Photo: Jenny Lopez
RETRO!
An exclusive retrospect of Hollywood’s hottest celebs right before they made it Big
®
APRIL 2012
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Food& Fashion Villa Blanca
THE GRAMMYS:
ADELE SHINES!!
Couture Dining in Beverly Hills
Leiluna Collection
First Look Of Fashion
GregB.Wood
The Fixer
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ecluded and very private security gated oceanfront estate. is spiritual haven rests upon 25 acres of oceanfront land. e estate features the main residence and guest residence, which together include 9 bedrooms, 9 full baths and 3 half baths totalling more than 11,000 square feet of air conditioned living areas. e spacious living room or great room is located on the ground level next to the pool and outdoor patio areas. e 1000 square foot ocean side lanai features imported Italian tiles and step down wet bar. ere is also a home office just down the hall from the 2000 bottle wine cellar. e master suite includes a tness room, a steam and dry sauna and its own private lanai all of which encompasses an entire oor of the main residence. Fully contained staff quarters, three-car garage, pool and tennis court. For additional photos and information please contact Gayle by emailing: CallGayleChing@gmail.com
ExtraordinaryOceanfront
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Estate,Island of Hawaii
Gayle Ching Regional VP MacArthur & Company Sothebys International Realty 808.987.9155 cell Email: CallGayleChing@gmail.com :
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HOLLYWOOD PUBLISHER/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Prather Jackson OPERATIONS Erskine D. McSwian (1991-2000) VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris VP MARKETING Michael D. Coxson DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Launy Rhem DISTRIBUTOR NEWSWAYS LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Niki Shadrow PHOTO EDITOR Dimitri Halkidis
Editor’s Note ®
MANAGING EDITOR Jenny Werth DEPUTY EDITOR Sean Borg ART DIRECTOR & SITE DIRECTOR Ron Lucarelli DESIGNERS Ron Lucarelli Kristal Lindo Jenny Lopez CONTRIBUTORS Louise Ashby Andrew Ackerman Nina Prommer Justin Ball Deborah Anderson Brandon Blair Doué Adler Sid Fish Steve Zall
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earest Readers,
Hollywood Monthly welcomes you to another exciting and informative issue! Recently we all gained another hour of sunshine in our city of angels. As we ‘sprung forward,’ I noticed how much more time was suddenly available to check off items from that annoying “to-do” list. Doesn’t it seem Angelenos naturally function better when they’re not fighting traffic at 5 p.m. in the DARK. Most agree this is a city where the sunshine and its lovely light invigorate us. It even shines a certain hue on the unique individuals who drive on all those packed freeways next to us. Such a wonderfully diverse group of people call this city home. Try to peek at the car in the next lane tomorrow - who is there? Perhaps it’s your realtor off to show a home; your lawyer heading to court for trial; a pregnant woman hoping to find a flattering maternity outfit; or an aspiring artist with dreams of winning a GRAMMY. So many of us collectively call Los Angeles home. It’s an honor to live in a city that offers so many options! But, let’s remember that our “to-do” check lists will never be completed.... for the things we ‘must do’ will never end. And that’s why we must appreciate the extra hours of sunshine- not to just “do more,” but to LIVE more. We are human beings, NOT human-doer’s. ere is a HUGE difference. ink about it. Living with purpose is as important as living with free time to enjoy the very fruits of our labor. And isn’t this one of the joys of life?
HOLLYWOOD MONTHLY® is a monthly publication wholly owned by Jackson Publishing Company. © 2012 Jackson Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the Publisher is expressly prohibited. Letters to the Editor may be addressed to: HOLLYWOOD MONTHLY Sunset Gower Studios 1438 North Gower Street #42 Hollywood, California 90028 Email: editor@jacksonpublishing.com For advertising inquiries call: 323-315-9498 or online at: http://www.hollywoodmonthlymagazine.com
Best to you as spring blooms!
Jenny Werth Please email me with your thoughts or cool Hollywood-happenings at jenny@hollywoodweeklymagazine.com.
REPRINTS, EPRINTS, LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS: JACKSON PUBLISHING COMPANY (323) 315-9495
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APRIL 2012 Mediation Attorney The Fixer
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Greg B. Wood- a lawyer who truly makes a difference in our “sue-happy” state. Just call him “the fixer.” Enough said.
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Saving Face Face Art
e man to see when you long for results that leave your friends saying “wow, you look 10-years younger!”
Fashion
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MONTHLY ®
Spring
Retrospective Johnny Depp Sandra Bullock
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It’s hard to remember a time when Sandra Bullock and Johnny Depp weren’t mega-stars… get ready for a stroll down memory-lane.
Hollywood Best Of Fashion Must Haves
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When you have to look your absolute best, these fashion-forward styles promise to deliver just that.
� � � � � � � Haute Cuisine Living La Villa Blanca
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Villa Blanca offers a delicious journey for your taste buds along with a delightful view of Beverly Hills for your eyes. A truly elegant experience for all of your senses.
California Retreat San Ysidro
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e stunning San Ysidro ranch is a magical oasis where beauty and A+ service embrace you in a secluded retreat.
Million Dollar Man Josh Flagg
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Director’s Spotlight Alan Poul
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anks to directors such as Alan Poul, we have entertainment that moves our emotions and keeps us all guessing.
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Celebrity Baby Scoop The Best in Maternity Style
Hollywood celebs show off the best of maternity fashions while awaiting the debut of their new little stars.
e reality show “Million Dollar Listing” introduced us to Josh Flagg. Here we speak to the real estate master about reality show stardom and the complex California real estate market.
Awards Grammys Oscars
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From the Oscars to the GRAMMYS, Hollywood’s superstars heated up the red carpet in extravagant style.
Theatre LA Theatre Beat
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LA’s theatres are filled to the brim again this spring with excellent performances. May the curtains open.
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M E D I AT I O N AT TO R N E Y
GregB.Wood Photos: Jenny Lopez
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I
’m not saying Attorney Greg Wood is the only person who could orchestrate a happy ending to SOPA, per se, but if there was a legal equivalent to the Fantasy Football League, like a “Fantasy Court Hearing,” all parties involved in said issue would probably want to give him a call -- and on a related subject, I’m proud to be the only person you’ve probably ever heard use the term “Fantasy Court Hearing.” In the business of “Show” we’d call Atty. Greg Wood a “Deal Maker,” not a Deal Breaker; an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialist serving as a Mediator/ Arbitrator and Settlement Counsel, Greg Wood is able to parlay his 37 years’ experience as a litigator in Intellectual Property (Copyright, Trademark and Patent) Law into helping adversarial clients find common ground on heated disagreements and confrontations bound for huge, tabloid laden courtroom eruptions where hundreds of thousands – if not millions of dollars – can be wasted in legal fees.
d The Fixer
By Anthony Ewart
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In lm lore we call characters like this, people able to make problems go away, a “xer,” and the Hollywood xer has gone by many different names. In the 1993 lm “Point Of No Return” he was called “Victor the Cleaner,” and aptly played by Harvey Keitel; Keitel went on to immortalize the role of the xer just one year later in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic “Pulp Fiction” as Winston “e Wolf ” Wolfe. Perhaps Harvey Keitel will portray Greg Wood in the PG-13 lm version of his life – of course it would be a calmer, gentler, more subdued portrayal than Mr. Keitel is accustomed to since Greg’s mediating skills are subtler and his negotiating techniques layered with greater nuances; still, I think Tarantino would be pleased.
Essentially what you get with Greg Wood is an Attorney who’s had a long successful career and is now in a position to cherrypick his cases. Here’s how Greg sums up his philosophy on mediation: “I’ve spent most of my life litigating, so I know the majority of the time, in the very end, cases will settle anyway – meanwhile, you’ve just put your lawyer’s kids through college. So, if there’s a chance to settle in the beginning – at the very early stages – let’s try to get it done. From my standpoint it’s benecial because I’m not trying to impede the business process, I become an ally of the business process, and when a client sees a good result from a resolution that doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg they’ll come back to me when they have another dispute.” Clearly Felicitas, the Roman Goddess of “good luck,” had very little to do with the
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Photography: Dimitri Halkidis • Hair & Make-up by: Mary Kolacinsk
“So, what was the impetus that thrust Greg into the legal world? Oddly enough it was a piece of justice that all of us crave for: beating a parking ticket.”
Greg describes the motivating factors for his services this way: “When someone gets mad at someone else the knee-jerk reaction is to sue somebody, well, I don’t let the client’s emotions derail the focus on resolution. Other people might take the money and sue, but if you come into my office I’m going to ask you, ‘Do you really want to go to court or are there alternative ways of resolution we can explore without you handing over your bank account.’ In other words I want to nd out what is really going to be best for your business – right now. Let’s work through the emotions; is litigation the best choice? Do you really want high-prole publicity or are you genuinely interested in solving this problem?”
success of Atty. Greg Wood, rather, it’s been the sheer number of repeat business Greg has earned from jobs well done. Mystery solved.
answering all the Assistant D.A.’s questions pertaining to Greg’s parking violation, it was now Greg’s turn to cross-examine the witness.
What is a mystery to many is exactly why Greg decided to become an attorney; it wasn’t his rst choice. You see, funny as it may sound, Greg Wood is a jet rocket scientist – literally. He has a Masters in Engineering and if you should ever happen to be in attendance at a dinner party in Malibu and someone yelled out, “Help! My Jet is down! Is there an F15 Radar Tracking engineer in the house?!” Atty. Greg Wood would be able to step forward from the crowd and affirm, “Yes, I’m an F15 Radar Tracking Engineer; how can I be of service?”
Not being an attorney Greg made small talk with the Parking Officer, stalling while thinking about his plan of attack, but when the judge ordered
So, what was the impetus that thrust Greg into the legal world? Oddly enough it was a piece of justice that all of us crave for: beating a parking ticket. e setting was Westchester, California; Greg, who at the time was working at Hughes Aircra in Control Systems Engineering and still in his Master’s program, was simply cashing a check. He’d le friends in his car and advised them to move it if a parking officer came by, but upon returning he discovered a parking officer had come by, not allowed his friends to move his car and given him a ticket. With a frustration we can all empathize with Greg decided to ght the ticket. His parking citation was for “parking in an alley,” so Greg went down to the courthouse and picked up a vehicle codebook to see exactly what constituted an “alley.” e answer was a roadway 25 feet wide or less, so Greg drove back down to Westchester and, with cars whirring by, measured the distance by placing his size 12’ feet one in front of the other. e outcome? 24 feet. Greg had actually been “officially” parked in an alley, but still, the parking officer could have let his friends move the car and, well, he had nothing to lose by trying. Parking tickets used to be handled in court by Assistant District Attorneys, so Greg found himself representing himself against the full power of the city of Los Angeles . With the Parking Officer on the stand and dutifully
Greg to get to the point of his defense, Greg boiled everything down to one simple question: he asked the Parking Officer, “Did you measure the roadway in question?” e Parking Officer responded, “No.” Greg pushed on: “Could it have been as wide as 24 feet?” “Maybe.” “Could it have been as wide as 26 feet?” “I suppose.” Greg turned to the Judge and said, “Your Honor, if it’s 26 feet I’m not guilty!” e courtroom erupted with laughter and the Assistant D.A. jumped to his feet yelling, “Your Honor, may I ask Mr. Wood a question?!” e Judge agreed and the D.A. looked Greg directly in the eyes and asked, “Mr. Wood, did you measure that roadway?!” As Greg explained to me during our lunch interview here at Sunset Gower’s Stage café, “It was a deer in the headlights moment, Anthony. I turned to the Judge and said, ‘Your Honor, I don’t have to answer that do I?’ e Judge said, ‘No you don’t, Mr. Wood – case dismissed.’ I walked out of that courtroom thinking ‘Move over Perry Mason!’”
passed the Bar and began his new career as an Attorney in 1975. Now, 37 years later, a career that began with a Homeric defeat of an Assistant D.A., Greg has turned his attention to helping his clients avoid litigation whenever possible. In Hollywood, anyone looking for their
15 minutes of fame can hurl accusations of intellectual property the at Studios and Production Companies and get their short-lived publicity – but before things progress to that level, where movie premieres are halted or lming stopped pending court proceedings, you’d call Greg Wood and have him… x things. “Litigation is always risky,” Greg tells me shaking his head empathetically, “You have no control over your outcome when you walk into that courtroom because you’re placing your client’s fate in the hands of a Judge or a Jury who may have a completely different perception of your case. e bottom line is businesses want to do business, they don’t want to litigate, and that’s where I step in. I know litigation inside out and will take that route if necessary but I also know how to avoid it for my clients and deliver a resolution where their interests are protected. In a sense I use my litigation skills in the mediation room, behind closed doors, and I solve problems every day that the public has no idea ever existed.” Agency for Dispute Resolution (ADR) 9595 Wilshire Blvd, 9th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
…And justice for all.
800.616.1202 x 718 toll free 818.527.1176 818.772.4677 fax
So, Greg nished his Masters in Engineering, went to Law School,
www.WoodIPDR.com www.AgencyDR.com
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S AV I N G FAC E
J
Face A By Louise Ashby
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J
ust as you walk around a museum staring at famous pieces of art, the same could be said for those of us who look at each other on a day-today basis and study the features of our faces. We may be judging our own, friends, or complete strangers. Each of us is unique in our features, their sizes, placements, skin tone, moles, eyes shapes, bone structure, lip color, noses, eye color and hair. One little change can completely alter our identity and how we see ourselves or how another views us. This is categorized as face art. Is it wise to mess with what God gave you? What if you found the man for the job? Are you secure enough with who you are to go the natural route or would you want to change? I was asked to find a plastic surgeon’s opinion on the natural approach and see if I could look ten years younger using the help of a plastic surgeon, a hair colorist and hair stylist. I wasn’t to go under the knife or add hair extensions. I can’t say this was a mission I was dreading!!! I was led to Dr. John Diaz, who while born in the Dominican, is one of the few Latino plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills. He’s an Ivy league graduate from Cornell University who attended the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and graduated with top honors. Since opening his practice in Beverly Hills he’s been featured on E’s Dr. 90210, and served as an expert on plastic surgery for various television programs including Montel Williams’ series of “Living Well” shows. Dr. Diaz also serves as director of the Age Defying Institute
where he promotes the advancement of health and wellness in patients. After learning of his experience I thought I’d be meeting a man well into his fifties with speckles of grey hair and was pleasantly surprised when introduced to a well groomed gentleman in his mid-thirties. I wanted to know how he gained his professional reputation. This is what he said, “The Art is that the small touch can make all the difference. The art is knowing what exactly can give the best result,” he references as the screen above his desk displays pictures of past patients. Dr. Diaz shows me various before and after pictures of woman, and humorously gives me the studious task of guessing how many procedures each individual had and what the procedures were. The majority were so minimalist I was awed at how such a small adjustment could make the radical change that it did. I was shown a picture of a woman who I guessed was in her late 30’s, maybe early 40’s and then beside that a picture of a woman in her 20’s. Hearing it was the same person didn’t seem possible. “We are visual creatures and socially we are wired to make judgment to know whether they are happy or sad, old or young, the art for me is knowing what I can do to bring out the beauty.” He says. I made a few stabs at a guess but
Art
it wasn’t until I was told of Patient X’s Rhinoplasty (nose job), Buccal Lipectomy (usually called a cheek reduction) and liposuction of neck that it was clear. These were three subtle changes, each making a huge difference to the patience appearance and giving her years on her face. John Diaz started his medical career as a heart surgeon, his passion for helping others was obvious but it became apparent that there was an incredible gift to saving a life; the flip side was too painful. “How do you tell someone his or her partner hasn’t made it?” he says, “I just couldn’t do it. As much as I loved helping save other lives, I’m too sensitive.”
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His medical training and knowledge led him to plastic surgery. Dr. Diaz felt a similar challenge and that he was giving people a change or hope that made them more comfortable with themselves. Not a fan of needles, I follow the handsome doctor into the minimiilistic interiorized sterile room. I was made comfortable with a shot of each side of my mouth numbing me completely. My face immediately felt like jello. Starting with my forehead, botox was administered, then round the eyes. It was explained that I’m not getting 100% non-movement as this is the more natural look. I know that many Hollywood actresses have this done, as they need the ability to have movement to show emotions. As many patients do, I thought I should tell Dr. Diaz what I needed, “just give me some fillers in my cheeks and my lips might need some plumping…” He reminded me who had the needle and who was the doctor and no he wasn’t going to have me walking out of his office looking anything but like I had ten years prior, “naturally” not “plastically”. From my nose to my mouth the
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lines were shot with Juvaderm ultra and then a bee sting in the centre of my top lip. I sat back in the seat waiting for more. To take me back to the early 2000’s or further, I assumed a series of chemists carrying test tubes had to be brought in, some super expensive equipment that came direct from a research laboratory and a team of men in space suits. Instead, after being handed a mirror, I was shown the results of losing a decade. My next port of call was to Prive in Malibu. I had hair and color appointments set with the colorist and stylist to the stars! Amanda Howard is the queen of the “Balayage” treatment, which is a French technique that has been around for a while but is known mostly to those in the modeling world and is thought of as the artistry of hair color. I couldn’t believe I’d never had it done before. There were no tin foil wraps, just thick white streaks painted through my hair. Along with
a base color, this would give me a warm rich natural Sunkist glow with subtle honey highlights. I was learning from all the experts that the key to looking ten years younger was by taking a natural approach. Heavy makeup, dark colors and all the fillers and quick fixes one would think would take the years off, in retrospect put the years on. Once Amanda had completed her removed her magic potions from my once bland dull hair, Jamie the “Prive Stylist” appears with her shiny silver scissors. The atmosphere in the salon was that if you were here, you were in safe hands. As someone who’s always been uneasy in a hair salon, I had an unusual sense of calm and excitement. I saw hair flying to the floor but it didn’t bother me as it normally did. Maybe it was the tea and cookies I was being fed or that I felt I’d be leaving here knowing that I’d been attended to by real artists. As Jamie placed the blow dryer on the counter, I turned my head up and looked at my reflection. I was amazed. I looked rested, younger and fresher. I had been to the professionals who had taught me something today. I had learned something about the importance of Face Art.
H
H
e reminded me who had the needle and who was the doctor and no he wasn’t going to have me walking out of his office looking anything but like I had ten years prior, “naturally” not “plastically”
Dr. John Diaz
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HAUTE CUISINE
Living la
Villa Blanca
in
Beverly Hills by Justin Ball
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E
veryone experiences one of those defining moments in life— standing at a crossroads while trying to decide which way to turn. If you are standing at the crossroads of Camden and Brighton, then step onto the corner patio for pizza and a cold one, under the shade of the rustling banana trees. Villa Blanca is now taking reservations for its Tuesday debut. Like a St. Tropez dinner party on a black-and-white TV, this Villa is breezy, Euro, and wall-to-wall white and gray. The establishment is chicly presented by the owners of West Hollywood’s SUR restaurant, so you’ll notice they’ve imported signature touches like mismatched relics, giant floral arrangements, and a similarly lively
twist of Asian flare to present a distinctive menu. The menu ranges from Kurobata pork tenderloin with Chinese five-spice powder, candied apples, and crispy prosciutto; to flatbread pizza with shrimp & chorizo; to the shredded chicken/vine-ripened tomatoes/spinach/ roasted pine nut “Spaghetti Lolita.” The entrées and the award-winning wine list go along perfectly with a romantic, candlelit dinner. crowd. Villa Blanca is sexy, white, clean, comfortable, and inspired. The restaurant boasts gorgeous art and stylish furnishings that are accompanied by distinctive music selections. The flowers, lighting, chairs, and staff all foster a fun and fashionable ambiance.
Affordable fare & opportunities for star gazing
If you come for happy hour (weekdays from 4-7pm), stick to the bar area that spills out onto Camden for some pitchers of house-made sangria. For lunch or dinner, you’ll want the Brighton side. Of course, to truly channel that tricky 90210 look-at-me-but-don’tlook-at-me vibe, you can sidle into a rear corner table in the dining room—more discreet, but not really—for your Shrimp and Chorizo Potato Pizza or a GuinnessBattered Chilean Sea Bass and Chips. Then comes that defining crossroads moment once again… call it a night or order more sangria. Staying for dinner is highly recommended. The menu is created by Exec. Chef Francis Dimitrius, who trained at the California School of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu (formerly of Koi.) Dimitrius draws from his background in classic EuroMediterranean cooking and adds a
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From the ambiance to the food, Villa Blanca is continuously adjusting to anticipate the needs and desires of all customers. Chef Dimitrius is constantly incorporating new ingredients and fresh ideas to ensure that each dining experience is
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unique. Facing a crossroads in life is much easier to do when La Villa Blanca is on the horizon. Just step toward the villa for a fun, stylish, and renowned experience and live La Villa Blanca!
Ldinner party on a
ike a St. Tropez
black-and-white TV,
this Villa is breezy,
Euro, and wall-to-wall
white and gray.
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San Ysid ro
C A L I F O R N I A R E T R E AT
A California Oasis
Hidden in the lush mountains of Montecito, at the foothills of Santa Barbara, is the 500-acre legendary retreat, which houses the luxurious and first class accommodations of The San Ysdro Ranch. It is an Oasis of understated luxury and as we drove up the driveway I felt all tensions exhale from my being. It is the very same retreat where JFK and Jackie Kennedy took their Honeymoon in 1953. It is where Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Lee had their secret midnight nuptuals in the rose garden. The scented air is filled with magical inspiration as well as nostalgia and historical romantic mystery. Sir Winston Churchill came here to write poetry during World War Two and film director and writer John Huston buried himself in one of the cottages for three months to finish the screenplay of the African Queen. As one who pays homage to screen legends I had to pinch myself in the knowledge that I was going to stay where famous guests such as Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx had stayed before. They came here for the idyllic setting, the romance and most importantly the privacy. The San Ysidro Ranch is famous for its romance and weddings, and it is a fact that you will never see more than one bride sharing her celebration with another in the same grounds. It is recognized by all that this is the day for one couple only – The Bride and the Groom. I couldn’t count the awards, nominations and magazines that have named the San Ysidro Ranch as the place to come to all year round, to get married, to honeymoon, to go so you would never be seen, to dine in food heaven. Not surprisingly, it is in the top ten on most lists around the world, and on others it’s naturally number one. My vote would be cast in a few days. Fortunately, I had my boyfriend with me
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and we were lucky enough to have idyllic weather accompany us on this trip. The Hacienda is the focal point of the ranch. It’s where guests check in and use the concierge service. It’s bright and warm as are the staff who greet you with their comfortably distant intimacy. The smile, the drink, the offerings of cookies all encompasses the Hacienda’s warmth and tropical impressive countryside feel. It’s located at the base of the hill, which appears to wind upwards with tree lined narrow private roads to take you to your cottage. There are gardens throughout, spotted with lemon and orange trees which have been here since the 1800’s when the San Ysidro Ranch was a Citrus Farm.
I couldn’t count the awards, nominations and magazines that have named the San Ysidro Ranch as the place to come... The San Ysidro Ranch boasts two five star restaurants, the Plow and Angel, which is the casual bistro-style option and then the Stonehouse Restaurant, which is more formal. Both are situated in a stunning location near by the Hacienda. They are engulfed by nature, plants, flowers, outdoor large brick fireplaces, gravel paths, and twisted trees lit up. The Stone House restaurant was stunning in its location upstairs. There’s a lounge where you’d imagine drinking goblets of wine by the festive fires before taking the next step to the veranda where there are tables topped with candles and couples whispering. Chocolate soufflés are pre-ordered and menus listed offerings-from-the-heavens. It was no wonder to find out that 60% of the guests who dined in the restaurants were locals. The San Ysidro Ranch is a unique vacation for any visitor. If you need a few days to unwind and feel as though you’ve been away for two weeks, this is your destination. If you want time with your cherished love then I can think of no where else in the World that would give them the feelings of just that, cherished and loved. I give it a ten-out-of-ten and can’t wait to go back and visit again. Thank you San Ysidro!
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Bravo! ! o v a r B
! o v a r
B
Josh MILLION DOLLAR MAN by Justin Ball
! o av
r B 24
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I Flagg
f you bumped into Josh Flagg on the street, when he is not trying to sell a multi-million dollar house and being followed by a camera crew, your first impression of him would be that he is not any different from any ordinary 27-year-old guy living in Los Angeles; however, first impressions such as this can be deceiving. His unpretentious, minimalist, and polite demeanor might disguise the fact that he is an ambitiously successful real estate agent, published author, and reality TV star on Bravo’s popular reality cable-television show Million Dollar Listing.
required casting three dynamic agents who were willing to let cameras follow their every move as they hustle to close real estate deals. Enter Josh Flagg. Flagg says the casting process was such a blur that he does not recall how he originally heard about the opportunity. All he remembers is making an audition tape and sending it off to New York for approval. Soon enough, Flagg became one third of the cast of Million Dollar Listing along with real estate agents Madison Hildebrand and Chad Rogers. Regarding becoming a reality TV star Flagg says, “I certainly enjoy the commercial success that it has brought.” Another benefit he finds amusing is when he encounters fans, he explains, “ people recognize me when I’m out and they come up to me to talk about the show and the [housing market.]” The downside of fame, according to Flagg, is the gossip factor. He hates to read and hear things about himself that simply are
Evidently, Flagg is not an ordinary 27-year-old. Born and raised near Beverly Hills, Flagg is a native in the territory where he now earns a living showing and selling houses. By the age of seventeen Flagg was already insightfully aware of his own appreciation of residential architecture and consequently became increasingly interested in real estate. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, Flagg found guidance in real estate broker Bruce Nelson at the John Bruce Nelson firm in Bel Air. At the age of 18, Flagg earned his realtor’s license and over the next four years learned the intricacies of the Los Angeles area real estate market while working alongside Nelson. Flagg cites this time of his career, first breaking into the world of real estate, as the most challenging professional obstacle that he has had to overcome. Being the enterprising young professional that he was (and still is,) Flagg gained enough confidence to fly on his own and moved on to work as an agent for Coldwell Banker in 2007. Several months later, Flagg switched allegiances again to work for Keller Williams because, according to Flagg, it offered better compensation. It was also around this same time that show business changed Flagg’s life forever. In 2007, producers of the reality show Million Dollar Listing, which showcases real estate agents selling homes in the high stakes market of Southern California, were redeveloping the show for a second season to air on the cable channel Bravo. For the second season, producers decided to focus on the sales efforts of three agents instead of featuring many different agents as was the case during the first season of the show. The new format
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Josh Altman, Madison Hildebrand & Josh Flagg of Bravo’s popular Million Dollar Listing
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not true. However, when asked what accomplishment he is most proud of, in terms of his career, he says it is the success realized from being on Million Dollar Listing. Flagg is well aware that he has obtained an echelon of prominence made possible only with the help and mass-media power of television and he has not wasted any time in capitalizing from this fortunate opportunity. In addition to expanding his real estate business, Flagg has authored two books. In A Simple Girl: Stories My Grandmother Told Me, published in 2009, Flagg recalls the inspirational story of his Romanian-born grandmother Edith Flagg, who escaped the Nazi regime of World War II and ultimately manifested her American dream of becoming a successful fashion designer in California. In his second book, Million Dollar Agent: Brokering the Dream, which hit book stores in early 2011, Flagg offers his advice, using his own experiences as examples, of how to be a high-achieving real estate agent. Furthermore, the multi-talented entrepreneur has established a career as a gainful professional speaker by appearing at various business functions and
events. In the wake of relatively sudden fame, Flagg has productively elevated the different facets of his professional pursuits to new heights. By his early twenties, Flagg achieved a level of success and prominence that most people do not manage until much later in life, but he did not rest on his laurels. Now appearing his fourth season of Million Dollar Listing, the ambitious young real estate mogul continues to industriously exploit the lucrative notoriety and opportunities gained from reality show stardom by expanding his core business and also through branching into new areas of work. It is one thing to be famous; it is another thing to know how to use fame to your advantage. Despite his remarkable professional success, Flagg handles the pressures of being on camera and maintaining his high-performance lifestyle with relative ease yet he does not seem to take any of it for granted. Although his casual, unassuming, and even perceivably detached disposition might allow him to sometimes blend in with others his age, Josh Flagg is no ordinary 27-year-old.
“By his early twenties, Flagg achieved a level of success and prominence that most people do not manage until much later in life, but he did not rest on his laurels.�
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S P R I N G FA S H I O N
LEILUNA COLLECTION
Complementary Colors to Compliment Spring
Fashion
is beautiful green dress is the perfect outt for a night-on-the-town. Plus, it is easily accessorized with a scarf.
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Hair and makeup: Katerina Van Derham Photography: Dejajordan.com Styling: Katerina Van Derham Modeled by: Leilani Dowding Dresses: Black sequin classic backless Green classic backless Cream backless chain dress Pink hoodie dress
Accessories: Sun Glasses Roberto Cavalli Yellow Handbag by Channel Shoes [in green dress] : Jimmy Choo Shoes [in pink dress] : Christian Louboutin To order visit: www.leilunacollection.com
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T H E AT R E
LA Thea Spring is nally here and Easter is just around the corner – so you had better hop to it and hide those eggs away, then reward yourself for a job well done by taking some time off to see one of these great shows in our local theatres: “Good People” Laid off from her job at the dollar store in South Boston, a woman decides to seek out the one who got away. Instead, she nds herself in the burbs and out of her element, facing the question – is opportunity granted or earned? Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, it runs April 3 through May 13 at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood Village. For tickets call 310-9662412 or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.geffenplayhouse.com” www.geffenplayhouse.com. “Billy Elliot the Musical” is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. Written by Lee Hall, with music by Elton John, and directed by Stephen Daldry, it runs April 11 through May 13 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 800982-2787 or visit www.broadwayla.org. “Holding On - Letting Go” Bobby and Lee are a long-married couple. Lee is a hard-driving women’s basketball coach. Bobby was a basketball coach, but now, is in failing health, even though he is only 51. As his physical condition declines further, Bobby nds himself confronted by choices: whether to ght for every breath and explore every conceivable avenue in the hope that things will improve; or whether to prepare for a graceful exit. Written by Bryan Harnetiaux, and directed by James Reynolds, it runs April 14 through May 27 at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. For tickets call 866-811-4111 or visit www.fremontcentretheatre.com. “The Heiress” a classic tale of love and betrayal that centers around the socially awkward and painfully shy spinster Catherine, who in 1850 stands to inherit a tidy sum. When the handsome but penniless Morris Townsend begins to woo her, Catherine’s suspicious father, bitter over his wife’s death and at Catherine’s inability to live up to her mother’s reputation, cruelly insists that she is not worthy of true love and threatens to disinherit her. Written by Ruth and Augustus
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Goetz, and directed by Dámaso Rodriguez, it runs April 24 through May 20 at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626356-7529 or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org. “Tickled Pink” Spending way too much time in the comedy club where her future ex-boyfriend works, Mindy nervously goes up on stage one night. People laugh. Not in the places where Mindy thought they’d laugh, but hey, it’s a start. It’s a wild ride through an insider’s viewpoint of the world of stand-up comedy, and a touching tale of love, loss, female friendship, and forgiveness. Written by Martin Bergman and Rita Rudner, and directed by Martin Bergman, it runs April 24 through May 20 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. “The Fix” A popular presidential candidate is dead, and his widow thrusts their son into the political spotlight. Her maniacal scheming is matched by that of her crippled brother-in-law, who will stop at nothing to see the boy elected. Together, the three of them make up one of the most dysfunctional almost-rst families this side of real-life Washington politics. Written by John Dempsey, with music by Dana P. Rowe, and directed by Randy Brenner, it runs April 27 through May 20 at the International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. For tickets call 562-436- 4610 or visit www.internationalcitytheatre.org. “Cyrano” Cyrano is a brilliant deaf poet hopelessly in love with a beautiful hearing woman, Roxy. But she doesn’t understand sign language and instead loves his hearing brother, Chris. Can Cyrano express his love for Roxy with his hands – the source of such deaf pride and shame? Or must he teach Chris to “speak his words” for him, to woo her? ASL becomes the language of love in this modern sign language spin on a classic love story. Written by Stephen Sachs, inspired by the play “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand, and directed by Simon Levy, it runs April 28 through June 10 at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-663-1525 or visit www.fountaintheatre.com. “Oliver!” After running away from the orphanage run by the heartless Mr. Bumble, Oliver meets the Artful Dodger and is recruited to pick pockets for Fagin. There, Oliver nds a friend in Nancy, but neither she nor the boy is t
tre Beat by Steve Zall and Sid Fish
for a life of crime. Written by Charles Dickens, with music by Lionel Bart, and directed by Harold Dershimer, it runs through April 21 at the Westchester Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310- 6455156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org. “Just Imagine” Experience Lennon’s timeless musical genius as Tim Piper takes you through John’s life from tumultuous childhood to worldwide pop music superstar to groundbreaking social icon that inuenced generations. Written by Tim Piper, with music by Greg Piper, and directed by Steve Altman, it runs through April 22 at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323960-4442 or visit www.plays411.com/justimagine. “Two Gentlemen of Chicago” When friends Proteus and Valentine give up another Saturday in the Park and head to the big city of Milan, Proteus’ love Julia protests with, “If You Leave Me Now who will Color My World?” Meanwhile in Milan, Valentine encounters the lovely Silvia, and then Proteus falls for her too, and nds Julia is NOT such a Hard Habit to Break. Written and directed by Matt Walker, it runs through April 22 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. For tickets call 818-955-8101 or visit www.falcontheatre.com. “Naked Before God” Kristen Burrows has hit upon a brilliant way to transform the sins of her youth into lots of cash: she’s going to combine her adult lm past with a born again future. But things get more than a little out of hand when the Christian radio talk show host Kristen has invited for dinner meets her teenage son Duncan, Duncan’s wife Carly, and a few unexpected visitors. Written and directed by Leo Geter, it runs through April 28 at the [Inside] the Ford in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-461-3673 or visit fordtheatres.org/en/events/details/id/ 343. “The Boomerang Effect” Five bedrooms. Five couples. One chain of well-intentioned disasters in this new comedy that peeks under the covers at the universal complications in their sexual relationships despite the differences in scenario and detail. Written by Matthew Leavitt, and directed by Dámaso Rodriguez, it runs through April 29
at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 310-477-2055 or visit www.odysseytheatre.com/box.htm. “Laura” Police detective Mark McPherson is investigating the murder of Laura Hunt. He’s fallen in love with her, or more precisely the image of her, in a painting that dominates her New York apartment. Mark thinks he’s closing in on a ghost, but then she turns up vibrantly alive at her apartment. Who’s the woman whose bloody corpse was found on Laura’s oor? Indicators begin to mount that the girl’s killer may have been Laura herself. Written by Vera Caspary and George Sklar, and directed by David McClendon, it runs through April 29 at the Theatre 40, in the Reuben Cordova Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tickets call 310-364-0535 or visit www.theatre40.org. “Lights Off, Eyes Closed” Jane never understood her mother, or the best-selling romance novels she wrote. But after her mother’s sudden death, Jane nds herself in charge of nishing her mom’s last book, and bringing romance into her life. Written by Liz Shannon Miller, and directed by Meredith Berg, it runs through April 29 at the T.U. Studios in North Hollywood. For tickets call 800-8383006 or visit www.skypilottheatre.com. “Deathtrap” older, washed-up playwright Sidney arranges to meet with younger writer Clifford to discuss Clifford’s rst attempt at authoring a play. Sidney kills Clifford and steals the play in front of his ailing wife Myra, but Clifford returns from the dead and attacks Sidney for stealing his play. Written by Ira Levin, and directed by Ken Sawyer, it runs through May 6 at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-860-7300 or visit www.lagaycenter.org/theatre. “Jacob And Jack” tells the story of Jack Shore, a well-known television personality, who is appearing for one night only in a tribute to his grandfather, Jacob Shemerinsky, great star of the Yiddish Theatre. Backstage in his dressing room, Jack confronts his challenges as an actor and as a husband to his co-starring wife. Written by James Sherman, and directed by Lee Sankowich, it runs through May 6 at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.plays411.com/jacobandjack. Let’s get it jumping now, and go see a show real soon!
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