny.” I work with people who are really funny. It sets the bar high.

Playboy:  You, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan are very different. On what level do you connect?
AB:  I love Tracy because he is this sweet kid from the Bronx, a real New Yorker who went from comedy clubs in the outer boroughs into the 212 area code with Caroline’s and then stardom on SNL. But he’s still childlike. When he was told he was going to host SNL, he burst out crying in front of us; he couldn’t believe they’d asked him. He’s among a handful of people in my life who always make me laugh. He’s sick and perverted but in a wonderful way. He’s my favorite pervert.

Playboy:  How about Tina Fey?
AB:  Tina’s a smart and sexy woman who writes with an edge and thinks like a guy. The success of 30 Rock is not how many people watch the show but who’s watching the show. Industry people watch. There are shows far more successful than we’ll ever be that nobody in my business watches. So when NBC chief Jeff Zucker or NBC programming honcho Ben Silverman or SNL and 30 Rock producer Lorne Michaels are having lunch at the Grill and people walk up and say, “My kid downloads that show, and we watch the DVD boxed set,” it’s enormously gratifying.

Playboy:  You’ve had enough classic moments on SNL to fill your own DVD. Which skit do people bring up most often?
AB:  “Schweddy Balls.” It’s going to be on my tombstone: HERE LIES ALEC BALDWIN AND HIS SCHWEDDY BALLS.

Playboy:  Did you turn down any sketches for being too outrageous?
AB:  Probably a few. It’s hard to remember. I’m often asked if I think about going into politics. If I do, these guys will have a field day. I’ve given them so much crap to use against me—Canteen Boy, Schweddy balls. I just did the Wii sketch. Did you see that?

Playboy:  Describe it.
AB: I did this with two SNL guys. I’m their father, and I show them that the best way to shake the Wii wand is to go like this [simulates masturbation], and we’re doing this obscene, horrible thing. Google or YouTube that one; it’s just ridiculous. While I’m doing it, I’m thinking, If I run for political office, they’ll have a forest of material to kill me with.

Playboy:  Can comedy be held against you?
AB:  I always hope people will understand that what I do as an entertainer is totally different from the way I behave. The day you say “I am a candidate,” you have a different responsibility. You hope the American public has the ability to delineate what of your private behavior matters and what doesn’t. If a guy’s a drunk driver, he has shown a lack of judgment that could hurt people. A womanizer? Well, you don’t know what someone’s going through in their marriage. Maybe he or she was miserable and unhappy, and if they were seeking companionship from someone else, that’s none of my business. If they don’t pay their taxes? That I’d worry about. The truth is, you have to assume they’ll slam you for all of it.

Playboy:  Your hosting career spans 14 SNL episodes. Who are the most impressive cast members you’ve worked with?
AB:  Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell and Will Forte. Hartman used to just amaze me. But maybe the most impressive moment I witnessed on the show involved Mike Myers. He hosted a Japanese game show in which Chris Farley is tortured when he doesn’t answer the questions right. Myers took my breath away. He just so nailed it, doing all this phonetic Japanese. We were peeing in our pants.

Playboy:  Do you watch a lot of television?
AB:  No. I’ve watched 60 Minutes and The Sopranos on Sunday nights, and I cried when The Sopranos ended. I don’t watch anything else.

Playboy:  Why did you say yes to 30 Rock?
AB:  It’s shot in New York. Lorne Michaels made a provision in my contract that says I would never miss my visitation with my daughter. I work a limited number of days a week, and then I’m on a plane. That was the biggest consideration. The pilot was funny, the show got funnier, and by the end of the first season people were saying glowing things.

Playboy:  You’ve clashed with studio heads and producers. What bothers you about the way Hollywood works?
AB:  I worked for Warner Bros. on The Departed, and I just did My Sister’s Keeper with Cameron Diaz. My problem with Warner Bros. is that it’s part of the same company as TMZ, and it’s like that with all these companies—Extra, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight. I would be so happy if those shows went off the air. It is a huge problem in our business—this microcosmic analysis and elevation of people who are just witless and talentless, or people with talent, like Lindsay Lohan, who struggle. Who gives a shit about their personal trivialities? It hurts the business.

Playboy:  TMZ’s Harvey Levin ran the audio of the biting voice-mail message you left your daughter. How mad were you?
AB:  I thought about suing Warner Bros. My attorneys told me digital or electronic property of a minor is the intellectual property of the parent or legal guardian. TMZ was not allowed to release that tape without my approval. I don’t think they did anybody any favors. Everybody knows Levin is a human tumor, a graceless character who lives in that weird netherworld. I don’t blame those pathetic people; they are what they are. This is about the company. Warner Bros. wants me to do a movie and then shoves it up my ass with another company down the hall. You work for Paramount, and they say, “We want you to promote the movie you’ve done for us by going on a TV show we own. We’re going to double dip and make money on you both way”. They’re not paying me serious appearance fees, and as a union member I have a big problem with that. You want me to do appearances now on Entertainment Tonight? Pay me. Are you making a profit on Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight? Everybody says, “Do it for free because you’re promoting your movie”. Pay me.

Playboy:  We take it you’re not winning this one.
AB:  It’s the stance my union should take. Promotional activities for films and television shows have replaced talented marketing and publicity departments. These division heads want to walk into a meeting and say, “We ran this star up the flagpole, nobody saluted, and the movie bombed. So the movie bombed because nobody liked so-and-so.” They’ve relieved themselves of any responsibility by tying the marketing to the star’s name. They psychologically abuse talent by going, “Hey, if the movie bombs, it’s bad for you.” They’ve psyched you into thinking you’ve got to run around the country for four weeks, telling the same anecdotes over and over until you want to drop dead. You miss your child’s volleyball game because if the movie doesn’t do well, it reflects on you. They’ve conspired to wash their hands of any responsibility.

Playboy:  Would you be reluctant to work with Warner Bros. again?
AB:  Well, I did My Sister’s Keeper after that. The publicity I do now is modest because I don’t think it makes a difference. Why am I even here with you? Do you think this is something I enjoy?

Playboy:  It’s not?
AB:  I want to assure you of something. Four out of five actors I know wouldn’t do this if their life depended on it—unless they felt pressure to promote a film. That’s exactly how I feel. I wouldn’t be sitting here with you, talking about this crap and my opinions of the business. I wouldn’t bother. I like you personally. I wouldn’t talk to somebody who was a shit heel. If Harvey Levin wanted to interview me, I would tell him to go drown. But if this wasn’t about promoting My Sister’s Keeper and maybe 30 Rock and the movie I’m now doing with Meryl Streep, I wouldn’t waste fucking five minutes on it.

Playboy:  Did you always feel this way?
AB:  When you’re younger you get sold that it’s vital. Bit by bit you see through that. Like the Today show. I’m on an NBC show, and Today was considered vital. But when that voice-mail tape thing happened, Matt Lauer interviewed Levin before he even called me. Lauer put Levin on Today, and they never phoned me. When it’s in their interest to reach me, they know how. I saw that and said, “My relationship with the Today show is over.” I’ll never do Today again, ever. Life’s too short.
P:  But media everywhere focus on TMZ.
B:  NBC will periodically give you that NBC-family spiel. I expected that, since I was starring on an NBC show, I would have gotten a phone call and they would’ve said, “Would you like an opportunity to come in and talk about it?”

Playboy:  Would you have accepted?
AB:  I probably would have done that before I did The View. I raced in to do that show. Whoopi Goldberg is a friend. I called her and said, “Do you think I can get a fair shake?” Because when you talk about family law and parental alienation, there is this unfortunate gender-based dynamic. Could I walk into a show with a strong female audience? Would they understand my point of view? I trusted Whoopi and Barbara Walters. Whoopi is an impeccably decent person, and I am grateful she gave me a forum.

Playboy:  When you hit back at Levin, reports say you outed him as a homosexual. Was that fair?
AB:  No, I don’t think I outed him. I thought Levin had been candid about that. But for a long time he wasn’t. I have nothing against people who are homosexual, but I find it funny that people in that tabloid world keep their own secrets. They want the world at large to respect that but spend their lives outing the secrets of others. I find Levin peculiar and hypocritical.

Playboy:  You’ve had a front-row seat at intrusive celebrity coverage—helicopters at your wedding, photographers trying to snap pictures of your newborn. Is it still this bad for you?
AB:  No. Those magazines focus on people who are younger and newer. I’m 51 and have moved into another world, where they’re done with you—unless you do something. The three quickest ways to get back into that loop are: Don’t pay your federal income taxes, get drunk and try to bolt through airport security with a gun in your suitcase, and last but not least, get a DUI and be arrested in Malibu. A series of events could heat up that pot again, but the benefit of being older is they don’t care about me.

Playboy:  Why is there such an insatiable appetite to see stars in unflattering moments?
AB:  This society is very wired together, and it’s the most neurotic a society has ever been. Twitter, all this stuff, I don’t view as anything good. Everyone is so hyperaware of what everybody else is doing. Everybody has been convinced their opinion should count. We all need to be spouting opinions. I’m now giving you an opinion about opinions.

Playboy:  You are.
AB:  Another element is how distant government has become for the average person. People want their opinion to count somewhere, so they’ve transferred the desires and expectations of their democratic voice over to entertainment. They don’t have any input into what the government does. There is a chasm thousands of miles wide between Washington and the people. That’s why shows like American Idol are so important: People want to think they can affect something in that Roman gladiatorial way—thumbs up or thumbs down. I’m not saying public officials are exempt, because every time the people can gang up and condemn a public official, they do.

Playboy:  When you hosted SNL recently, you jokingly thanked Christian Bale. Whose audio tirade was worse?
AB: Mine was worse by far because it involved parenting. Christian Bale’s was a skirmish with a colleague on set, and the only odd thing was how long it went on. Probably on half the films I’ve done I’ve seen someone lose it. You’re shooting and someone gets in your eye line, or a light blows when you’re really onto something as a performer. A phone goes off or a walkie-talkie. I’ve seen people lose it on behalf of their creative expedition. It’s frustration, nothing personal. Mine was so much different.

Playboy:  What reaction hit you hardest?
AB:  The most harrowing for me was negative mail I got from people who were critical but not hating or condemning. What hurt was that it was heartfelt. They’d say, “My father or my mother did this to me one time, and I’ve never forgotten it, never gotten over it.” Wow. I still believe the people who released the tape only made it worse, but the worst part for me was the way it touched the people who parent their kids. I’m thinking of my next book being about this.

Playboy:  After all that, you’ll write a book about parenting?
AB:  It will be ironic for some people, but I’m going to write a parenting book. We’re at, not a crisis, but an awful place right now in terms of parenting. People are raising their children with the belief that we need to be friends with our children. Kids have too much power and call too many of the shots, telling their parents what they will and won’t do.

Playboy:  Why has this happened?
AB:  In my gut I feel it’s another manifestation of how hard life has become. People are working hard to make money and manage their feelings about what the country’s going through. We live in stressful times. People come home, walk up the driveway, put the key in the door, and they just can’t do another hard job. Parenting your children effectively is a tough job.

Playboy:  You write in your book that after the tape leaked you offered to leave 30 Rock and even thought of jumping out a window. How serious were you?
AB:  Very serious.

Playboy:  What did you learn from all this?
AB:  Don’t lose your temper and act out in that way. I spoke to a lot of professionals, who helped me. If I hadn’t left that message, I wouldn’t have left myself open for that. On the other hand, I left the message with the presumption of privacy. I never dreamed they would do that. I was mortified, stunned. And not for me, because if I blew my brains out, a cadre of people on the other side would be elated. If I committed suicide, they would have considered that a victory. Destroying me was their avowed goal.

Playboy:  This is your ex’s legal team?
AB:  Oh, it’s a whole them. But the important thing is, when they released that, I was devastated for my daughter, who goes to school with other showbusiness kids. When parents are doing their job, these kids admire their moms and dads as entertainment professionals. When you go the opposite way, and this happens—I couldn’t imagine anything more overwhelming for my daughter.

Playboy:  How did you repair your relationship with her?
AB:  All I will say is, I met a therapist, one of the few smart therapists in the court-appointed family-law business. Most of them are racketeers who turn you upside down and shake your pockets out onto the table. But this guy said, “This is hard for you to believe right now, but you are the child’s father, and a child has only one father. Your child will come back to you. Her nature is to come back to you.” And over time that’s indeed what happened.

Playboy:  Ironically, in your new film, My Sister’s Keeper, you play a lawyer in a child-custody battle.
AB:  [Laughs] I tried so hard to put just a little sheen of oil on him.

Playboy:  Did your experiences shape your character?
AB:  No, because if I had put in the things I might have wanted to, it would kill the movie. My character is very sympathetic, an epileptic who has a seizure in the middle of the trial. My guy’s on the right side of the issue, representing a young girl in a medical-emancipation case. He’s not a divorce lawyer, but I tried to give him the requisite oily sheen of most lawyers I know.

Playboy:  Do you really have it in for lawyers?
AB:  I’ve met women since I’ve been single, and the minute I find out one is a lawyer, I’m like, “Check, please.”

Playboy:  Compared with the controversial things you’ve said in the past, your words seem more measured now.
AB:  I think it just doesn’t help anybody. I’ve watched people go at it, like Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump. All the negativity in my ugly assessments of Harvey Levin or my ex-wife’s divorce lawyers, all the negativity that has been in my life—I don’t want that. Let’s say there are 10 people I’ve had real tension and conflict with in the past. I never think about them anymore; none of them live in my life now. I did The Marrying Man with my ex-wife at Disney. A lot went wrong. Almost 20 years ago I did things I would do differently now. Yet 15 years later Michael Eisner called and asked me to do his interview show on CNBC, and he was a delight to talk to. Did I enjoy doing the movie when he ran Disney? No. I set that aside. Jeffrey Katzenberg ran the studio back then, and many of the frictions I had on The Marrying Man were with him. He called and said, “Would you come and do Madagascar with us?” I had a great time; he was an absolute gentleman. You’ve got to set those things aside.

Playboy:  When did you come to this realization?
AB:  For me, everything changed when I turned 50.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  Suddenly life is too short. 30 Rock has spoiled me in terms of realizing there’s nothing like having an audience for what you do. You realize you have plenty of time left but none to waste. And you don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do anymore.

Playboy:  What’s the biggest downside of being 51? What do you miss about the guy who starred in The Marrying Man and The Hunt for Red October?
AB:  About being younger? Having dark hair. When you get older, you look older, and there’s nothing you can do.

Playboy:  At least you have plenty of hair, even if it’s gray.
AB:  I’ve got hair for five guys. That’s one thing I am proud of. I don’t miss much else. I still throw a football with people at work all the time. I play tennis. But now, at 51, boy, my arm hurts the next day. You don’t recover as well, and you don’t want to get hurt. I ski, but if visibility is low, I don’t want to go out. I get a little scared. I don’t have time to lie in bed and recover for four or six weeks from a broken back or collarbone. But I’ll answer that question in a different context, in terms of what I went through in divorce. My only regret in life is that my daughter had to go through what she went through. I wonder how she’ll feel years from now, how it will affect her relationships. That is one of the greatest tragedies of the system, the reason I wrote the book. The most important thing is what is in the best interest of the child, but the system treats parents like mules. They just beat you with this incessant metronome of what’s best for your child. Who cares how much you suffer or how much you spend financially or emotionally? It’s not about you. That is a lie and a huge mistake. It should be that both parents deserve to have a life as well, with some dignity, decency and privacy, without the intrusion of these judges and lawyers, who are just the worst people you’ve met in your life.

Playboy:  Could even a perfect legal system mitigate the bitterness that obviously existed between you and your ex?
AB:  They have to ignore the emotionalized part of it. Judges should sit down and say, “If either of you alienates the child from the other, I will give primary and sole custody to the other person. Don’t do it.” But they don’t want to get in the way of the gamesmanship. Once one alienates the other, it’s more lawyer fees. If you get divorced, if your wife keeps your kids from you, you’re going to spend money to get them. The courts don’t want to get in the way of that commerce. A woman walks in, takes all your behavior as a father, puts it in the blender with the lawyer and paints you as a bad father for the purposes of alienating your child. That has to change.

Playboy:  How did growing up with five siblings in the Long Island town of Massapequa shape you?
AB:  You discover as years go by how much that determines who you become as a person. There are times I love living alone and other times I really miss a house filled with a big family. My dad was a teacher. He didn’t have money, and his six kids had to entertain themselves. My friends had money, boats, country houses, finished basements with pool tables. We had none of that. So it was my brothers and I, playing football, baseball, softball in a field adjacent to a golf course near our house. We lived there. At home everybody told jokes, finding a way to be funny. That led to what we’re all doing.

Playboy:  Were you surprised they followed you into acting?
AB:  My brothers had been putting one another on and entertaining one another out of necessity since they were five years old. I realize ending up in this business was natural for them. I was formed in my home, with my family, living a very simple life. I’m not some bling kind of person, no privatejet guy with big gold-encrusted jewelry. I linger on this because when I think about what the average American is, I think of my dad—the average American who wakes up every morning, puts in the hours trying to hold on to his job and do it well. If I run for office, my goal is to recognize that government doesn’t need to have lower taxes, a smaller budget. It’ll be smaller than now because we are undergoing a correction. But government needs to spend money more responsibly. It’s the only entity in this country authorized to stick its hand in your pocket and take your money, and if you don’t pay, you go to jail. It’s a disgrace, the way they just piss it away. Government needs to build roads, put satellites in the air, have bombs, ships and planes for the defense department, and schools. We need basically everything we have now. We just need to do it better. Let’s say I want you to build a highway. I’d have people come in from all around the world and explain how they built one in Germany, Italy or Riyadh, and I would turn to people in my country and say, “You’ve got six months to build the highway, and if you don’t, you’re fired.” It becomes a reservoir a certain group of politically connected people drinks from. That has to stop.

Playboy:  How?
AB:  Make everyone understand that when you steal on a government contract, it’s almost like treason. If I were president, I would make defense fraud treason. I would make it a treasonous act to play on the security fears of the American people, to have them authorize the building of all these things to defend and protect us, and then have you steal money inside the life of that contract. I’d send you to prison for treason.

Playboy:  What about bailed-out companies like AIG cutting bonus checks?
AB:  That’s a complicated question I don’t even think experts can answer now. People have contracts; it would be illegal to void them. These things were rushed by the former administration. What we need is an SEC that matters. The reason I think I would want to run for office and be good at it is, the way all this should be done is overwhelmingly obvious to me.

Playboy:  Explain.
AB:  You want business, but you’ve got to stand up to business. If a company says, “Hey, you break our chops about exhaust, about our factories…,” you turn to them and say, “Go. Leave. Because the jobs and tax base we’ll lose are less than what it would cost to clean up your mess, what we’ll pay later in hospitals for the people who get cancer from what you’re going to do.” I think our society is evolving that way now. This is the thing that excites me about Barack Obama: He gets that you’ll pay now or later. Tell that corporation to drop dead, get out of your state and move someplace where they need jobs so bad they’ll sell their souls for short-end money.

Playboy:  Every article written about you cites your decision to do A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway—which cost you Patriot Games—as the reason you dropped off the superstar track. Would you do it differently now?
AB:  I don’t know if I’m so certain and self-assured about the choices I’ve made. Sometimes I think, What if I had done it their way? Where would it have led? You are asked to be a part of a system in which the bulk of the films you make will be forgettable but will give you an opportunity to do certain things creatively. I look at Tom Cruise, who made films that called for him to be young, fit and charming, and that appeal made him a star. When Tom wanted to give a real performance, he made Magnolia. It was like watching some alien that looked like Tom Cruise, because it was nothing you’d ever seen Tom do. That he was not given the Oscar that year for Magnolia was devastating to me. I thought he was breathtaking. Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich—like Tom, she’s beautiful, charming, smart, funny and winning, yet she plays a self-serving woman, a little coarse and willing to go to considerable lengths to get her way. She won the Oscar. Could I have done that?

Playboy:  How might that system have worked for you?
AB:  You can get into that rhythm of “I’ll do one for them, one for me.” I didn’t do that. I wanted independence. I thought, You want me to do these movies, and they suck. Only later do you realize that if you do the one that sucks, you could do the one you wanted to do and have an audience for it. In spite of the reversals he has had over the past several years, the person who has done the most with that is Mel Gibson. He has made great films in all genres. Mel is everything you want in a movie star, but there’s a layer underneath him. I don’t know if the word is danger or pathos, but there’s a complexity to Mel. Apocalypto is one of the most overwhelming, exhilarating but hideously violent films I’ve ever seen.

Playboy:  You mentioned to me after our first session that you had never made a truly great film. The Departed won an Oscar. You made Glengarry Glen Ross, The Hunt for Red October, The Good Shepherd, Married to the Mob. How can you say that?
AB:  What I meant was, it’s one thing to make a small contribution to a great film. The goal of a film actor is for your name to be above the title in a film that is a soaring commercial success or wins an Oscar. Not you, necessarily, but the film wins something significant.

Playboy:  Is that still your goal?
AB:  I had to let go of that. Whatever dreams of glory I had, so to speak, I no longer have. I’m doing the TV show. When that is over, my eye is looking toward doing something else.

Playboy:  Won’t TV momentum help your future in movies?
AB:  I’ll be too old by then.

Playboy:  Is there a performance you are most proud of?
AB:  No. I don’t have the feeling for anything I’ve done in movies that equals anything in the plays I’ve done. I liked them, but take every supporting role and throw it out the window. You just come in and play your scene. I remember being around Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator and thinking, God, how gifted this guy is, how he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. I love to watch the young actor transition into the grown man on film. There was always something boyish and puckish about Johnny Depp, but I’ll never forget watching Sweeney Todd and feeling profoundly impressed by his performance.

Playboy:  You say you have no regrets, but it sounds as if you wish you had trusted the system more.
AB:  Yes, not that I should have but rather what might have resulted if I had? A lot depends on who sponsors you in that club. If you’re a young De Niro and you forge into a unit with Martin Scorsese or Woody Allen and the company of actors that included his former wife, or Leo with Scorsese—I didn’t have that. It’s like they’re asking you to walk down a dark alley. If it’s the right people, a door at the end leads to a fabulous wonderland. But the people who asked me to come down the alleyway? I was like, “Eh…let me get back to you.”

Playboy:  Should you have gone down the alleyway anyway?
B:  From time to time I wonder. Maybe I say this to myself just to medicate whatever anxiety I have, but had it worked out, I might have been seduced into doing that the rest of my life. I do not want to do this for the rest of my life. There are other things I want to do. I do what I do on a case-by-case basis, and I see that this is going to end, probably very soon.

Playboy:  By your choice?
AB:  It doesn’t really matter. More my choice, since I want to do other things. This is the jail with golden bars, but it would be so horrible for me to read this article and not have said there is a lot of wonderful in this business, a lot I’m going to miss. God knows, to walk away will be hard, but I’m trying to have the discipline to understand that I want to have other experiences. Maybe a private life.

Playboy:  Is that realistic?
AB:  I have this silly fantasy. I get married again, I have a kid. I’d love another shot at that, with everything I’ve learned. My kid’s like eight, comes home and says, “Dad, Jimmy’s mom says you were a famous actor on TV and in the movies. Is that true?” And I go, “Yes, Johnny, Dad was famous.” I whip out my scrapbooks and my DVDs and say, “Believe it or not, that’s your dad.” And my kid’s like, “You used to be on TV and everything? And now you stay home and just clean the house all day while Mom works?” “That’s right, son.” It’s a dream, that the kid doesn’t know anything about that part of my life. Our normal life is uncontaminated by it.

Playboy:  How long are you committed to 30 Rock?
AB: I’ve got three more years to go.

Playboy:  Will you run for office?
AB:  I’ll put it this way. The desire is there; that’s one component. The other component is opportunity. A law firm in a liberal Democratic bastion in Ohio state politics sent me a binder with a cover letter that read, “Mr. Baldwin, here’s who we represent, the kinds of cases we handle, our credentials in Ohio state politics. We want you to move to Ohio and run for governor. We will launch your career.”

Playboy:  Could you live in Ohio?
AB:  I have sometimes thought I could move to New Jersey or Connecticut and run. I’d love to run against Joe Lieberman. I have no use for him. But it’s all fantasy. I’m a carry-me-out-in-a-box New Yorker. Here, anything can happen. Who thought Eliot Spitzer would go down the way he did? Senator Hillary Clinton left to serve as secretary of state. Two of the biggest forces gone. Maybe Andrew Cuomo will run for one of their old seats. How much longer will Chuck Schumer stay as senator? After 2013 Bloomberg will be gone. What happens then? Do I run for Congress on Long Island? What’s Tim Bishop going to do? He represents my district. People get sick, die. They’re offered lucrative deals and want to cash in and make money for their retirement. People misstep. Unfortunately, an opportunity for me may mean bad things for someone else. I don’t wish that.

Playboy:  How does all this factor into your career?
AB:  I’m done in 2012. In March 2012 I’ll wake up and say, “What am I going to do now? Am I done?” I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I’m retiring at the wrap party.

Interview courtesy of Playboy. To view the interview as it originally appears, click here.

At the recent Tony Awards in New York City, Lipton, who recently launched their new Rainforest Alliance Tea, worked with Playbill to make the Tonys’ edition out of recyclable paper and donated to Broadway Green Alliance for each celeb that left a “green” tip. It was really great to see how celebs are making small efforts to do big things! Some of the stars that came through were Liza Minnelli, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, and more…

In between hosting duties at the Tonys, funny man Will Ferrell stopped by the SustainbiliTEA Bar where Lipton was serving up their new Rainforest Alliance Certified teas. Will shared how he’s going green, “I save over 100 gallons of water a year by never…and I mean never flushing the toilet!”

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway swung by the Lipton SustainabiliTEA Bar backstage at the Tonys to offer up one small way she’s going green. Her tip, “Put a plastic bag in your purse and re-use it at the grocery store.” One small way you can be green? Bypass your daily coffee shop visit for Lipton Rainforest Alliance Certified teas and a reusable mug.

John Stamos

John Stamos helped turn Broadway green at this year’s Tonys. While John sipped on new Lipton Rainforest Alliance Certified tea, he also shared a tip on how he’s going green to benefit Broadway Green Alliance. He joked, “Bob Saget and I carpool to work.”

You may know Nigel Barker as the charismatic judge on America’s Next Top Model. Yet it’s what this world renowned photographer did in stepping away from the public spotlight and stepping onto the Canadian ice floes that was as inspiring as the subject he photographed. Barker traveled with The Humane Society of the United States to capture the plight of innocent baby seals targeted by hunters.

A Sealed Fate

The result of that work is found in “A Sealed Fate”, a traveling exhibit chronicling Barker’s journey with The HSUS that recently made the third stop of the tour in Los Angeles, California. A Sealed Fate includes documentary footage and still photographs from Barker.  Together, they illustrate how the lives of baby harp seals are cruelly and systematically cut short by the annual commercial sea hunt in Canada. The death toll constitutes the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth.

Jayde Nicole and Brody Jenner seal it with a kiss.

Los Angeles Event

Barker co-hosted a cocktail event at Zune LA for A Sealed Fate along with founding hosts and producers of Emmy winning Current TV, Max Lugavere and Jason Silva.  DJ Josh Madden provided the music for the event which featured attendance by many celebrities, including Carmen Electra, Krysten Ritter, Perez Hilton, Khloe Kardashian, Taryn Manning, Brody Jenner, Jayde Nicole, Andrea Roth, Megan Park, and Reid Scott.

Khloe Kardashian recently showed her support for the humane treatment of animals by doing a billboard for PETA.

Nigel Barker

An official spokesman for The Humane Society of the United States, Barker traveled with The HSUS to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in early 2008 and in 2009 to document the birth of harp seals.

Nigel Barker.

Barker is an internationally renowned fashion and portrait photographer also known for his work as a judge on America’s Next Top Model. Barker has now created his own show for VH1, The Shot. Barker, who began his fashion career in Europe before opening his own New York City studio in 1996, is also a director and producer of commercials, films, and documentaries. Barker lives in New York City with his wife, Cristen and their two children Jack and Jasmine.

Actor Krysten Ritter.

The Humane Society of the United States

 

 

 

 With support from 10 million Americans, The Humane Society of the United States is the largest animal protective organization in the nation.  The HSUS was established in 1954 and promotes the mission of achieving a humane and sustainable world for all animals.

Bravo that the EU just announced a ban on all seal products coming in from Canada.

Refreshments were provided by Fiji water, Karma California Brut, Karrelson’s Gold Vodka, Rose’s Mojito, Montecristo Rum and Sierra Nevada Ale. The event too place at ZUNE LA – 8275 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

For more information on the seal hunt please visit http://www.hsus.org/protectseals.html.

DNA 11, the original creator of DNA Artwork, promoted their incredible portfolio of unique DNA artwork at their new ‘DNA 11 House’ in Hermosa Beach, California as part of an invitation only party hosted by 944 Magazine. The event was packed with hundreds of LA’s hottest and hippest people. Located at an exclusive mansion facing the beautiful Pacific Ocean, DNA 11 Artwork was the talk of the town as friends, celebrities and guests packed the house for food, drink, socializing and, of course, to get a first hand look at DNA 11’s original DNA Artwork, Fingerprint Portraits, KISS Portraits, and their new DNA Mini Portrait.

Both co-founders, Nazim Ahmed and Adrian Salamunovic were in attendance as well as a full staff of caterers and security. 944.com did a magnificent job promoting the event and the press were treated like invited guests themselves. The four story mansion had every room full of DNA 11 exclusive artwork on the walls. The new DNA 11 House was the perfect venue to showcase the DNA 11 artwork as the house itself is an eco friendly home full of green technology. With the party in full swing, the DNA 11 genetic portraits captured everyone’s attention as the DNA Artwork itself is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

 Hailing from Canada, Adrian Salamunovic and Nazim Ahmed have created a business that has customers in more than fifty different countries. Starting DNA 11 in a small apartment, they soon created such a buzz they expanded far beyond their dreams. Pioneering DNA Artwork, Adrian and Ahmed set out to create art where every piece is different from all the others and each represents the most personal touch imaginable, one’s own DNA. With hundreds of unique pieces being made each month, DNA 11 now expanded their product line with their new Genepak DNA Visualization services and DNA Pet Portraits.

DNA 11 has partnered with select art galleries, design stores and contemporary furniture retailers for an affiliate program designed to showcase their artwork to new and existing clients. With this partnership, DNA 11 offers expert advice to designers and architects to match the hues of their artwork to the color scheme of their décor.

I highly recommend DNA 11 for the perfect personal gift as well as your own personal piece of fashionable artwork. See the DNA 11 examples at www.DNA11.com

Louis Carreon collage.

Incarceration
Unfortunately, he still had some illegal habits and spent time in prison for drug use. In prison, his work began taking shape as he used his time to sketch most of the pieces you can see today on canvas.  Sober since his prison days, his work is now coveted by many LA art collectors. Carreon’s newest collection features silk screen pieces inspired by fashion, friends and his own visions and views of life and the struggle of living in Los Angeles. Though colorful and bright, each painting has an underlying meaning that is most often cynical and dark.

Love in Iraq
Currently, his latest passion is to spread the word of love through urban art in the rural areas of Iraq with his eye-catching “All We Need Is Love” billboards. He wants to make a difference by demonstrating the power of positive, bright advertising in the streets of war torn Iraq.
www.louiscarreon.com

The first item to be discussed was Updike’s latest novel, “The Widows of Eastwick”, a sequel to his tremendously popular, “The Witches of Eastwick”, written almost a quarter of a century ago. The 1984 bestseller was made into a film in 1989, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. While Updike remarks that he was fascinated by how some of the actors, namely Pfeiffer, breathed a new life into his characters, he was disappointed by what the filmmakers left out. “The Widows of Eastwick”, he said, was partly an attempt to reassert how he understood these women and “how he had thought he had written them”.

Indeed much of the discussion was focused on how Updike writes. Anyone familiar with great writers can tell you that one of the most interesting aspects of Updike’s career is his staggering prolificacy. Updike has produced almost 30 novels, countless short stories, and has been a regular contributor for magazines such as The New Yorker for years. Part of his tendency towards writing en masse, he says, comes out of his primary understanding of a writer as a magazine writer. In writing for a periodical, one writes a certain amount by a certain weekly deadline, and thus the writer is constantly writing. This style of production is more “British”, Updike says, while the American way is more “constipated”, needing “lots of gestation to produce a masterpiece.

Another prominent topic of conversation that evening was the concept of age, how it affects one’s writing, and ultimately how it influences one’s life. Ulin talked of the fierceness in which Updike wrote in his 30’s and 40’s and wondered how that may have changed over the years. Updike, now almost 80, told Ulin that, “when you are young, you still believe you have news”. By now however, it seems his writing has changed gears. Updike has moved on to a more exploratory way of writing. “The Widows of Eastwick“, Updike says, “Is about our need for others“. He talks of old age as a “retreating into solitude. We become eccentric and crazy because there is no one there to check our actions”.

John Updike’s words and insights are quite possibly placed somewhere along the bookshelves of all of our houses. UCLAlive’s Spoken Word Series however, provides us an opportunity to hear those words straight from the horse’s mouth.

The success of UCLAlive’s opening event points to a fabulous series to come. The fantastic upcoming roster includes such greats Edward Albee on February 7th, Warner Herzog on February 20th, the brilliant Oliver Sacks on April 23rd, and the favorite genius comic, David Sedaris on April 29th. And only by sitting in the audience in Royce Hall can we listen for the gems that have long been germinating in the minds of our culture’s greatest writers. Sometimes reading just doesn’t cut it.

Check out UCLAlive’s full Spoken Word Series event calendar at www.uclalive.org. By giving us the opportunity to hear these brilliant minds speak on their craft, UCLAlive again brings tremendous culture and dimension to our Los Angeles community. Writer or not, these artists are worth going to see. Much of their advice reaches far beyond the page, speaking not just about some of the best ways to write, but also about some of the best ways to live.

Now with a resume chockfull of creative roles such as the lead of “Lynda” in Rob Zombie’s remake of “Halloween” and appearances on TV shows like “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “Rescue Me,” Klebe is making a splash in Hollywood. Up next, Klebe plays Isabella Rossellini’s daughter, “Katerina Bollenbecker” in the upcoming feature film “The Accidental Husband,” directed by Griffin Dunne, starring Uma Thurman and Colin Firth. Currently, Klebe will soon be on her way to attend the 2009 Sundance Film Festival for her supporting role in the film “Peter and Vandy” starring Jason Ritter.

Before she leaves for Sundance, we got a chance to get to know her better… Check it out!

LA’s The Place: Tell us about your past work with M. Night Shyamalan and Spike Lee.
Kristina Klebe: Spike Lee directed the first feature movie I was in. I auditioned for a
German role and he loved my tape so much that he never looked at any others-it was a very small role however and everything was improvised. I got to the set and waited around and waited around. Then I had lunch with Q Tip and a bunch of other actors in the movie. Then I waited around again. I was chatting it up with Woody Harrelson in the makeup trailer and learned something about ‘vaporizing’ which I still, to this day, don’t quite understand. This went on for a few days until I finally realized they had cut my scene out and it seemed like I was just going to be a featured office worker who had
a German accent (smiles). I got a lot of working days though and got to make friends with a many of the other actors. On the last day of shooting, Spike actually gave me a hug, so I’m figuring he either really liked me or he felt sorry that he had cut out all my more meaty stuff! In the final movie, I’m barely in it at all. It was my first taste of filmmaking reality and a bit disappointing. But he likes to work with the same actors, so there could always be a second chance!

M. Night directed a commercial I was in. He was a very organized and serious director, but he seemed gentle as well. I had less interaction with him because it was such a quick shoot with so many people. I did, however, befriend his cinematographer, Christopher Doyle, who I later found out was Won Kar Wai’s cinematographer for many years and shot one of my favorite movies, “In the Mood for Love.” He’s an incredibly fascinating man. Often when the role is small, the experience on the set and meeting people is what you get out of a shoot. Watching and learning is just as much a part of the process.

LATP: You have lived everywhere it seems! Which do you prefer NYC or LA? Why?
KK: I prefer New York, no question. I’m a New Yorker. I was born in Manhattan. I’m straightforward and expect people to be the same with me. I don’t tell people something’s great when it’s not. I expect others to do the same to me. Unfortunately I have a very hard time reading people in LA because my natural tendency is to trust that people are being straightforward but I think straightforward has another definition in LA… The thing I do like about LA are the mountains, the beaches- I love hiking. And, obviously there are a lot of opportunities for work out here.

LATP: How did you feel when you found out that you had landed a lead role as Lynda in Rob Zombie’s remake of “Halloween”?
KK: I didn’t quite know what to think actually. Because, believe it or not, I didn’t know anything about the Halloween series. Yes, the fans know this! I’ve made up for it by watching all the Halloween movies among other countless horror movies since then.
Actually the first thing I thought was that it was a C or D Indie horror movie. So I joked with a friend and said ‘guess what, I just got cast in a horror movie- don’t hold it against me.’ He was like, ‘what horror movie?’ I said Rob Zombie’s Halloween -still not putting the connection that Rob Zombie was from the band White Zombie- I just thought he had a name appropriate for a horror director. My friend nearly fell out of his seat. He was like ‘what?! Rob Zombie’s Halloween?!’ He informed me that Malcolm McDowell was playing the lead and that it was going to be a huge movie and that before I embarrassed myself again I should go do some research. Well, then of course I freaked out! And after that, I even found out that Rob had gone to bat for me against the producers who actually wanted a bigger name for the role. So, I am really indebted to Rob. Things in life happen in such a strange way. I never would have thought I’d do horror movies, having never been allowed to watch them growing up. But working on Halloween was amazing.
It’s probably one of the best experiences of my life. Rob put together such a talented and fantastic cast – the crew – everyone was great. No egos.

LATP: Around the same time, you were also cast as Isabella Rossellini’s daughter, Katerina Bollenbecker in the upcoming feature film “The Accidental Husband,” directed by Griffin Dunne, starring Uma Thurman and Colin Firth. What was that experience like for you?
KK: It was great working with Griffin, Uma and Isabella. Griffin is a fantastically funny guy and very intelligent. The story about booking that job is funny. I heard they wanted a German speaking American – no accent though. So I thought well, I’ll bring my mother to the audition so that they actually believe that I speak German. Of course this is a total faux pas but I didn’t care. I had been told one too many times that I wasn’t German enough by casting directors. So I brought my mom. Next thing I know they ask my mom to audition and they ask her if my dad is a good looking guy? And next thing I know HE has an audition. Long story short, they got cast as featured extras and I got cast as Isabella Rossellini’s daughter. So my parents and I are immortalized in a movie together. Not many people can say that.

LATP: You are going to Sundance! Are you excited about the film “Peter and Vandy” premiering?
KK: I’m extremely excited about “Peter and Vandy.” I hope it wins the Dramatic Competition.

LATP: We’re told you have a director’s itch. Do you plan to direct much professionally in the future?
KK: I’m currently producing and directing a documentary but I lack the funds right now to finish it as I’d like. I’m also starting to direct music videos which I’m really excited about. You can check out a pitch of mine if you go to my myspace page www.myspace.com/kristinaklebe and click on the Low V Diamond competition. I’m also hoping to direct a music video for my friends ‘The Frail’ and perhaps some others…

To see more about Kristina Klebe go to: www.imdb.com/name/nm1640351 and www.myspace.com/kristinaklebe.

Ideal for reading at home or traveling, simply slip your Kindle into the custom designed holder, pull up the retractable, twin LED reading light, and begin reading in any low light environment — in bed, on a bus, train, or airplane, as well as in a car or conference room.

The Lighted Folio’s built-in 5” x 8” notepad and pen holders makes it ideal for students and business users. The Periscope light is powered by three "AA" batteries (not included) that last at least 40 hours.

The Folio’s left side cover can be folded over so the note pad is positioned behind the Kindle and locked in place with the magnetic cover snap to facilitate one-handed use. Everything stays together until the next time you need to read, study or work!

Order the Periscope® Lighted Folio for Kindle at $49.95, www.periscopelight.com

Greatness Recognized

The Palm Springs International Film Festival, in its 20th year, is recognizing Howard’s 50-year contribution to film with this special honor. Howard has directed some of our most memorable films, from dramas such as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, Cocoon and Backdraft, to comedies like Splash, Parenthood, and Night Shift.

Wholesome Was Gold

Howard’s career began in 1959 as a child actor playing opposite Yul Brynner in the film The Journey, then The Music Man. His breakthrough role was as Opie on the much-loved Andy Griffith Show. Howard credits the unusually supportive atmosphere on the show, where actors were permitted to express views and thoughts on scripts and dialogues, with his current ability to reach out to people.

After the Andy Griffith Show Howard continued acting, through his years as wholesome Richie Cunningham in the well-known series Happy Days to his part in the iconic teen film American Graffiti. Afraid of being type-cast into one particular role, Howard later moved into producing and directing, and founded Imagine Entertainment  in 1986 with his Academy Award® winning business partner Brian Grazer. Imagine Entertainment  has produced a variety of popular films, including hits such as the recent Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie, American Gangster, Inside Man, Curious George, Flightplan, Friday Night Lights, 8 Mile, and The Nutty Professor I and II, Bowfinger, The Paper, Inventing the Abbotts and Liar Liar .

Since his directorial debut in 1976 with Grand Theft Auto, Howard has acted as producer or director (and sometimes both) for many of our best-known films. His movies span a wide variety of genres and styles, including Cinderella Man (Russell Crowe), Far and Away (Tom  Cruise and Nicole Kidman), Ransom (Mel Gibson), the animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Willow (Val Kilmer). He received his first Best Director of the Year award from the Director’s Guild of America for the film Apollo 13 (starring Tom Hanks) in 1995. Howard has also served as executive producer on award-winning television shows such as FOX’s Arrested Development, an Emmy award winner for Best Comedy that he also narrated, and the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.

What He is Working on Now

An active producer/director, Howard is currently promoting his new film Nixon/Frost, which depicts the battle between President Nixon and famed newsman David Frost. He is also in post-production on the sequel to The Da Vinci Code – Angels and Demons – both films starring acclaimed actor Tom Hanks.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival

The 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival will be held January 6-19 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. It was founded in 1990 by then-Mayor Sonny Bono. The Festival will showcase over 450 screenings of more than 220 films from approximately 65 countries.  Screenings are held on 15 screens throughout Palm Springs.

The Festival’s 20th Annual Awards Gala is presented by Cartier and sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Entertainment Tonight and will be hosted by Mary Hart. The Festival itself is sponsored by The City of Palm, "The Desert Sun", the City of Indian Wells, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Spencer’s Restaurant, and Wessman Development, Bank of America, Integrated Wealth Management, Guthy-Renker, Regal Entertainment, Wells Fargo, Palm Desert National Bank, CBS2, Ocean Properties Development, Ciroc, Johnnie Walker, and Don Julio.

Past recipients of the prestigious award include Stanley Donen, Milos Forman, Ridley Scott, Franco Zeffirelli, and Jim Sheridan
 
For additional information call                      (760) 322-2930           or                      (800) 898-7256           or visit www.psfilmfest.org

Twenty-three years in the making, The Rose and the Silver Bell is destined to be a scholastic masterpiece similar to Ambrose Bierce’s, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” or “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell. Kenneth Johnson was able to write seventy-eight pages of the most beautiful, free flowing, poetry in modern literature. This book is so thought profound, you will not only experience a time travel story of love, but will realize its author, Kenneth Johnson, has lived before and draws from a power only few can understand. LAsThePlace.com caught up with Kenneth Johnson to get an inside look into his enchanting story and to see how Elizabeth and Ran, the two main characters of the book, seek to understand themselves and their destiny.

LATP:  How did you start writing this book at such an early age and did the story line evolve naturally?

Kenneth Johnson:  Poetry has always captivated me and I have always wanted to write as far back as I can remember.

The story emerged from a dream I had about finding love and happiness. I woke to find I was actually dreaming (the dream felt so real) and tried so hard to get back to where I left and I couldn’t. I tried night after night to think about everything I could remember about the dream, the place I was etc… I repeated it over and over hoping to transport myself there when I fell asleep. It never happened and I realized I was going to have to create, with ink and pen the world and the life that I experienced in my mind. It started as an idea for a short poem but very rapidly turned into the epic poem that exists now. It took almost a decade to build the world I experienced from one night’s sleep. While writing the poem I happened to run across the topic of past life regression and the concept that life may exist simultaneously on multiple planes: the past, present and future. Had it really been a dream or was I recreating my past? The idea was so compelling I couldn’t stop thinking about it and a twenty-five year love affair and “The Rose and the Silver Bell” was born.

LATP:  Did you ever consider changing the structure from ‘verse’ to an actual novel?

KJ:  Many people have asked the same question and my answer is no I personally would not change it from its current form. I have thought about it as a traditional novel but “The Rose and the Silver Bell” is already an epic, book length poem. I feel that taking away the rhymed and metered structure would strip away the magic that was created when I wrote it and would contain the universe that is created when it is read.

LATP:  Since it is in limited production, what marketing steps have you taken to bring it to every book store in the country?

KJ:  Getting your book into bookstores takes luck and connections. First you need an agent. An agent is necessary to pitch it to a publisher as publishers (mostly) do not accept unsolicited materials. What is funny about that is agents (mostly) do not take unsolicited materials either? I see poetry being published…I just need to get it in the hands of the right person.

I am hoping that opportunity will meet the many years of preparation and “The Rose and the Silver Bell” will be available in bookstores throughout the world and used in literary courses at all academic levels…dream big right!

LATP:  What influence did you draw from to write ‘The Rose and the Silver Bell’?

KJ:  When I started writing the story I drew from what I knew and found out that came to an end rather quickly…I was twelve what did I know? As the years progressed the story and the characters developed out of my own experiences, the experiences of others and the dreams of an everlasting love that is all and conquers all. Everybody has dreams and everybody wants to see them come true. If you have drawn one breath in this life it has, at some point, been filled with hopes, fears and dreams of loving and being loved. True love exists…what lengths will you go to find it, to cultivate it and protect it?

LATP:  Could you imagine this story in a short or standard length film?

KJ:  I have been thinking about it as a feature length film everyday for years. To see “The Rose and the Silver Bell” translated in grand fashion from the pages to the silver screen would be another dream come true.

LATP:  How do you see Elizabeth and Ran as individuals and are they both really seeking the same thing?

KJ:  I see Elizabeth as a strong independent woman and Ran as a sensitive warrior. Each of them capable of taking on life alone but they are truly missing what each other has to offer the other. They complement each other’s weaknesses and feed each other’s strengths. They both were looking for true love and found it…it transcended time and reason and they were able to prove love can endure and love can be everlasting.

LATP:  Which time frame in the book was easier to write and what history lesson should your readers take with them?

KJ:  I found both time periods had challenges but were equally fun to create.  Writing in the historical time frame was a matter of accurate research, and weaving Ran into that fabric which was really fun because I am a huge history buff. Writing in the now period was challenging for a whole different reason. I had to research the most complex thing in existence…a woman. It took years to develop Elizabeth and I was so nervous to finally say the book was complete. I wanted to portray Elizabeth as a woman and her feelings as accurately as possible but I didn’t exactly have a manual that gave me the information I needed to know. It was imperative that Elizabeth was real or the story falls apart.

LATP:  How have your readers reacted to the story and what was their reaction to such a beautiful story line embedded in a poem?

KJ:  I have had men and women between the ages of 12 and 92 from all different backgrounds read “The Rose and the Silver Bell” and I have had only extremely positive reactions to the story. I feel very fortunate to be able to connect with people on such a personal level.

LATP:  What will be your next literary project and will Diablo ride again?

KJ:  I have been working on a project for the past 7 years. It is a love story set in World War II with the backdrop of the Holocaust. The project is complete in my mind and I am in the midst of getting it all on paper. A few more years and I should have it complete. I spent 3 years researching before I wrote a single word.

And yes, Diablo will ride again. Maybe not in the Highlands of Scotland but he will ride again!

A Houston, Texas native, Travis’ “Young at Heart Art” is featured in galleries in Los Angeles and the Cayman Islands and has been published in many top magazines. Although he majored in business in college, Hedemann recalled his favorite cartoons of the past, i.e. the Smurfs and Bugs Bunny, and began painting exaggerated images of animals and Hollywood icons, all with his trademark big blue eyes.

After his neighbor, art collector Don Sanders, was struck by Travis’ unique approach to art, which was hanging in the hallway of their building, he ordered a few pieces for him and his grandson. Shortly thereafter, Travis’s work was discovered by two West Coast gallery owners and his future was sealed.

Soon, celebrities including Courteney Cox, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Samuel L. Jackson, and, most recently Brad and Angelina, who Hedemann painted a personalized painting for each of their children, became owners of Hedemann’s art.  Frank Sinatra Jr. was so impressed with Hedemann’s spot on depiction of Ol’ Blue Eyes that he bought the portrait of his father and decreed that it be placed in the Sinatra museum set to open in Las Vegas or Palm Springs.

 His work was also featured at the TV Land Awards, where many actors were impressed with his creativity and brilliance. Pieces have been done for many A-list actors. 

Of course, it’s not all about Hollywood, as Edward Montgomery Waznis, owner of Edward Montgomery Fine Art in Carmel, California, says of the artist, “We want to dive in to his pictures and frolic in the bold and playful vignettes that Hedemann conjures up for our pleasure. A truly gifted artist with a delightful and insightful visual vocabulary, Travis Hedemann is forging a reputation as a ‘person of interest’ in the ongoing investigation into the direction of fine art in the 21st century."

Travis may receive his inspiration from the past, but his work will surely continue well into the future.

o see more of Travis’ paintings, go to www.youngatheartart.com and peruse his inspired collections including the Hedemann Mother Series, which the artist created for the Distinctive Assets gift package for “Mother’s Day in Hollywood”, which went to celebrity moms, Angelina Jolie, Christina Aguilera, Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Salma Hayek, Nicole Richie, Cate Blanchett, Naomi Watts, Tori Spelling, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie-Lynn Spears, and others.

Read our TVLand Awards article with Travis Hedemann here…

As a result, Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® campaign is uniting Los Angeles and other major cities nationwide including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. in a world record breaking reader campaign encouraging hundreds of thousands across the country to read the same book on the same day.

VIP readers Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lauren "Lo" Bosworth of The Hills, Adam Gregory of 90210, Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood, and actress Gabrielle Union are helping work towards creating this “shared reader experience” and will join literature lovers on October 2 in reading about that loveable little teddy bear in Don Freeman’s children’s classic, Corduroy.

NBC’s Today show with host Matt Lauer will kickoff Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® day with a reading event and special appearance by celebrity guest star and Jumpstart’s spokesperson, LL Cool J., before cities nationwide commence this day of reading on their own, grassroots level.     

In Los Angeles, Read for the Record® will begin at Los Angeles Public Library’s Central Branch with a press conference and a reading event from 10:00 am-12:00 pm granting all children present with their very own copy of Corduroy.  The reading celebration will continue throughout the day in 20 of Los Angeles’s public libraries with the help of Jumpstart’s supporting organizations including Pearson and Hyatt Hotels.

How can you get involved, you ask? All information regarding the day’s events, registering to read for the campaign, and book donations can be found at the campaign website www.readfortherecord.org. These donations go straight into the hands of children coming from at-risk communities, encouraging them to develop a love of learning and a granting them better chance to excel in the world. Furthermore, The Pearson Foundation is matching donations and is underwriting all publishing costs giving Jumpstart 100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of special edition books which can be purchased at the campaign website or Hanna Andersson retail stores, in catalog or online at www.hannaandersson.com.

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® 2008 allows people to work together to promote the importance of teaching our children to value literature and the knowledge that can be acquired from the written word. By participating in this campaign, you can bring a passion for literature to today’s youth and help make early education a national priority.  

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record® 2008 is supported by the Pearson Foundation, American Eagle Outfitters, Hanna Andersson, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, LeapFrog, NBC, Penguin Young Readers Group, Sodexo, and XM Radio.

What is Jumpstart?

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Through extraordinary attention in yearlong one-to-one relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach, families to get involved, and communities to progress together. Headquartered in Boston, Jumpstart pairs 4,000 trained adults one-to-one with preschool children in need of assistance.  During the 2008-2009 program year, Jumpstart is serving 15,000 children across 20 states, in partnership with 300 early learning centers and nearly 74 universities and colleges throughout the country.

Jumpstart’s national sponsors include American Eagle Outfitters, AmeriCorps, Pearson, Sodexo and Starbucks. Jumpstart is the recipient of the Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Award (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008) and the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy’s Directors Award. For more information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at www.jstart.org.

About Jumpstart’s Read for the Record Sponsor and Founding Partner – Pearson Foundation

The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson’s commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. The Foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www.pearsonfoundation.org.

Contributed by Stephanie Devine

Inspired by dreams, this San Francisco-based artist uses his REM sleep visions and models them into a 3-D computer program, creating multi-dimensional shapes and forms governed by consistent algorithms, often without a fixed sense of horizon, all while finding and using sound through what he is painting.

The shapes are photographed in space from different angles, repeated through the works like sensory clues. This is Vasin creating a visual language, loose trademarks that the viewer recognizes within each work in the collection, yet those certain images repeat from different angles and perspectives.

Multi-layered in technique, the canvases render pieces of pop cartoon, realism, and watercolor seemingly laid across an intricacy of technology-inspired images.

Since sound is key to Vasin’s process of creation and exhibition, the collection was accompanied by a live sound performance on opening night, the artist performing with his back to the guests and leaving the paintings and our ears to find the connections.

It is not music that Vasin is transmitting but esoteric sound that serves to arrest any linear idea of how the work “should work.” The electronic equipment he uses makes unsettling, discordant notes or bands of noise-which is precisely why within minutes, the canvases soon begin to take on interesting new textures, appearing to spill the sounds forth while intermittent silence causes momentary points of distraction, confusion; at other times, welcome relief. It shouldn’t all go together but it does… and strangely well.

Viewing his painting and sound creations as recordings, Vasin communicates imagery that is both culturally and socially evasive and therefore “non-local” much like the mind that can be everywhere and nowhere, coexisting.
The artist also reveals a three-fold conundrum- that an introspective performer can prove to be a extroverted broadcaster simultaneously. And that holding back while letting out a tightly wound inner world is more about serving artistic essence than formal art.

The sensory effect of his work is often likened to another famous Russian painter, Wassily Kadinsky. Both referred to as “synaesthetes,” such people appear to have the condition of “synaethesia” a neurological condition where one sensory pathway once stimulated, can lead to an involuntary and automatic register of that experience on a cognitive pathway.

Russian-born artist Vasin received his BA in 1986 from Moscow Art College in 1986. He served a residency at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and has lived in the city for ten years.

Also a recipient of the prestigious Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, Vasin has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide including the De Young Center in San Francisco and Sotheby’s in Tel Aviv.
Publications such New American Painting, Wired and Art Slant are a few of the noted publications in which his work has been featured.

Tarryn Teresa Gallery is a contemporary galley representing both local and international contemporary artists working in all mediums. It is located at the south end of Bergamot Station art complex, near the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

“NON- LOCAL CUES” A collection of paintings by Ted Vasin

September 6 to October 4, 2008
Tarryn Teresa Galley at Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Galley hours:
11am- 5pm Tuesday to Friday
11am- 4pm Saturday and by appointment

Admission and parking is free.

The Creative Coalition

The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and political advocacy organization of the entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 by prominent figures in the creative community, including actors Alec Baldwin, Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins, TCC educates and mobilizes leaders in the arts community on issues of public importance, specifically in the areas of First Amendment rights, arts advocacy and public education. www.TheCreativeCoalition.org

The Environmental Media Association mobilizes the entertainment industry in educating people about environmental issues and in turn, inspires action. They link the power of celebrity to environmental awareness. The Green Experts from the EMA were a huge asset to this unique Emmy gifting suite. www.ema-online.org

Cruise Cars

Ken Chester was there to promote his brilliant international solar cars, Cruise Cars. Cruise Cars gifted a brand-new 2009 Solar-Powered Sunray 4-passenger vehicle to the Environmental Media Association. Solar-Electric Hybrid Vehicles (LSV’s) provided by Cruise Car Inc., were used at the Celebrity Green Gifting Chateau, to transport guests from the valet drop-off point to the entrance of the 100% sustainable event. The Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) go up to speeds of 25 mph and are meant for side streets. These zippy little cars were used to ferry guests from the front of the estate to the entrance in the back.

In addition, Electric Car Sales and Service of Long Beach, Cruise Car’s Authorized Dealer, provided Gift Certificates to all Emmy Nominees and event attendees, to be used toward purchase of the Solar Cars. For additional information, Cruise Car’s SoCal Representative, Mike Margulis may be reached at 707-489-7262 www.cruisecarinc.com

For two days, the event featured spa services, celebrity gifting, “greening tips”, and Wire Image’s Michael Bezjian Celebrity Green Portraiture Studio with LA Artist Daniel Maltzman’s eco-friendly paintings utilizing Ami McKay’s PURE line of eco-furniture.

PURE

Ami McKay is not your ordinary furniture designer. She is the creator of PURE, a line of eco-furniture in which Ami emphasizes high designs and environmental sustainability. Every aspect of the furniture is chosen with a social, health and environmental consciousness; furniture at its purest form. Even the staples in the furniture are recycled.

Putting ones footprint on their footstool is one thing, but quite another when one leaves a ‘carbon’ footprint on the environment. So Ami uses organic materials such as organic cotton batting, renewable jute & latex webbing, non-toxic adhesives, natural latex rubber, FSC Certified hardwood frames, bamboo, wheat boards, hemp, Kirei which are all renewable and sustainable. Ami’s Pure Designs raffled a $2,160.00 Eco-Chair, which was won by Rachelle Carson-Begley (Ed Begley’s wife).

The furniture collection (Water, Fire, Earth, Air) is heirloom quality, and will last a lifetime, being able to be passed down from generation to generation. Ami feels that one should not have to compromise luxury, and has made embroidered, fabulous pieces that will stand the test of time. Ami’s company is based in Vancouver, Canada, but they ship worldwide. www.purebyamimckay.com

It was great to see the USA Water Polo team members Silver Olympic Medalists Rick Merlo, Water Polo Olympic Champion Genai Kerr and Ryan Bailey and who was voted by Sports Illustrated as one of the Sexiest Men in Sports (we agree!) attending the Debbie Durkin’s Emmy Gifting suite.

Carrie Wiatt’s Diet Designs
Diet Designs is an A-List-studded meal program that delivers gourmet meals and snacks to your door. Since healthy eating unlocks more energy from food, Carrie combines low-density calories with high-density nutrients and properly spaces meals and snacks to stabilize blood sugar. Diet Designs model plans are based on proven principles of food’s biochemical effects and the emotional and sensual experience of eating. Some of the model elements include a wide variety of nutritionally powerful foods that naturally support optimal health, dishes that are full of flavor, interval eating in a schedule designed to stimulate metabolism; portion control and balance. Brilliant!

Carrie Wiatt founded Diet Designs nearly a decade ago, and is passionate about eating healthy. She is a nutritionist, chef, media personality, and an authority on eating and cooking. www.dietdesigns.com

Skinn

Skinn creator Dimitri James is a licensed esthetician and a professional make-up artist who has over 20 years of experience in the cosmetics industry. He found himself at odds with the way cosmetic companies did business – they would use cheap ingredients and put it in expensive packaging, spend lots on expensive ad campains, and charge the consumer way too much.

He followed his passion to create his own line of quality products with the best ingredients and other quality aspects that he would fight for when he was with the larger companies. He has developed his own line of the finest cosmetics on the market today. He has an extensive line of the most beautiful color palattes I’ve seen. He has kept the cost down for the consumer, as he doesn’t have the high cost of advertising, etc. You can find Dimitri’s fine line of Skinn products through televised home shopping, the internet and exclusive, privately owned spas throughout North America. Go to www.skinn.com

Spike and Annie

“Spike & Annie” was the creation of entrepreneur Sarah Johnson Redlich. Named after her twins Spike & Annie, Sarah was inspired to start a clothing company for children. Kids and parents are more fashion and eco-conscious then ever, and Spike and Annie have launched a new line of resortwear for pint-size travelers…sweat the small stuff! The stunningly sweet collection has Boca-worthy threads for your whole brood: twirly dresses in floral prints, two-piece rompers with ribbon trim, and embroidered peasant blouses for the girls; khaki shorts, elephant-print beach pants, and polos in sunny brights for the boys. But the piece de resistance is a floral two-piece bathing suit with flowing top and contrasting bottoms, perfect for long days at the pool. Or you could always try squeezing her into last summer’s bikini. Suit yourself. Available online at www.spikeandannie.com.

Lamborghini Travels

This line is made by the son of Ferruccio Lamborghini, who designed the car. His son, Tonino, has continued the line onto clothing, accessories, and more, using his skills as an engineer to move things along. Officially licensed Tonino Lamborghini™ merchandise, they boast a wide variety of high-end, limited edition Tonino Lamborghini watches and a variety of other merchandise, ranging from T-shirts to money clips. Lamborghini Travels chose The Main Event Red Carpet Lounge during Primetime Emmy Awards Week to launch their new line of prestigious chain link bracelets and pendants.

Lamborghini Travels donated the Grand Prize to the top winner of their Celebrity Poker Challenge on Friday, Sept.19th, a limited Edition Collectors Swiss Watch worth more than $10,000.00USD. The line is sold in North America, Canada, the Caribbean, and on cruise ships. www.lamborghinitravels.com

African Red Tea

In a day and age where every product claims to incorporate “Anti Aging” elements, Organic African Red Tea © comes through on top as an excellent alternative and preventive health solution. The Los Angeles Times calls this tea a “Wake Up Call”
It contains Super Oxide Dismutase an antioxidant and prime fighter of free radical damage. The Science of Aging at AICHI Medical University in Japan termed “Red Tea” an Anti-Aging Beverage. It has also been prescribed for nervous tension, digestive problems, mild depression and insomnia. Studies proved that rooibos tea has 50 times more antioxidant power than green tea!

African Red Tea Imports © was founded in 1999 by Nira Levy Maslin and Michael Broomberg to help promote health and well- being. The products include green and healthy tea, energy bars (amazingly delicious!), fabulous skincare, hair products and more. Nira owns her own farm in Capetown, South Africa, and puts her heart and soul into her business, and the process of making other people healthy through her products.
Anti Aging? Just ask Moloko Temo from the farmlands of Mamohwibidu South Africa who is 132 years old and drinks the herbal rooibos tea.

The African Red Tea (ART) store is located at 533 N. Fairfax Ave. West Hollywood, CA. ART products are currently sold at Whole Food Markets, Ralphs, various Natural Vitamin and Health stores, and even through Amazon.com. For more in depth information, plus a list of all their products and store locations go to www.africanredtea.com

Eldergods

Who says organic isn’t sexy? Eldergods organic skin care is a spray on moisturizer that goes on very light leaving a matte finish. Alcohol free these moisturizers smell delicious with calming natural oils. Nectar Face and Body Moisturizer comes in a convenient spray bottle that fits easily into your purse for a quick relief of skin dehydration, especially when under the hot sun all day. www.eldergodsinc.com

Hybrid Light

The happy family of Terry Peterson, inventor of the Solar Lite, couldn’t be prouder of him. This lightweight flashlight runs on solar power, is super bright, waterproof, and holds a single charge for over 3 years. No more buying expensive batteries or having the batteries gone dead when you are in need of a flashlight that is working! Running at an affordable $19 – 25, these flashlights make great stocking stuffers, especially for the environmentally friendly. www.hybridlite.com

Elizabeth Moore’s Froote Jewelry:

Froote Jewelry is an Eco Conscious company aligning with suppliers that are importing untreated stones. Elizabeth Moore designer is in process of establishing relationships with environmentally aligned gold and metal manufactures. Island, Calypso and Tudor lines are available on line @ www.frootejewelry.com. Showroom designs, personal stone consultation for custom pieces available by appointment: elizabeth@frootejewelry.com or call 323 459 8160 .

Watch for the ‘Face of Froote’ International to be launched Spring of 2009. A global campaign selecting ambassadors who represent a voice for environmental consciousness, courage, and beauty. Are you the next face of Froote?

Attitude Cleaning Products are environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and made with pure essential oils. Made in Canada, they are chemical and preservative free, leaving the clothes and dishes they wash clean and green. http://www.cleanattitude.com/

Kimberly Howard Jewelry is all made personally by the designer herself. Each piece is uniquely chosen from natural rocks and stones, and then added onto with diamonds and gold to create a spectacular masterpiece. They are one-of-a kind pieces. She has recently launched a men’s line, as well. “Do you really need to wear anything else?” www.kimberlyhowarddesigns.com

The Tassi Company provides a cute and convenient product designed for keeping women’s hair out of their faces when they wash up. It is made of comfortable stretch terry cloth, and doesn’t flatten hair if the face washing commences during a time when flattened hair would not be prudent. The Tassi is available in 12 vibrant colors, and the owner, Shawna Ellsworth, created the product based on a hair wrap she used to see her Aunt Dot make for her three teen daughters. www.tassicompany.com

FLAX USA, Inc. is a family owned business located in the heart of America’s flax producing country. The Stobers are the 5th generation to reside on their farm and grow some of the finest flax in the world. Stephanie & John Stober have been educating and marketing flax seed and its Omega-3 benefits since 1999. They truly believe in their product, and even have a line of products out for animals. www.flaxusa.com

Wisteria Lane Organic Flower Shop’s Sherene Hulugalle is a bit shy in front of the camera, but her flowers are not. She calls herself the ‘not so desperate housewife’. Wisteria Lane’s designs are long lasting, functional, and come bursting with strategically placed succulents that allow a recipient to plant their own little garden when the other flowers have wilted. The flowers are organic and eco-friendly; a winning combination. www.wisterialaneflowershop.com

Organic To Go

Organic To Go is a café and catering company that serves delicious meals made to a new standard with organic and natural Ingredients.
Organic To Go is America’s first fast casual café to be USDA certified as an organic retailer. They believe that healthy plants and animals raised with care and integrity provide the finest tasting, most flavorful and nutritious food available. Their inspiration comes from traditional American fare and our cafes and catering kitchens offer a delicious and convenient alternative without harmful additives such as antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides. Catering was provided by: Organic To Go chefs on the grill, organic catering. www.organicstogo.com

Brazilian Best Hotels

Brazilian Best Hotels/ Blisscape are travel services, specializing in Brazil, hip and romantic travel worldwide. They are the ultimate resource for hip, romantic travelers, offering the most up-to-date travel wisdom available anywhere: the most sought-after destinations, the chicest resorts, the finest restaurants, and the activities that can’t be missed. They organize everything travelers need to plan a perfect escape, helping make every trip as special as a honeymoon. And best of all, it’s completely free. So whether it’s an exotic journey to French Polynesia or a simple weekend escape at a spa, they make make your romantic travel simple. You can rely on them for all your travel needs.

In conjunction on Friday night, there was also a Celebrity Poker Challenge, hosted by NewPoker.com dealt by The Dealer Dolls. DJ Hoe kept the music playing.

Air2Water

Air2Water has developed a machine that can literally create drinking water from thin air! It goes though a filtering process, and is drinkable right from the machine. We were able to try it and it was good water! Amazing invention with tons of potential. We’ll be watching to see what they do with it! Air2Water.org

Debbie Durkin/Durkin Entertainment – www.durkinentertainmentgroup.com

More sponsors included:
Source Water www.laboutiquedistributor.com
Crispy Cat Candy Bars – crispycatcandybars.com
Flawless Vodka – flawlessvodka.com
Homeocan Pharmeceuticals – homeocan.ca
Happy Hounds Biscuits – happyhoundsbiscuits.com
La Confidential Magazine – la-confidential-magazine.com
Ellis Jones, author – betterworldhandbook.com
Kiaroa Eco-Hotel in Bahia, Brazi, kiaroa.com.br
We to Me Responsible Styles, metowe.org
Eco-friendly textiles and linens – midorilinen.com
Nutraluxe MD All natural make-up – nutraluxemd.com
O.N.E Natural Coconut Water – onenaturalexperience.com
Nature’s Path wholesome and Organic Foods – naturespath.com
Pure Bar –Natural and Organic/ Raw Brownies and snacks thepurebar.com
Haute Couture Eco-Gowns and Fashion Designed by Salah – salahofbeverlyhills.com
zankhotel.com

Celebrity guest RSVP’s included:

Adrienne Carter (Eureka), Adrienne Curry (America’s Next top Model), Adrienne Janic (Kitchen Confidential), Alana Curry (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Amanda Smith (Deal or No Deal), Amy Hathaway (Mr & Mrs. Smith), Angela Simmons (Run’s House), AnnaLynne McCord (90210) , Anya Monzikova (Deal or No Deal), April Scott (The Dukes of Hazzard: the Beginning), Blake Berris (Days of Our Lives) , Brian Dolet (The Hills) , Brooke Long (Deal or No Deal), Cassandra Hepburn (Playboy Model, Days of our Lives), Courtney Fine (Cult), Cristian de la Fuerte (Dancing with the Stars) , Cs Lee (Dexter), David Alan Basche (The Starter Wife), David Zayas (Dexter), DeAnna,, Pappas & Jesse Csincsak (Bachlorette), Douglas Goldsein (Writer Robot Chicken), Dwayne Adway (Into the Blue), Eli Mizrahi (Reality show, Mizrahi Family), Elliott Yamin (American Idol), Erin Cardillo (Suite Life On Deck) , Eva La Rue (Lakeview Terrace, CSI Miami, All my Children), Gbenga Akinnagbe (HBO’s Wired), Genai Kerr, (Silver Medalist US Olympic Water Polo), Greg Lindsey (Las Vegas) ,Hal Sparks, (Queer as Folk and Talk Soup), Ian Ziering (Dancing with the Stars), Jamie Anderson, (Catch Me If You Can), Jarratt Carson ( Survivor: Los Angeles the Ultimate Parody), Jasmine Dustin (Nightrider, Tropic Thunder), Jason Gedrick (Desperate Housewives), Jenna von Oy -(Blossom, Debut Country album “Breathing Room”), Jennifer Melanke, (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle), Jesse Lewis (Meet the Spartans, MTV, Nip Tuck)
Jimmy Jean-Louis(Heroes), John Schneider (The Secret Life of the American, Teenager/Dukes of Hazzard) , Jordan Eubanks (The Hills) , Joseph Reitman ( The Perfect Storm), Judy Tenuta (Grammy-nominated comedian), Julia Levy (Entourage), Justin Martin (High School Musical 3:Senior Year) , Kate Flannery (The Office) Kathryn Jooston (Desperate Housewives), Katie Cleary (Deal or No Deal), Katie Price (Window with a View), Keith David (Crash), Ken Davitian, (Borat, Get Smart), Krissy Carlson (Deal or No Deal), Kurtwood Smith ( Worst Week, That 70’s Show), Lauren Shiohama (Deal or no Deal) , Leon Logothetis (FOX/National Geographic host), Lindsay Clubine (Deal or No Deal), Lindsay Lockwood (Deal or No Deal), Lisa Gleave (Deal or No Deal), Lorielle New (Grindhouse), Madison Davenport (Strangers), Marisa Petroso (Deal or No Deal), Matthew Borlenghi (Days of Our Lives), May Wang (Do Not Disturb), Michael Emerson (Lost), Michelle Harris (Green Guru to the stars), Mimi Rogers (Austin Powers), Miss Dakota (Rock of Love), Mo Collins (The 40 Year Old Virgin), Najarra Townsend (Strange Angel), Nicholle Tom (Beethoven), Olesya Rulin (High School Musical 3: Senior Year), Patrika D’Arbo (Days of our Lives), Peter Reckell (Days of Our Lives) , Rachel Carson-Bagely (Living with Ed), Rebecca Cardon, Rich Sommer (Mad Men, The Office), Rick Merlo (Silver Medalist US Olympic Water Polo) , Robbie Jones (One Tree Hill), Robert David Hall (CSI), Robert Maschio (Scrubs), Sam Trammell (True Blood on HBO), Sara Bronson (Deal or No Deal), Sean Kanan (General Hospital), Slade Smiley and Jo De La Rosa, (Real Housewives of OC & Date my ex),, Sterlline Beaumom (Mostly Ghostly, Lost), Steven Hill (MTV, Host Travel, Channel), Terri Apple (Diary of a Sex Addict) , Thom Barry (CBS’ Cold Case) , Tom Colicchio (Top Chef), Tony Denison (The Closer), Tye Olson (Watercolors), Ursula Mayes (Deal or no Deal), Vanessa Branch (Orbit gum girl). Vanessa Chester (Harriet The Spy), Vanessa Simmons (Run’s House), Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men), Vincent Martella (Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo ), Vivianne Turner (Celebrity Stylist), Yancey Arias (Knight Rider)