Hollywood Weekly's Oscar edition by Hollywood Weekly Magazine, LLC

A Soolip Wedding Sparkles IN the Hills of Bel Air

速

CHER SPEAKS OUT FOR ELEPHANTS

The Truth Uncovered

SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Hits THE RED (GREEN) CARPET

AND THE OSCAR速 GOES TO... HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 83Rd ACADEMY AWARDS速

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James Franco (left) and Anne Hathaway (right) co-hosts of the 83rd Academy Awards® presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live as “The 83rd Annual Academy Awards®” on the ABC Television Network. credit: Bob D’Amico / ABC

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COVER 06

Elephant’s Desolation In The LA Zoo Is Covered

2011

F E AT U R E D 10 12 20 34

February/ March

Lucky Girls With Happy Hearts A SOOLIP Wedding

Red Carpet Green Dress Four Season’s Resort, Punta Mita

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 18 22 28 42

The Director’s Panel at SBIFF 2011 Oscar® Highlights The DOGTOOTH Effect Theater Beat

LIFESTYLE 30 31 32 32 40

Spring Must-Haves Getting To The Heart of Health Cross Cultural Relations Let’s Get Motivated Hollywood’s Pampered Pooches

PUBLISHER, EDITOR IN CHIEF Prather Jackson VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris OPERATIONS Erskine D. McSwain (1991-2000) VP MARKETING Michael D. Coxson VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Parandis Khalili PRODUCTION MANAGER Hector Santacruz

SENIOR EDITOR Pamela Spyrs

PHOTOGRAPHY Irwin Jazmines

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anthony Calderon

WEBMASTER Autumn Hawarden

ASsistant Editor Jenny Werth

CONTRIBUTORS Anthony Calderon Jenny Werth Pamela Spyrs Brea Tisdale Niki Shadrow Tyler Fascett Philip Cosores Darwin Heard Dena Romios Zoi Patra Steve Zall Sid Fish Laura Wilhelm Sharon Spyrs Bianca Bagatourian

ADVERTISING Joseph Mandel DISTRIBUTOR NEWSWAYS CREATIVE DIRECTOR Michelle Nati LIFE & STYLE EDITOR Niki Shadrow STAFF WRITER Toria Gaylord

DIR. OF MARKETING Launy Rhem

Hollywood Weekly is a monthly publication wholly owned by Jackson Publishing Company. © 2011 All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the Publisher is expressly prohibited. Letters to the Editor may be sent to: Hollywood Weekly, 4221 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 290-06, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

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Email: hollywoodweekly@gmail.com. For Advertising inquiries call: (323) 934-6397, or Online at: www.hollywoodweeklymagazine.com

Senior Editor’s Note

Feb/March 2011

Pamela & Zoi

From the Love that surrounds February to the Luck o’ March, we’re bringing you stories in this issue that go from getting you to the heart of the matter to those who were lucky enough to bring home the ultimate gold statue – OSCAR®! We have spotlit some incredible individuals in this issue by sharing their love for the environment and humanity. People like Cher – activist, speaking out for elephants walking the earth who are held in captivity. Women like Suzy Amis Cameron – humanitarian, bringing sustainable fashion to the bright lights of Hollywood. Philanthropists like, Christiana Thanos raising funds and awareness for a Lucky Girls orphanage in India. And also, inspirations like Wanda Wen – founder of A Soolip Wedding, bringing together bridal industry top experts and visionaries who give us the first look at what to expect for this season’s brides & grooms. The glitz and glamour of the 83rd Academy Awards® hit Hollywood Blvd on February 27, 2011 and Hollywood Weekly takes you down the red carpet right into the Kodak Theater where the winners were announced and highlights were captured on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights of the year. We’re also thrilled to debut our new health & fitness section featuring personal trainer, Sharon Spyrs who, in this issue, shares how to keep a Healthy Heart. And we’re always excited to hear from Jenny Werth who is spotlighting this year’s Spring ‘must haves’. Our commitment to No Gossip ~ Strictly Entertainment is reflected in every story we deliver. We continue to seek fascinating people and stories in hopes to inspire our readers. Our goal is to present you with stories that will captivate you and encourage you to live your dreams. In addition to my role as senior editor at Hollywood Weekly, I am founder of INSPYRS, a company based on showcasing the humanitarian efforts of talented individuals with a particular focus on “inspyring” others to “Dream It ~ Live It ~ Inspyre It”. And that’s exactly the types of stories we like to share with our Hollywood Weekly readers. We hope you enjoy reading our February/March 2011 issue. It is our wish that the articles inspire you to continue to strive for your dreams - within the entertainment industry or beyond. We’d love to hear from you. You can find us on facebook and follow us on twitter or visit our website at www.hollywoodweeklymagazine.com. peace out & inspyre within,

Pamela Spyrs Senior Editor

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ELEPHANT’S DESOLATION IN THE LA ZOO IS UNCOVERED! Hollywood’s Sunset Gower Studios holds red-carpet affair to share the truth about elephants held in captivity. We’ve all heard the proverbial term ‘the elephant in the room,’ and we all know that means there’s a huge ‘animal’ of an issue that everyone in the room is trying to avoid discussing. But thanks to the efforts of some highly concerned A-list celebrities and animal activists, there is finally an elephant in the room that’s being exposed. You see there are hundreds of elephants who suffer needlessly as they’re held in captivity in zoos and circuses around the world. Perhaps not everyone is aware of the crisis, but Kat Kramer is ensuring that changes through her powerful documentary “Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy.”

By Jenny Werth

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Lily Tomlin, Kat Kramer, Tippi Hedren and Cher

Vincent De Paul and Guest

Paula Poundstone and Lily Tomlin

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Cher

photos: Peter S. Dumaual

Billy Bob Thornton, Lily Tomlin, Melya Kaplan, Kat Kramer, Cher, Tippi Hendren and “The Elephant Man”, Chris Gallucci

Some of Hollywood’s most iconic stars came out to Sunset Gower Studios last week for the world premiere of the documentary that’s shedding some very ugly light on an often ignored topic. Host committee members for the film, including Cher, Billy Bob Thornton, Lily Tomlin and Tippi Hedren all spoke out about their involvement in a campaign to persuade zoos to close their elephant exhibits and move the animals to much larger sanctuaries.

wouldn’t be able to control them.” She hopes the public learns the truth about these endearing creatures. “An elephant is like a very large child, it has the mentality of an eight-year-old. They want to live with their moms and sibling and aunts. Children wouldn’t want to see them anymore if they knew that they were going to be alone forever without their family and just miserable.”

The campaign’s leader, Melya Kaplan, who is also the documentary’s executive producer and founder of the non-profit Voices for the Animals Foundation, joined forces with film producer, Kat Kramer and director Jacek Kropinski to chronicle the history of elephants in captivity. For Kat Kramer’s third installment of her “Films That Change the World” series she carefully choose “Elephants and Man: A Litany of Tragedy.” Kramer wanted to bring attention to the controversy surrounding the new $42 million elephant exhibit that just opened at the LA Zoo in December 2010. While the exhibit is larger, it provides only three acres for the elephants to roam. But being confined to the ‘freedom’ of three or even ten acres doesn’t even come close to solving the problem of elephant confinement in zoos. Especially when you consider an elephant’s natural instinct can be to walk up to one hundred miles per day.

Cher explained that elephants love their relatives the same way humans do; they mourn and miss their loved ones the same way humans do as well. “It does so much damage just to put them in this confinement when there’s really no reason for it. Something else could be done,” Cher said.

“I wanted to create a think tank and get activists and the media together to have a forum,” Kramer explained about the debut of her documentary.

Animals are not any different from humans. We all have feelings. The question is whether we choose to acknowledge that fact. At least we know that at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood a revolution of change is well underway. “Our studios take an active role in supporting filmmakers by hosting screenings, events, and networking opportunities. The eminent producer/ director Stanley Kramer spent most of his film career on our Sunset Gower lot during its run as Columbia Pictures. Many of his socially conscious films, including “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” were filmed on our sound stages. His daughter Kat Kramer is continuing the

“(Imagine if) you were taken away from your family and keep in solitary confinement… it’s miserable. And the elephants in zoos and circuses are kept alone because if they were all together, (the trainers) wouldn’t be able to control them.” - Cher “(Films) can inspire us to think and explore social issues. “The Cove” made such an impact and I hoped to create something else that would create the same impact,” Kramer said. Indeed she has created a work of genius. After viewing the documentary, the picture becomes very clear that keeping these endearing creatures in the confines of captivity is simply another form of torture. To watch an elephant be whipped by its trainer so they can learn how to do ridiculous circus tricks is heart breaking. It’s beyond words. It’s horrific. A pioneer in animal rights, Tippy Hedren said, “Parents should know not to take their children to see elephants in zoos and circuses. There’s nothing educational about seeing an elephant standing up on his legs.” Do we really need to watch elephants in circus acts standing on their hind legs? Is this really a form of entertainment, or are we merely mocking these creature’s nature by training them to do outlandish tricks. Cher is another host committee who is outraged at the treatment of elephants. “(Imagine if) you were taken away from your family and keep in solitary confinement… it’s miserable. And the elephants in zoos and circuses are kept alone because if they were all together, (the trainers)

tradition of bringing attention to our social conscience through her Films That Changed The World screening series. Last year at this time, we helped her bring attention to a little known film called “The Cove” - which later earned an Oscar and brought worldwide attention to the slaying of dolphins. And now, we had a successful red carpet turnout for “Elephant and Man: A Litany of Tragedy.” Having Cher, Lily Tomlin, Billy Bob Thornton, Ed Begly Jr., Tipi Hedren and so many other talented celebrities come out and support this documentary brought its filmmakers significant media attention,” Terri Melkonian, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Sunset Gower Studios and Advisory Board member of Films That Changed The World said. For more information or to help the campaign, please visit www. vtfafoundation.org or call 310-392-5153. As the voice for animals, they are devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, advocacy, and legislation. There are many ways to volunteer for the foundation. But the change starts with you, please tell your animalloving friends to stop the insanity and allow these animals their inherent right to enjoy their lives in freedom, instead of confined in jails for our ‘viewing enjoyment.’

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photo: courtesy of The Lucky Girl Movie

Lucky Girls With Happy Hearts An Orphanage Built with Love and Filled with Lucky Girls BY Pamela Spyrs

n a village, far from the bright lights of Hollywood, over a hundred girls live at an orphanage in India that is filled with love, hope and luck. Who are these girls? Where did they come from? How is it they were left as orphans? These questions fill the minds of many every time Christiana Thanos’ film The Lucky Girls Movie is watched. Theotokos Greek Orthodox Girls Orphanage is in Bakeswar, a village located outside of Calcutta, India. The current Bishop of Madagascar, Ignatios and Sister Nectaria Paradisi, the orphanage’s current director, started the orphanage in 1999. The orphanage provides food, shelter, love and education for over 100 Indian girls. In the past year, it has adopted twenty-eight girls, sent four to college and opened a boys’ orphanage. Christiana Thanos (Creator and Producer of The Lucky Girls Movie) has been a volunteer for the Girls Orphanage since 2004. Producing Lucky Girls has allowed her to share the vision of the orphanage with philanthropists, filmmakers and individuals from around the world. She received her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and her master’s in social work from Columbia University. Currently, she works in development at the USC School of Social Work. A day doesn’t go by that Thanos is not thinking of new ways to raise funds for the orphanage; while raising awareness of the great need of food and supplies the girls

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have. Consistent outreach and education to others informing them of the incredible girls that exist at this orphanage is at the forefront of Thanos’ every day activities. Recently winning a video contest conducted by The Girl Effect, The Lucky Girls are honored and getting amazing exposure worldwide. Based on winning the contest The Lucky Girls Movie has earned a permanent spot on The Girl Effect. YouTube channel. How lucky are they and how lucky are we to be able to view it anytime we like?

The Lucky Girls Movie production team recently announced its Lenten campaign, “4,000 Raindrops” which is an effort to raise $4,000 in 40 days and will continue through the end of April 2011. Funds raised will go towards the purchase of a water well for the orphanage. The campaign will utilize the Lucky Girls movie - a short documentary about the orphanage - as well as social media outlets as tools for young adults and youth to fundraise.

“My hope for this campaign is for it to be a drop of inspiration to encourage youth and young adults to take everyday activities and ask themselves, ‘how can I make this into something that can help others?’ ” –Christiana Thanos (Creator and Producer of The Lucky Girls Movie) Amongst numerous events being held in support of the campaign, there is a “not-

so-typical” Greek Club Night planned that is sure to gain much exposure for The Lucky Girls! The Los Angeles Greek Night on March 25th will celebrate Greek Independence Day and give a percentage of each ticket sale to the 4,000 Raindrops Campaign. The event is set to take place at Club Nokia Lounge – the newest and hottest venue in Downtown LA. In addition to building a water well for the orphanage, the campaign’s purpose is to garner widespread support to fundraise for the orphanage in small, affordable amounts towards a tangible cause. The Lucky Girls production team will utilize social networking by tweets and facebook posts sharing information on all the individuals and communities involved. The goal is to create an online platform for a community dedicated to social change. The campaign targets families who will participate in this

campaign as an opportunity to educate their children on poverty, as it exists today in developing countries and respond in ways that can alleviate these challenging conditions. The campaign also seeks to gain involvement of young adults by providing them with innovative programs that can be easily shared through their social networking tools. Such a program will allow youths the opportunity to raise funds in honor of their birthday by asking friends and family to donate to the orphanage in lieu of a birthday gift. Additionally, the campaign hopes to include business communities by offering restaurants and businesses an option to market a product or service by giving a percentage of their sales to the orphanage. Another option to help raise awareness and funds for the “4,000 Raindrops” campaign is to host a benefit screening of Lucky Girls Movie in your home, church, university or school! Contact us so that we may provide you tools to make it successful and fun! (www.theluckygirlsmovie.com)

photo: courtesy of The Lucky Girl Movie

Christiana Thanos -(Creator & Producer of The Lucky Girl Movie) with girls from the Theotokos Orthodox Orphanage

Sister Nectaria Paradisi (Director of the orphanage) with the Lucky Girls

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Here Comes The Bride Something Old, Something New ~ Something Borrowed, Something SOOLIP

A Krista Jon Couture Designs Bridal Bouquet

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photo: courtesy of Focus Photography Inc

By Pamela Spyrs

Founder of Soolip Paperie & Press and A Soolip Wedding, Wanda Wen, started her business nearly 15 years ago out of a life long passion she had (and still has!) for the paper arts, letter-writing and the simple pleasures of life. Her approach to life is to live each day with beauty and inspiration, to be resourceful, to respect each other and our earth, and learn to see the beauty in simplicity. Her first book, The Art of Gift Wrapping, has just been published. The word “Soolip” has its heritage in the Chinese language, meaning, “One’s life destiny is to seek wisdom.” Soolip is also Wanda’s middle name. On February 16, 2011 A Pre-Soolip Wedding roundtable took place at the beautiful Claire Pettebone Salon in Beverly Hills, California. Moderated by Wendy Wen, it included industry experts: Claire Pettibone of Claire Pettibone Couture Bridal, Krista Jon Levandofsky of Krista Jon Couture Designs, Leigh Grode of Cake Divas, Tiffany Emch of Ojai Valley Inn, Alessandro Serni of Terranea Resort, Yuki Sharoni of Yuki Sharoni Beauty & Lifestyle, Jacqueline Foster of Wayne Foster Entertainment, Marly Majcher of The Party Goddess and Denise Ritchie of Bu’s Blend/Malibu Compost. There was a special appearance and first hand insight from bride du jour Allison Kornberg of The Los Angeles Times Magazine, whose followers of her blog, Plan My Wedding, are assisting her in choosing the essential elements for her wedding.

A Claire Pettibone Couture Design

photo: courtesy of Claire Pettibone Couture Bridal

Additionally, A Soolip Wedding introduced its newest initiative this year, The Couple’s Garden. A newly engaged couple is encouraged to plant an edible or floral garden, thereby sowing the seeds of their marriage and then to share the bounty with their friends

and family at their wedding celebration. (www.healinggroundsnursery.com) Soolip organically metamorphosed from its origin, as an enchanting paper boutique in West Hollywood, to an established lifestyle brand. Wanda Wen’s signature discerning taste and vision to create a stylish gathering of all things beautiful for one of life’s most exciting moments – the wedding – gave birth to A Soolip Wedding in 1999. “By evoking all of the senses in one afternoon, couples leave truly inspired with their wedding planning galvanized,” says Wanda Wen, creative visionary of A Soolip Wedding and Founder of Soolip. Celebrating its 12th year, this annual celebration presents a distinctive and well-edited collection of personally selected resources for the discriminating modern bride and groom seeking a wedding reflective of their contemporary and refined tastes. “A Soolip Wedding is a visual feast,” comments Alexia Haidos, President of Double A Public Relations & Marketing who has represented the event on and off since its inception. “What I find most fascinating about it, is the attendee who returns (even after being married), just to get a dose of inspiration.” With the passionate and tasteful guidance of Ms. Wen and producers Erica Jade Ahlin and Brooke Barnes Zipperman, A Soolip Wedding elevates the art of getting married to an extraordinary affair in itself. It has grown into every bride and groom’s must-attend event before their big day. Previous partners have included Harry Winston, Monique Lhuillier, Christofle, St. Regis, Bacara Resort & Spa, Frette, Tiffany & Co., WilliamsSonoma, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera and Jo Malone. A Soolip Wedding will launch in San Francisco this year on March 20 with an inaugural event at the Bently Reserve, with forthcoming events in Chicago, Dallas and New York on the horizon. For more information visit www.asoolipwedding.com

A heavenly letterpress wedding invitation by Soolip Paperie and Press

photo: courtesy of FilmFotoFusion.com

t’s that time of year again when brides and grooms-to-be, wedding planners and those looking to be inspired gather under one roof to experience the best of the best in all things wedding. Anybody who’s anyone knows A Soolip Wedding is where they can find the bridal industry’s top experts and visionaries who will give them the first look as to what to expect that is fresh this season.

L to R (back row): Tiffany Emch-Ojai Valley Inn, Krista Jon Levandofsky- Krista Jon Couture Designs, Marly Majcher- The Party Goddess, Wanda Wen-Sooip & A Soolip Wedding, Pierino Jermonti and Christian Schmidt- Terranea, Yuki Sharoni -Yuki Sharoni Lifestyle & Beauty L to R (front row) Jacqueline Foster-Wayne Foster Entertainment, Claire Pettibone-Claire Pettibone Bridal Couture, Allison Kornberg-LA Times Magazine & Plan My Wedding blog, Denise RitchieBu’s Blend Malibu Compost, Leigh Grode-Cake Divas photo: Jen O’Sullivan

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A Claire Pettibone Couture Design Bridal Bouque by Krista Jon Couture Design

Wanda Wen (Founder - A Soolip Wedding)

Dresses by Claire Pettibone Couture Design

Sparkles In the Hills of Bel Air By Pamela Spyrs Wedding Cake by Cake Divas

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photos: Jen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan Photography

A SOOLIP WEDDING

Wanda Wen (Founder - A Soolip Wedding) with event producers Brooke Barnes Zipperman and Erica Jade Ahlin

he sun was shining bright as hundreds gathered at the Bel Air Bay Club for a day filled with A Soolip Wedding’s delights & delicacies. Stunning brides were walking through the crowds modeling elegant bridal dresses designed by Claire Pettibone. Concurrently, delicious wedding cake and decadent treats, created by Cakes Divas, were being savored and sassy specialty drinks were being shaken up by VEEV, a acai spirit while the beat of the Wayne Foster Band rocked the entire venue. Comments were overheard by brides-to-be saying, “I want those favors at my wedding”, “That floral bouquet by Krista Jon is stunning”, “Did you see that cake designed by the Cakes Divas? Amazing! ”, “I want Claire Pettibone to design my wedding dress. Her work is absolutely incredible!” “I want to plant a garden inspired by The Couple’s Garden for our wedding.” Love was in the air and there was no stopping these brides-to-be and future grooms from collecting every business card and tasting all the yummy delights from each perfectly created display. And speaking of displays, Krista Jon Couture Designs created some of the most exquisite ones I’ve ever seen utilizing Archive Vintage Rentals. Every flower was perfectly placed within each beautifully designed display, which was filled with her unique collection of vintage fixtures and accents. From antique couches, to rustic chairs and elegant vases everything looked picture perfect. (www.kristajon.com)

Love was in the air and there was no stopping these brides-to-be and future grooms from collecting every business card and tasting all the yummy delights from each perfectly created display professional photographers were running around clicking away and capturing the beauty of every moment enjoyed by the attendees. Attendees left with “re-usable brown bags”, provided by Bloomingdales, filled with multiple delights to indulge themselves in a pre-wedding haven. For more information on A Soolip Wedding go to: www.asoolipwedding.com

Healing Grounds Nursey ~ Certified Organic www.healinggroundnursery.com

Jen O’Sullivan Photography Display

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photos: Jen O’Sullivan Photography

Not a display, cake, nor flower went un-photographed. Jen O’Sullivan and her team of

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Lights Shine Bright on the Director’s Panel at SBIFF

BY Bianca Bagatourian

he sun shone brightly as I pulled up to the 26th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival which ran Jan 27th - Feb. 6th 2011, showcasing more than 170 films. What’s the difference between this festival and all the others? In Santa Barbara you can smell the salt air and feel the ocean breeze as you exit one beautiful dark theatre and enter another dressed in Spanish Colonial revival style architecture. I was also fascinated to learn that this city housed the world’s largest movie studio during the silent film era before the industry migrated to Hollywood. And here I was, driving back to Santa Barbara from Hollywood to watch films. I was joining Terri Melkonian, a Vice President at Sunset Gower Studios, and actor Dave Alpay along with Larry Laboe, founder of NewFilmmakers LA, for a weekend of fun and films.

We arrived just in time for the “Directors on Directing” Panel on Saturday morning which was this year once again moderated by former studio head, now Variety columnist, Peter Bart. Directors in attendance were Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), Charles Ferguson (Inside Job), Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone), Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech), David O. Russell (The Fighter) and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3). Quite an impressive bunch! As the questions got under way, they wavered between the personal and the professional. At one point, Bart focused in on how most of the films were made on lean budgets, except for Toy Story 3! But the consensus among all seemed to be that the smaller the budget, the more freedom the directors are given. Ferguson noted that he had budget restraints for the Inside Job, however he was blessed with being given “final cut”. He saw this as an invaluable facet because he was able to retain control over his vision for the film, regardless of budget. Hooper, who made “The King’s Speech” for 14 million, a very good budget for a British production, noted that, “You’re under a lot of scrutiny when you’re working with a good budget.” This U.K. film is about the profound stammer suffered by King George VI before his

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accession to the throne. Interestingly enough, the idea to make The King’s Speech came from Hooper’s mother. “I happened to know about it only because my mother is Australian, and she was invited along by some Aussie friends to a theatre in London to see a reading of an unproduced play. It was called The King’s Speech. And my mum had never been to a play reading in her life.” His mother then called her director son telling him she found his next movie. In this case, it shows that mothers do know best! Debra Granik, who shot the critically acclaimed Winter’s Bone on an independent budget of $2 million added, “In the independent film world there’s a huge transformation. I don’t think the same issues of dealing with huge sums of money and wondering if they’re going to lose their shirt because someone is afraid that the story will only appeal to women apply. It gives you way more freedom. You’ve got your close colleagues - who’s not supporting you? You have to go with people who want to go with you.” David O’Russell told of his experiences of working with a tight crew and the added blessings from the citizens of Lowell, Massachusetts where the story is set. “These people’s lives are changed by this. It’s a beautiful thing for them and that’s all I can ask for. I am so happy people like this movie. I am so happy the people of Lowell like the movie!” Initially, actor and producer Mark Wahlburg had given The Fighter to Darren Oronofsky to direct. After making The Wrestler, Oronofsky said he wanted to now make a different type of movie “something totally different, a story about ballet. The Fighter was too close to The Wrestler for me and I didn’t want to do another film like that right away again” he added. He then passed the script on to David O. Russell and said “the movie that David made is different then the movie I would have made, so it all worked out at the end for David.” Unkrich, whose film “Toy Story 3,” the third animated feature in the history of the Oscars to be nominated for best picture, said he was very honored that the festival had the wisdom to put an animation director on the panel! He didn’t always feel this way though, during the laborious production of the successful Pixar franchise, “I woke

up for one and a half months throwing up every day because I was scared I was going to be known as “the guy who made the crappy sequel.” Funny coming from someone who developed such a sharp storyline. Unkrich noted that he spent two and a half years working on the story. “I mean, we were designing the world and taking care of many other things too, but the story was the main focus. So when you have that much time, the little call backs, seeds that were planted earlier, the richness of the story, it happens slowly over time. If you want the audience to feel a lot of emotion at the end of the film, you don’t get that for free. You have to go back and find the perfect scenes to insert the germs of the ideas and nurture them. On the other hand, the danger with working on something too long is also that it can become a mess!” 2010’s best pictures also nurtured very memorable performances. When I asked Aronofsky if he was surprised by the success of Black Swan, he said he was absolutely thrilled. “I don’t push actors. I remind them to remember why they started acting,” he commented. Aronofsky was responsible for guiding Natalie Portman’s physical and internal transformation in “Black Swan.” With only half the budget he was looking for (13 million dollars) and a breezy shooting schedule, the director fought for the audience to believe that Portman, who trained for close to a year, was in fact a trained ballerina. This is no small feat. David O’Russell spoke about how he liked to go against type casting when it came to actors. “When casting Christian Bale, I knew that he had never played this type of outgoing persona. But Bale just disappeared into the character.” We also discovered that originally, Matt Damon was to play Christian’s character and he opted out due to a scheduling problem. Towards the end, Bart asked a funny question about the length of Oscar speeches and the endless names that get mentioned to which Charles Ferguson, director of The Inside Job, quipped, “I must give thanks to Sony Picture Classics for not being loose with the dollar which kept our crew very small which makes it very easy to thank people because there’s not that many people to thank!” Debra Granik pointed out that “collaborative” might be the operative word “A film by -” I don’t appreciate that term. One time I saw a film where in the credits it said “Film by” and then there was a colon after which appeared the names of everybody that had been involved in making that film. That felt appropriate. That felt real. There’s not a filmmaker that makes a film alone. When asked about award speeches, Granik added, “It’s a gratitude that hurts. You spend a year trying to give it back. The thanks comes from this kind of desperate attempt to pay it back. Your emails are always scrambling for the right words. It’s an awkward position to be in.” Hooper felt it was appropriate to thank so many people as there are those that never get the chance to be on stage. And O. Russell concluded with, “I want to thank a gazillion people. Even though when I’m watching, I know I glaze over that part. I just want to speak from the heart and let those people know that I love them. I always try to remember that but end up having more of a spontaneous reaction.”

stage. If you looked above, there was even a painted sky with sparkling stars – giving you a feeling you were sitting in the outdoors! And when I looked ahead, it was pretty amazing for me to see Nicole Kidman walking down the red carpet, looking as beautiful as she does on screen. Although she looked incredible in her dress, I felt bad that she had to juggle a swarm of reporters in the brisk, Santa Barbara night air. With the festival recognizing her with the Cinema Vanguard Award and riding off her acclaimed, heart-wrenching performance in “Rabbit Hole,” I asked Kidman what it was like to work on a film that was adapted from a stage play and how the process was different. “We were very fortunate in the way that David Lindsay-Abaire had written the play so that it made it easy to adapt and he knew exactly how to open it up for the cinema, which is unusual that it would happen so fluently. He had it in his body, his mind and his soul. So whether he was doing it for the stage or the screen, it didn’t matter. He knew how to do it.” At the final awards breakfast on Sunday morning at the famed Fess Parker Doubletree Resort, eleven winners were announced, each taking home $2500. Added to the six celebrity-night tributes — which included Annette Bening, James Franco, Geoffrey Rush, Nicole Kidman, 14-year old Thousand Oaks acting phenom Hailee Steinfeld, and director Christopher Nolan, the festival really out did itself in the rich and multifaceted line up this year. Before I left, I had the opportunity to speak to some spunky new filmmakers, Molly Stroud and Lauren Parsekian, whose film “Finding Kind” had a world premiere at the festival. This film was initiated through their middle school experiences and they thought the documentary format was right for this project. They traveled around the country and went to High Schools to talk to girls about women issues and female relationships, bullying, and how girls treat one another. “Our film definitely focuses on girls and the feeling that goes on between females. Our hope is that people walk away, both men and women, with a broader message for human beings to be kinder. We’re living through some tough times right now and we really need to band together and realize we’re not as different.” What a great message! You can learn more about their fascinating project at: www.findingkind.com. A common thread of advice given to new filmmakers was that like “Finding Kind,” the story you tell must be a personal one for it to stand out. Darren Aronofsky said it best, “As a first time filmmaker, make a film that only you can tell. That’s the big secret, tell your own stories. Because that’s all you have to offer. Each time you try to tell a story from the middle – it rarely works.” Debra Granik, director of “Winter’s Bone” suggested that New Filmmakers “should be doing something in a place you know well or a place that intrigues you. Just go for a story that you can use a huge amount of a physical environment to fill out the richness and the details of the story.”

As the questions came to a close, it occurred to me what a grind it must be for some of these guys to appear on panel after panel, answering the same questions during awards season. In fact, a running joke emerged between Aronofsky and Hooper. Aronfosky said that he and Hooper had been on so many panels together that they can play each other and answer one another’s questions! And they made jocular quips throughout, impersonating each other.

The festivals closed with the world premiere of Georges Bizet’s popular opera 3D viewing of “Carmen in 3D” directed by Julian Napier, the first time an opera has been filmed and shown in state-of-the-art digital 3D, co-produced by the Royal Opera House. The film was shown in the historic Arlington Theater, yet another beautiful theater in the heart of historic Santa Barbara. For more information on the festival, visit www.sbiff.org. For information on New Filmmakers go to: www.newfilmmakersla. com.

Later that evening, the big event took place at the Lobero Theater with it’s gorgeous interior reminiscent of a classic Opera House with cozy box seats overlooking the

Bianca Bagatourian is a playwright and producer currently living somewhere on the west coast. www.biancabagatourian.com

photo: Georgia Gouvalari

Sustainable Fashion Hits The Red (Green) Carpet 2011 Red Carpet Green Dress Revealed By PAMELA Spyrs

he winning “Red Carpet Green Dress” was revealed and it’s sustainably gorgeous! Suzy Amis Cameron (Founder) officially unveiled the winner (Samata Angel) – and her design – at the red (green) carpet 8th annual, star-studded Global Green pre-Oscar® party held on February 23, 2011. The event was held in the electrifying chic Avalon Theater where people danced the night away in support of finding solutions to climate change. “We must all work together to find solutions to climate change. I started Red Carpet Green Dress not only to benefit MUSE School CA and MUSE Global, but to show that sustainable design can also be beautiful. All of us wear clothing, and buying clothes that aren’t energy intensive and don’t use toxic dyes is one way we can reduce our impact. Samata Angel’s incredible gown is proof that exquisite design and sustainability can come together,” said Suzy Amis Cameron.

nominee Lucy Walker (Wasteland). Global Green also unveiled their Model Carbon City Index tool. A first of its kind Web tool, it is designed to benchmark cities efforts to reduce carbon emissions and motivate citizens to advocate for smart climate policies at the local level. “Cities account for 70% of carbon emissions worldwide. The Carbon City Index will create an engaged group of activists that hold public officials accountable for their city’s carbon emissions and drive lasting and impactful greenhouse gas policy changes across the U.S.,” said Matt Petersen, Global Green’s President and CEO.

The Red Carpet Green Dress contest (www.redcarpetgreendress.com) is an international competition, benefiting MUSE School CA and MUSE Global, to create a dress made of sustainable materials. The 2011 winner, Samata Angel, a London-based fashion entrepreneur was flown to Los Angeles to have her own model walk the “red” (green) carpet at the Global Green pre- Oscar® party.

Celebrities walking the Green Carpet were some of the first to try The Carbon City Index, a model carbon pollution index for the city of Los Angeles. The City Carbon Index is envisioned to be similar to the Smog index, however, in addition to grading Los Angeles on its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Global Green is launching a campaign for Angelenos (and citizens in cities across the country) to advocate for smart climate policies within their own cities while changing their own behavior to reduce carbon pollution. Since cities are responsible for more than 70% of global warming emissions, cities are a critical solution to our climate crisis and help promote the initiative to a global audience.

2011 Red Carpet Green Dress winner Samata Angel said, “It has been an honor to walk the green carpet with Suzy and James, two environmental pioneers who are an absolute inspiration. To have an incredible model, Aine Rose Campbell-He, wear the dress was the icing on the cake. The Red Carpet Green Dress experience is a dream realized. To design a gorgeous dress made entirely of sustainable silks and dyes, and see it in this glamorous Hollywood setting, is truly a memorable moment in my career.”

For the second year, Global Green USA featured the new Chevy Volt electric vehicle with extended range. While some celebrity guests were driven to the event in Chevy Volts, all celebrity guests were treated to an up-close and personal look at the vehicle alongside the green carpet. The Chevy Volt is an electric car that offers a total driving range of up to 379 miles. With a full charge, the Chevy Volt can provide between 25 – 50 miles of pure electric, emissions-free driving.

Suzy and James Cameron spoke about their passion for creating green schools and healthy learning environments for kids. The Red Carpet Green Dress competition supports MUSE Global and MUSE School California, a non-profit Amis Cameron founded along with her sister, Rebecca Amis, to provide resources to partner schools around the world. This includes assistance for basic school operations, curriculum development, and nutritious lunches for every student.

Additional featured event sponsors this year included Planters that debuted their biodiesel powered Nut Mobile, Pureology which is also sponsoring Global Green’s National Green School Makeover Competition as well as LA Car Guy, 360 Vodka, Caroma, Essentia, Newton Vineyard, Arta Tequila, Office Depot, LAcarGuy, Play Outdoors, Revo, Kiehl’s and Sunset Marquis. In-Kind Sponsors include PopRule, Slate PR, Strauss Radio Strategies and Clean Agency.

More than 1400 people were in attendance at this star-dazzled event featuring musical performances by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Best Coast, and Portugal. The Man. “Greener Cities for a Cooler Planet” was the theme of the evening, which benefited Global Green’s initiatives to promote smart solutions to climate change by creating healthy, green communities.

Global Green USA, the American arm of former Soviet President Gorbachev’s Green Cross International, was founded by Diane Meyer Simon in 1993. For the past seven years, Global Green has collaborated with the Hollywood community to raise global awareness of Smart Climate Solutions. This includes, but is not limited to celebrities driving green cars to the Oscars, to creating affordable green homes and schools, buying green products, and voting for green political leaders. Global Green is the only national environmental group headquartered in Southern California and has offices in New Orleans, New York City and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www. globalgreen.org

Celebrity supporters in attendance included James & Suzy Amis Cameron, Maggie Grace, Roland Emmerich, Alison Brie, Radha Mitchell, Dennis Haysbert, Enrique Murciano, James Van Der Beek, Frances Fisher, Daphne Zuniga, as well as Oscar

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Designer Samata Angel, winner of 2011 RCGD and model Aine wearing the winning dress designed by Angel.

Director/Producer James Cameron

Photographer & GG USA Board member Sebastian Copeland, actress Suzy Amis Cameron, director/producer James Cameron, CEO of GG USA Matt Petersen, and actress & GG USA committee member Alison Brie

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photos: Brandon Hickman

Founder - RCGD Suzy Amis Cameron, 2011 RCGD winner Samata Angel, and model Aine

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“THE KING’S SPEECH” RECEIVES ROYAL TREATMENT 2011 OSCAR® WINNERS & HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 83RD ACADEMY AWARDS® BY Pamela Spyrs

he 83rd Annual Academy Awards® held on Sunday, February 27, 2011 was an entertaining escapade filled with satisfying surprises and anticipated moves. James Franco and Anne Hathaway, the two young hosts of the show, were dressed to impressed and lead the festivities by bringing in a bit of novel humor to the evening.

The show opened with co-hosts Hathaway and Franco inserted into a montage of scenes from best-picture nominees, built as a series of dream sequences reminiscent of “Inception”. The footage included such guests as Morgan Freeman and last year’s Oscar co-host Alec Baldwin. Franco started off telling Hathaway how beautiful she looked. Hathaway shot back with, “You look very appealing to a younger demographic, as well.” The Oscar results were, on the most part, predictable and the winners well deserved. Some saying the results weren’t much of a surprise. Bringing home a nice group of gold statuettes was The King’s Speech, clocking in with four wins. Melissa Leo (The Fighter) was the favorite for Best Supporting Actress, despite her fierce competition she ended up with the award. Appearing completely stunned, Leo fought back tears as she delivered her out of the ordinary acceptance speech. At one point, she looked up in awe and said, “Golly, there’s people up there too?” Christian Bale walked away with Best Supporting Actor for his dynamic role as the crack-addicted, has-been boxer Dicky Eklund in The Fighter. Bale thanked many, including his daughter, as he said she “has taught me more than I can teach her.” Natalie Portman was presented with the award for Best Actress for her riveting performance as Nina in Black Swan. She was blissful, accepting the award tearyeyed, as she took the time to mention the unsung heroes that assisted her in the role that she knocked out of the park. Portman paid tribute to her fellow nominees by saying, “Thank you so much. This is insane, and I truly, sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees. I’m so in awe of you.” For Best Actor, Colin Firth rightfully took home his well-deserved Academy Award for his leading role in The King’s Speech. No surprises here and not too many people wanted one. Firth played the stuttering, unsteady, sympathetic King George VI to perfection. “I have a feeling my career’s just peaked,” Firth said as he accepted his award. “I’m afraid I have to warn you that I’m experiencing stirrings somewhere in the upper abdominals which are threatening to form themselves into dance moves.” Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and David Fincher (The Social Network) were the top favorites for Best Director, but Hooper swept the award away that night. Out of the many thanks he gave, he acknowledged his mother for influencing him to take on the task of directing The King’s Speech and ended his time on stage saying, “The moral of the story is listen to your mother.” The race for Best Picture was a close match between the two main heavyweights—The King’s Speech and The Social Network—though there was no real lock in this category. The King’s Speech, though having lost the Golden Globe® Best Motion Picture Drama to The Social Network, was crowned best picture making it night of royalty. And that’s a wrap! See you at the Oscars® next year – You’re Invited!

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Winners and Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards® Best Picture “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers

Animated Feature Film “How to Train Your Dragon” Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois “The Illusionist” Sylvain Chomet

“Toy Story 3” Lee Unkrich

Art Direction

“Alice in Wonderland”  Production Design: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”  Production

“The King’s Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan Gareth Unwin, Producers “Inception”  Production Design: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers “Winter’s Bone” Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role Javier Bardem in “Biutiful” Jeff Bridges in “True Grit” Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”

Colin Firth in “The King’s Speech” James Franco in “127 Hours”

Actor in a Supporting Role Christian Bale in “The Fighter”

John Hawkes in “Winter’s Bone” Jeremy Renner in “The Town” Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right” Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech”

Actress in a Leading Role Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right” Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole” Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone”

Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”

Actress in a Supporting Role Amy Adams in “The Fighter” Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech”

Melissa Leo in “The Fighter” Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”

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Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat “The King’s Speech”  Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr “True Grit”  Production Design: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Cinematography “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique

“Inception” Wally Pfister “The King’s Speech” Danny Cohen “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth “True Grit” Roger Deakins

Costume Design

“Alice in Wonderland” Colleen Atwood “I Am Love” Antonella Cannarozzi “The King’s Speech” Jenny Beavan “The Tempest” Sandy Powell “True Grit” Mary Zophres

Directing “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky “The Fighter” David O. Russell

“The King’s Speech” Tom Hooper “The Social Network” David Fincher “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Documentary (Feature) “Exit through the Gift Shop” Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz “Gasland” Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic

“Inside Job” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs “Restrepo” Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger “Waste Land” Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Documentary (Short Subject) “Killing in the Name” Jed Rothstein “Poster Girl” Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block

“Strangers No More” Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon “Sun Come Up” Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger “The Warriors of Qiugang” Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Film Editing “Black Swan” Andrew Weisblum “The Fighter” Pamela Martin “The King’s Speech” Tariq Anwar “127 Hours” Jon Harris

“The Social Network” Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Foreign Language Film “Biutiful” Mexico “Dogtooth” Greece

“In a Better World” Denmark “Incendies” Canada “Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)” Algeria

Makeup “Barney’s Version” Adrien Morot “The Way Back” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng

“The Wolfman” Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Music (Original Score) “How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell “Inception” Hans Zimmer “The King’s Speech” Alexandre Desplat “127 Hours” A.R. Rahman

“The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song) “Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey “I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater “If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong

“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Short Film (Animated) “Day & Night” Teddy Newton “The Gruffalo” Jakob Schuh and Max Lang “Let’s Pollute” Geefwee Boedoe

“The Lost Thing” Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann

Sound Editing

“Inception” Richard King “Toy Story 3” Tom Myers and Michael Silvers “Tron: Legacy” Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague “True Grit” Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey “Unstoppable” Mark P. Stoeckinger

Sound Mixing

“Inception” Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick “The King’s Speech” Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley “Salt” Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin “The Social Network” Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten “True Grit” Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Visual Effects “Alice in Wonderland” Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi “Hereafter” Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojansky and Joe Farrell

“Inception” Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb “Iron Man 2” Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) “127 Hours” Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

“The Social Network” Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin “Toy Story 3” Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich “True Grit” Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen “Winter’s Bone” Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Writing (Original Screenplay) “Another Year” Written by Mike Leigh “The Fighter” Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson;  Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson “Inception” Written by Christopher Nolan “The Kids Are All Right” Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg

“The King’s Speech” Screenplay by David Seidler

“Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary)” Bastien Dubois

Short Film (Live Action) “The Confession” Tanel Toom “The Crush” Michael Creagh

“God of Love” Luke Matheny “Na Wewe” Ivan Goldschmidt “Wish 143” Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

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For the category Best Motion Picture of the Year, the Oscar® goes to “The King’s Speech” produced by Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin. Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Gareth Unwin accept the award during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards® from The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, February 27, 2011. photo credit: Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S.

Osca r® poses -winning dir e fo Award r a photo ctor Tom H o b s® photo from the K ackstage du oper, winne r credit : Rich odak Thea ring the live for Achiev ard H tr e arbau e in Hollyw ABC Tele ment in Dir gh / © A.M.P ood, CA S vision Netw ecting for w unday o .A.S. , Febr ork broadc rk done on uar y 2 a 7, 2011 st of the 8 “The King’s 3rd A S . nnual peech”, Acade my in “The le for his role a Leading Ro demy in ca or A l ct ua A nn an by rd A Performance ast of the 83 r dc fo ® oa ar br sc rk O 27, 2011. cepts the ision Netwo Colin Firth ac ring the live ABC Telev d, CA Sunday, February oo ” du King’s Speech Kodak Theatre in Hollyw the .S. Awards® from / ©A.M.P.A Michael Yada photo credit:

The live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards® from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 27, 2011. photo credit: Ivan Vejar / ©A.M.P.A.S

AND THE OSCAR® GOES TO... HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 83Rd ACADEMY AWARDS® 26

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Melissa Leo, Oscar® winner for Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in “The Fighter”; Christian Bale, Oscar® winner for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in “The Fighter”; Colin Firth, Oscar® winner for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his role in “The King’s Speech”; and Natalie Portman, Oscar® winner for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her role in “Black Swan” backstage during the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards Awards® from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 27, 2011. photo credit: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.

r” ighte e he F Theatr T “ n k i role e Koda th r his le fo s® from o R rting Award o p Sup cademy in a ctor nnual A A n by a 3rd A ance he 8 orm ast of t f r e for P broadc ar® k Osc Networ , 2011. e h t s 27 . n t o y i p r s acce Televi Februa .P.A.S e l a , BC unday ©A.M nB / istia ve A Chr g the li d, CA S el Yada n i o r du ollywo : Micha in H o credit t pho

ing for Performance by an Actress in a Lead Natalie Portman accepts the Oscar® ork during the live ABC Television Netw Role for her role in “Black Swan” tre in emy Awards® from the Kodak Thea broadcast of the 83rd Annual Acad 2011. 27, ary Febru ay, Sund CA , Hollywood . photo credit: Michael Yada / ©A.M.P.A.S

Colin Firth, Oscar®-nominee for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Helena Bonham Carter, Oscar®-nominee for Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Tim Burton, Javier Bardem, Oscar®-nominee for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Penelope Cruz,Michelle Williams, Oscar®nominee for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Busy Philipps, Deborra-Lee Furness, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry attend the live ABC Television Network broadcast of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards® from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA Sunday, February 27, 2011. photo credit: Richard Harbaugh / ©A.M.P.A.S.

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The DOGTOOTH Effect By Pamela Spyrs

ome say home-schooling children is a risk. It is a risk that has the potential to eventually isolate children from realities of the word. The hazards of home-schooling are tested in the uncompromisingly dark Greek comedy “Dogtooth,” about a family so dysfunctional it appears is if they are living in a far away land unknown to mankind. A controlling father (Christos Stergioglou) and his submissive wife (Michele Valley) forbid their three children to leave their gated home by keeping them captive and in constant fear of the outside world. The time comes when the son (Hristos Passalis) and his sisters (Aggeliki Papoulia, Mary Tsoni) begin to experience hormone-fueled feelings, which leads to some unusual exploring. The father attempts to handle the situation by arranging erotic relations between the boy and a “on loan” security guard (Anna Kalaitzidou), but the result is almost too detached to qualify as sexual. Another disturbing angle of the film are the numerous lies and distorted definitions that make up the children’s educational program. They’re taught to bark like dogs, to fear “man-eating cats” and another brother that remains unseen throughout the film. Their lessons include listening to tape recordings, which teach them an alternative vocabulary. It has been stated this quite possibly is the most obscure film to receive an Academy Award® nomination. Though this 2010 nominee for best foreign-language film lost the Oscar to Denmark’s “In a Better World,” it may very well have a longer life span as a late night movie.

Oscar nominated actress Annette Bening (left), presents Yorgos Lanthimos (right), “Dogtooth”, with a certificate of nomination for the 83rd Academy Awards at a Foreign Language Film Award reception held in the Grand Lobby of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, CA on Friday February 25, 2011. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, CA. photo credit: Matt Petit/©A.M.P.A.S.®

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This film has had enormous exposure in multiple countries creating a strong bond filled with Hellenic pride within the respective Greek communities gaining an outpour of support worldwide. Its connection to the Greeks in Hollywood began when Dogtooth made its LA Premier at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival in June of 2010. “LAGFF took the film under it’s wing and believed in it’s Oscar® capability, when no one else did,” says Ersi Danou (LAGFF Co-Founder).

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Hair Oribe’s hair products have a celeb-cult following. This super moisture masque leaves your hair in A+ fashion. p A rich indulgence! $59 – oribe.com *Available at Wal-Mart for $3.99

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The always beautiful Shay Mitchell from CW’s Pretty Little Liars enjoying the 100% natural, air-popped chip’ins.*

*A celebfavorite!

Hallelujah for this divine Carrot Butter cleanser The organic option for a flawless face. This honestly leaves your face soft and hydrated without any harsh chemicals! Approx. $40 -- www.theorganicpharmacy.com

......Step out in Spring Style Ladies! milk & honey shoes can design any pair of shoes your happy feet desirep Just visit their site and be walked through the simple process of designing fabulous shoes Prices start approx. $200 – milkandhoneyshoes.com

photo: INSPYRS Photography

Getting To The Heart Of Your Health By Sharon Spyrs Personal Trainer Sharon Spyrs with her nine-month old Boxers, Rocky & Balboa.

he heart is your most important organ. It keeps the blood moving through your body and helps your body to run efficiently and smoothly. The heart controls the supply of oxygenated blood and the elimination of carbon dioxide. If your heart is not functioning properly the health of your whole body is in jeopardy. Having a healthy heart is imperative to having a happy and healthy life. Keeping Your Heart Healthy One of the best things you can do for your heart is to maintain a proper diet. The foods we eat have a huge affect on our hearts health. I highly recommend eating fresh vegetables (green veggies are best), fresh fruits, heart healthy whole grains and raw almonds and nuts. Fish such as salmon is another heart healthy food that contains omega-3. Soy protein has been found to be heart healthy and is said to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Other recommendations that are said to be good for the heart include green tea, dark chocolate and berries. Positivity = A Happy Heart Another way to keep your heart healthy is to have a positive outlook on life. If you have a healthy physiological system in place it will go a long way in ensuring that you have a healthy heart. One way to do this is to make a habit of doing things you love to do and doing them on a regular basis. Exercise Leads To A Healthy Heart Regular exercise is a great way to keep your heart healthy. Exercise helps to get your circulation going and increase your metabolism. If you are not accustomed to exercising start off easy and slowly increase it. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to overdo it and injure yourself so pace yourself. Taking a nice walk is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature while giving your heart some good exercise. A good walk will invigorate your body and help you to feel energized and confidant. I take my 9-month old Boxer puppies, Rocky & Balboa, for a brisk walk daily, which is great for all three of us! Exercise of any kind that gets your heart rate going will be beneficial. Find something you enjoy doing. The key to success is consistency and routine. Make it fun and keep it going!

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Cross-Cultural Relations: Dating Versus Mating By Laura Wilhelm

“I look at you and I love this country.” “If I said hello to you in Korea, would your husband kill me??” “I stopped drinking to watch a beautiful woman!!” “It is impossible to fall in love and stop smoking at the same time.”

tatements such as these have caused friends to wonder just what books my students were using to study English. The universal language of love often crosses cultural boundaries with results both comedic and tragic. We must keep in mind that Valentine’s Day isn’t an occasion for kisses, hearts, roses, declarations of love and promises in every country. The terms “dating” and “mating” in my title can be understood both literally and figuratively. Cross-cultural relationships are frequently formed “out of context” on vacations and in structured environments such as study abroad programs. People meet far from home in relative isolation and romance flourishes. Love for a new country and its language and culture may spill over to its inhabitants and vice versa. Ruba Nadda’s 2009 film CAIRO TIME wistfully portrays the sort of intimacy that can develop in an exotic environment between strangers who are unexpectedly thrown together by circumstances beyond their control. While the “dating” phase can be quite delightful, “mating” may not occur in many instances owing to interference from one or both native cultures. These unions may end abruptly when reality hits from the rest of the “family.” Often we find that norms in American culture are considered immoral or even illegal in other countries. My observations are based mainly upon my experience with Middle Eastern, Asian, Mediterranean, Eastern European and Russian individuals and nations. I have had productive cross-cultural business connections severed practically overnight for similar reasons. The individuals in question were perhaps atypically open-minded about collaborating with Americans. However, they opted to deal with members of their own culture instead of me when hard choices had to be made. These situations can be very trying when one has invested substantial amounts of time and money in cultivating the business relationship. They require great maturity and patience to mend if indeed this is possible at all. American women may not realize how well protected they are until they work for international employers. The sort of fraternization and sexual

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harassment for which we theoretically have zero tolerance in the USA are unfortunately all too common elsewhere. In such cases employees should rigorously assert their rights regarding universal professional standards. Sexual assault often occurs as a result of misunderstandings and mixed signals generally. Linguistic and cultural barriers can magnify these difficulties considerably. People who live and work across cultures are therefore advised to be extra cautious about contacts with the opposite sex and to become familiar with local norms. Etiquette concerned with embracing and kissing, making eye contact, and touching varies significantly from country to country.

While the “dating” phase can be quite delightful, “mating” may not occur in many instances owing to interference from one or both native cultures. These unions may end abruptly when reality hits from the rest of the “family.

As a rule it is best for women to refrain from meeting or riding with men alone in unfamiliar settings even on public transportation such as taxis. Selfdefense training is especially desirable for locations where native language proficiency is low. None of this evokes a rosy Valentine’s Day view of human affairs. However, I have always believed that truth goes hand in hand with love. Nothing fulfills us like the right relationships with the right people. Loving oneself enough to be honest with others and insist upon what is right anywhere in the world is truly a kindness to all concerned.

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The Four Seaons Resort, Punta Mita... A Mexican Sanctuary Bathed In Unsurpassed Splendor and Enchantment BY Jenny Worth

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he Four Seasons Punta Mita sits like an ocean oasis at the base of a lush jungle blanketed with plant life in every hue of green. This Four Seasons resort is in a word, perfect. And it’s not a word I use loosely, if ever. This celebrity hide-away is as impressive as its 2,718-acre shoreline. It is fringed with over nine miles of pristine white sand dotted with jagged lava rock formations. Located on the northern tip of the Bahia de Bandera, one of the largest bays in the world, the resort is nestled within the middle of a spectacular 1500-acre nature reserve. Adding to the community’s unspoiled beauty are the jungle peaks that decorate the Sierra Madre Mountains in the background. And while the jungle is huge and mystifying, every resort guest develops an intimate understanding of its exquisiteness as they travel along the perfectly paved road that leads to the ultra-private resort. If you travel there during the summer’s tropical rainy season, between June and October, the jungle will be even more abundant with flourishing plants and tropical flowers unique to the region. The rain typically stops in the early morning offering guests a sunny, warm day after the occasional awesome thunderstorm debuts late at night. With two Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses, acres of private beach, challenging surf spots, tropical atmosphere, decadent dining and an ultra-attentive staff, the Four Seasons Punta Mita attracts the most seasoned of luxury travelers worldwide. From the moment you arrive, luxurious vacationing begins. I traveled to the resort in August to discover for myself why it is considered one of the most coveted destinations in Mexico. The reasons are as broad as the smiles on the faces of the cheerful resort hosts who greet guests immediately upon arrival. Before even stepping out of the car, the welcome crew provided me with cool-wraps and water- a service I soon discovered is just one of many norms at this resort. Within seconds, my luggage was whisked away by a smiling man named Juan who declared he would be my resort ‘go-to’ guy for anything I needed. The lobby area welcomed me with its large and open pillared arches offering glorious views of the grounds and ocean. The word ‘relax’ seemed to whisper in the air as my eyes followed the expansive palmed palapas and flowering trees adorning the entire resort. Since I was in Mexico, I immediately acquired the no-rush or ‘manana-mentality’ customary among natives and envied by Americans. Naturally, it was the ideal time to enjoy a fresh strawberry margarita in the lobby; soon all lingering Los Angeles traffic congestion frustrations disappeared. While I immersed myself in my new leisure-land, Juan waited nearby until I was ready to hop into one of the resort’s many golf-carts to take me to my villa. Along the way I was given an enthusiastic explanation of the resort’s amenities and charms. But nothing compared to the spectacular ocean-front villa itself. Indeed, I quickly embraced the concept of “mi casa es su casa”

as I gazed out at my private patio with incredible views of the smashing surf and private cliff alcoves. It also boasted an oversized infinity whirlpool, plush lounge chairs and a swaying hammock ideal for observing the iguanas basking in the sun. The interior of the villa was equally impressive with a spacious living room, master bedroom, two bathrooms, loaded bar, state-of-the-art entertainment system and wireless Internet. That afternoon I set out to explore the resort’s massive and meticulous grounds. I headed off to the ocean front ‘Cuevas Beach’ to find clusters of private lazy day-beds on stilts with flowing white curtains on each side. Adding to the beauty is the tall cliff that protrudes out from the shore aptly referred to as The Rock. With waves splashing off its edges, The Rock offers an ideal romantic setting for dinners, receptions or a morning yoga session. In fact, later that night as I dined at the beachfront restaurant Bahia, I found out The Rock also serves as a unique place for wedding proposals. It seemed a bit invasive, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the torch flames that surrounded a private dinner table on The Rock where a man popped the big question (she said yes.) Bahia is a contemporary restaurant and bar set amongst the huge manzanilla trees that line Las Cuevas beach. The relaxed vibe of the grill makes enjoying a majestic sunset from your table even more divine. The menu offers a large selection of fresh fish and meat. And three times a week during the “catch of the day” program, guests have the option to choose their evening’s seafood entrée from a variety of fresh seafood caught that morning on a local fishing boat. The next evening I headed off to Aramara restaurant, famous for its exquisite Asian cuisine and fresh sushi, which magically combines tastes from the Far East and Mexico. Aramara offers both indoor and outdoor seating within a striking Zen-like interior. The spacious outdoor veranda bar doubles as the resort’s nightlife locale with live music five nights a week. Every exotic drink and Cuban cigar you can think of is offered in this upscale bar, including the best tequila known to margaritas. To soothe the following day’s hangover, I visited the Apuane Spa for my specialty Punta Mita massage. Si senor, it’s an all-over massage that uses tequila (more?..uh-oh), indigenous sage oil and Mexican healing techniques to soothe the body, mind, and hangover. The spa also offers a full-service hair and nail salon, and beach-side or in-room massages. The massage left me so rejuvenated and relaxed that the only feasible thing to do afterward was to jump on a raft and enjoy a leisurely ride down the Lazy River. This relaxing river flows with a gentle current and is a resort favorite among families with young children. However, if you’re trying to stay clear of kids, or to have a day off from your own, there are baby-sitters right on site! In fact, the resort offers an entire children’s play room with trained staff members to entertain and care for your youngsters. There is also an adult-only pool, bar and cabana area

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called the Tamai Complex. This ultra-luxurious area offers two main pools, whirlpool, and poolside cabanas with pillow strewn daybeds. I quickly got comfy in my poolside cabana complete with an impressive entertainment system, wireless Internet and a huge selection of DVDs for an afternoon movie. The cabana’s stacked refrigerator, large selection of fresh fruit, and friendly service from the restaurant staff didn’t hurt either. At the recommendation of my server, I enjoyed a hand delivered sushi lunch. And instead of dessert, I opted for a back massage under the pool’s waterfall. And just when I was convinced it couldn’t get any better, a masseuse from the spa appeared to offer everyone a complimentary mini-foot massage. This is of course in addition to the cool wraps and cold water offered to guests continuously throughout the day. It’s a tough life in the Tamai Complex. Indeed, so ‘tough’ that the guilt of mastering the art of self-indulgence got the better of me… it was time to exercise. With that in mind, I walked (no golf cart ride this time) over to the main pool to participate in the water aerobics class. It was led by an athletic woman who looked at my knowingly, yet firmly handed me pool weights and turned up the energizing disco music for an hour of ‘pool boot-camp.’ After the bittersweet session, I retired to my room feeling quite guiltless and rejuvenated.

years ago. It’s a remarkable private residence where celebrities can literally disappear from the public eye. No expense was spared when creating this haven which is separate from the resort’s other guest rooms and facilities. It’s nestled securely behind a huge walled-in gate accessible from a private street made exclusively for the suite. It also has 24-hour guards along with its own stunning private ocean front beach and large infinity pool that extends along its edifice.

Perfection suggests there’s nothing left to desire. And at one point it occurred to me that when everything you could possibly desire is at your fingertips, you’re left to actually wonder if there is really anything else that could provide even more perfection. In a quest to figure this out, I sauntered off to the beach and asked the waves for insight. I found it didn’t take long for them to answer. For within moments a smiling man came up from the shore with complimentary Haagen-Dazs ice cream selections. Chocolate or vanilla? Decisions, decisions! Alas, yes, I suppose there is a way to put a cherry on top of ‘complete perfection.’

Safety and seclusion is paramount in this resort. In fact, I certainly felt more protected within this sanctuary’s grounds than anywhere in Los Angeles. The irony remains that while the media screams that Mexico isn’t safe for travel, I was floating atop a little raft down the Lazy River sipping my pina colada, along with many other happy families. Cities such as Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita have had no violent instances and remain a safe haven in this beautiful region. With that in mind, make your reservations, pack your bags, get out your passport and bid your normal life adios!!

There’s virtually no reason to leave a resort that defines nirvana. Undoubtedly, that’s one reason huge celebrities such as Britney Spears and couple Tori Spelling and Matt Dermott from Home Sweet Hollywood escape off to Punta Mita when in need of a safe refuge. It offers a retreat from everyday demands along with as much privacy each guest requires. The Coral Suite housed Britney Spears and her family a few

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Should a celebrity or guest desire some activities off the premises, the resort’s bilingual concierge can arrange all the details. One popular activity is an excursion on the 55-foot yacht which guests may charter privately on a daily basis. The Italianbuilt ship beckons many guests to explore the beautiful Pacific Ocean coastline, seasonal whale watching and the enchanting islands near the property. Also available for ocean-loving guests is sailing, coral-reef snorkeling and deep sea fishing. And for those who prefer to stay on dry ground, there are guided hikes, historical tours, beach walks and tennis clinics. Within the resort you’ll also find great shopping, four restaurants, a fitness center, 24-hour business center, running trails, 24-hour on-site doctor or nurse and other daily special activities.

The Four Seasons Punta Mita is 40 miles from Puerto Vallarta; it’s about a onehour drive to the resort from the airport. For more information visit http://www. fourseasons.com/puntamita/ To call from America or Canada: (800)-819-5053. To call directly: 52-(329)-291-6000

Speaking Above The Star’s (The Voice of Reasoning)

Let’s Get Motivated BY Darwin Heard

reetings to all and its time for Doc Heard’s “Let’s get Motivated Segment”. I start this journey in beautiful downtown San Antonio, Texas enjoying the likes of the River Walk and the wonderful service of the Holiday Inn’s River Walk GM, Emily Everling who gave me the Celebrity Treatment during my stay. She displayed excellent quality’s to ad to my let’s get motivated segment in this issue. Emily wasn’t the only individual who extended me the star treatment in which I was also privileged to receive from Downtown San Antonio’s Manager, Oscar Soliz of the great restaurant Iron Cactus. He extended me a true “Star Status” welcome and the food was to die for as well as the amazing ambiance in which I truly recommend all of you to visit. Now it is time for us to challenge ourselves to accomplish our personal goals for a new beginning in 2011 where we all can win! I’m sure we all enjoyed celebrating February’s Black History Month so now it’s time to make some serious history of our own. There is no time for looking back and feeling sorry for ourselves because it is now time for us to get motivated. In my opinion getting motivated is an internal process that requires one to believe in the unbelievable fact that they can conquer whatever vision that comes to mind. Yes, Doc Heard is at it again making and setting goals for himself to repeat what he has done before in the past and I would like for you to join me in this chapter of “Let’s get motivated”. In the year of 1999 I am proud to say that I lost 102 pounds. Although I admit that I gained some of the weight back, I have set a new goal to lose 50 pounds for motivation to all my Star’s, Celebrities and VIP’S of today’s world. This task of getting motivated is no joke and we will all have to sacrifice things that we hold on to for dear life. Its time for us to block out the negative critics, comments and vibes that have come to contaminate our mind, body and soul. A good example is L.A. Lakers Star Status Guard “Kobe Bryant”. Bryant displayed a great way to

Strength for Tomorrow Though we all have been through Trial’s, Tribulation’s and difficult situations. We will never give up on Life’s Invitation because we have struggled, strived, scrapped, scratched and slid through impossible complications. We hold strong to God’s Power and Strength to Acquire the Most Wanted Dream “Success “within it’s own ramifications.

get started on getting motivated in the 2011 NBA All-star Game by winning his 4th MVP. He made history in the NBA sharing honors with the great Bob Pettit and Labron James thus lighting an inferno fire under his East Team by making a come back. The history he made topped the NBA’s best of Triple Double’s and also joined the list with the likes of Super Star Michael Jordan. Let’s all get fired up on their performance by taking our games to a new level! One of the best tactics that can be used during the journey of getting motivated is focusing on others accomplishments and using their success as a positive pathway for Self Confidence to achieve the sometimes impossible goals ahead. The December 2010 edition included my mission statement and it states “I am a firm believer that everyone is a VIP. Life is a journey full of creative possibilities and positive motivation is my mission possible and that is why I offer my gift from God. This will help individuals acquire that mountain top vision and the results for it is to achieve the experience of that “mountain top moment”. This very moment you should be excited because that mission statement is one of Darwin’s Creative Strategies also referred to in past editions. This is the perfect time to set new goals and go for the gold. Do not allow anything to get in your way especially yourself because we can be our biggest enemy at times. Obstacles are placed in many places but the obstacles of our own mind are the worst to encounter so get strong and continue to hold on. I spent many years of my life trying to figure out why people continued to throw the road blocks ahead of me and one day I realized that a lot of the negativity was planted in my mind but now I can see very clearly that the sky is truly the limit and we all can reach it, so please give it all you got. In the year 2011 Doc Heard invites all the Star’s, Celebrities & VIP’S to read this column as well as look back on past editions. If you really want to reach your best days when it refers to motivation you may consider hiring me as your personal, family, crews and for all events Motivational Consultant. Its time for a change that you will never forget so “Let’s Get Motivated” People. To all my Star’s, Celebrities and VIP’S of today’s world, I leave you with one of “Darwin’s Creative Strategies” poems. I ask that you take a journey back in time to see where it all originated from in the July 2010 edition. So let’s get motivated and pumped up for next month’s column entitled: Integrity A Lost Art. Written By: Darwin Heard Columnist for the Hollywood Weekly Magazine. Beverly Hills, CA Email: dheard@heardconsulting.com Phone: 312- 933-6635 Please direct all letters to: Heard Consulting Group PO Box 11353 Chicago, IL 60611

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Hollywood’s Pampered Pooches! Hollywood Weekly takes a look into a pet salon where Hollywood hounds are handled by a celebrity groomer. By Jenny Werth

Pineda’ with Domino.

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sparkling clean toy poodle named Domino modeled his brand new cut and spiffy groom on Hollywood’s famed Franklin Avenue a few days ago. Fashionable restaurant patrons and mid-day coffee sippers were quick to stop Domino for a quick pet or to hand him a tasty treat. Clearly Domino didn’t mind, with his tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth after his four-hour salon session, he seemed happy to relish in his new found stardom. Domino’s proud ‘mom,’ Romaine Cecilia, only trusts her six pound, six-year-old male toy poodle with the groomers at Tailwashers in hip Hollywood. “Only the best for my baby,” Romaine says. Luckily, it’s a ‘best’ that awaits all the dogs who find themselves in the hands of celebrity groomer Huber Pineda. Huber was chosen as Animal Planet channel’s ‘best groomer’ out of more than four-thousand applicants in 2009. It was a tough contest, but he came out the winner for his killer cuts and exceptionally styled grooms. But, despite this incredible honor and following star-status, he’s an incredibly down-to-earth man who says “I’m just an ordinary man living an extraordinary experience.” He’s often booked for many weeks in advance as Hollywood residents clamor to get their dogs into his busy schedule. He has to stay mum about whose celebrity dogs frequent the salon; he’s not one to tip off the paparazzi (refreshing, indeed). But, thanks to his amazing grooming capabilities and equal service extended to all his customers, we see tons of pampered pooches splendidly cruising the streets of Hollywood everyday. Dare we say that sometimes it even seems these pooches are better cared for than their owners? It could be…. but Pineda certainly doesn’t take all the credit for beautifully styled dogs himself. He assures everyone that all the groomers and assistants in the eco-friendly full grooming salon and self-wash facility are exceptional. The popular pet salon opened in 2003, is the brain child of owner Todd Warner. Pineda says Warner’s vision for the salon created something remarkable for dogs (and of course, their owners). “All our groomers here are trained to the same standard. We do have the best groomers in Los Angeles. That’s a fact,” Pineda explains. “Our high-quality products are what set us apart.” The staff only uses natural and organic shampoos and products such as the brightening shampoo by Nature’s Specialties. Pineda explains that this shampoo is a great whitening shampoo that removes stains and doesn’t irritate a dog’s eyes. There are many other holistic treatments available such as the blueberry facial which cleans and brightens a dog’s coat and the coconut wash which is a safe alternative to oatmeal for dogs with grain allergies. Who knew dogs had

grain allergies? At this salon all dogs (that are even-tempered) are cut with scissors as well as hand dried and hand fluffed. And here’s another star-studded achievement exclusive to this Hollywood pooch palace- it was chosen as the exclusive supplier for the Los Angeles Police Department K9 unit. Long time Hollywood resident and salon customer, Sherri says, “(The salon staff) are the world’s best groomers. They’re nice, terrific and wonderful. It’s just a great experience.” Indeed, all it took was one glance at Sherri’s just-groomed standard poodle, Max, to know she’s a secure source. It turns out that the six-year-old former show dog now works as a service dog by visiting patients at Cedars-Sinai hospital. For Pineda, Max is his friend. Add an incredible groom to Max’s friendly manner and you’ve got one more star-studded pooch. For Pineda it’s a true honor to have so many of Hollywood’s hounds entrusted to his care. “We know and understand that these are people’s babies. They are getting the dignity and respect they deserve,” Pineda explains. “We respect the fact that they’re being loved by a human.” Indeed Pineda has an impressive work ethic and a tender heart towards all animals. He said a pet owner is not simply an owner, but rather, a guardian. Naturally, all the true animal-lovers out there would agree. Tailwashers’ grooming prices vary with breed and style. But all grooms include a consultation, hydrotherapy bath with brightening shampoo, brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning, anal glands expressed, hand blow dry and styling, and a detailed report card on each pet’s grooming, dental and overall health. There are also self-wash stations where clients are provided with the tub, apron, shampoos, towels, dryer and treats. Prices range from $14 for small dogs to $20 for extra large pooches. In addition there are self-wash packages and we-wash services. And if you’re too busy to make it over to them, they will come to you in their mobile ‘Tailwaggins.’ The Tailwaggins’ van is completely self-contained and happy to groom your pet anywhere suitable for you. Keep your eye out for pet adoption dates. Tailwaggers is located at 1929 North Bronson Avenue in Hollywood. Visit www.tailwaggerspets.com for their online store and more information. Hollywood Weekly loves our pampered pooches! Please always treat animals with respect and remember they deserve our love and consideration.

Max, one Pineda’s favorite customers

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LA THEATRE BEAT BY STEVE ZALL AND SID FISH

It may not feel much like it yet, but Spring has finally sprung, and hopefully the climate will soon follow suit – but while we wait for fairer skies why not check out the fresh bouquet of shows blossoming forth at our local venues this month, including: “Re-Animator” tells the story of a brilliant young medical student who has created a glowing green serum that can bring the dead back to life. What should be a medical breakthrough results in hideous monstrosities and ghastly consequences, and his quest for fresh subjects results in the murders of half the faculty of the medical school. Book by Dennis Paoli, Stuart Gordon and William J. Norris, music and lyrics by Mark Nutter, adapted from the story by H.P. Lovecraft, and directed by Stuart Gordon, it runs through March 27 at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. For tickets call 800-595-4849 or visit www.steveallentheater.com.

“The Birthday Boys” Set in 2006 Iraq, this is a gritty and terrifying dark comedy that tracks three United States Marines who have been taken hostage, bound, and blindfolded, as they do whatever is necessary to keep their sanity, and stay alive. Written by Aaron Kozak and directed by Jacob Smith, it runs through March 27 at the NoHo Stages in North Hollywood. For tickets call 818-849-4039 or visit www. theatreunleashed.com. “Till Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3” Sister Maripat Donovan is now offering up her hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and Last Rites, including her own wacky version of “The Newlywed Game.” Each performance is unique and will appeal to people of all ages and faiths. Written by Maripat Donovan with Marc Silvia and

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directed by Marc Silvia, it runs through April 3 at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre in the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena. For tickets call 626-921-1159 or visit www.pasadenaplayhouse.org. “A House Not Meant to Stand” Cornelius and Bella McCorkle have returned home late at night from the funeral of one of their sons. Cornelius investigates some noises he hears upstairs, and discovers their other son, Charlie, having sex with his new girlfriend. While Charlie tries to comfort Bella, Cornelius frantically searches for some money which he believes Bella has stashed away, and soon a secret is revealed that changes everything. Written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Simon Levy, it runs through April 17 at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-663-1525 or visit www.FountainTheatre.com. “Broken Glass” In 1938 Brooklyn, Sylvia is obsessively following news accounts of events in Nazi Germany until she suddenly becomes mysteriously paralyzed. Her Jewish husband is regarded at work with increasing suspicion, and although he deeply loves his wife, they have never had sex, but Sylvia’s married physician finally breaks through her paralysis by reacquainting her with her own sensuality. Written by Arthur Miller and directed by Elina de Santos, it runs through April 17 at the Pico Playhouse in Los Angeles. For tickets call 323-821-2449.

“Our Town” Set in a small New Hampshire town in the early 1900’s, it’s a simpler time when people live their whole lives in the place they were born and everyone knows everyone else. Two neighbors grow up together, fall in love, and complain about things they don’t have without ever stopping to appreciate the things they do have. Written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Sabina Ptasznik, it runs March 11 through April 16 at the Sierra Madre Playhouse in Sierra Madre. For tickets call 626-355-4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. “Trio” Music, passion, madness, and one woman’s fight for her right to a career, are explored in this romantic comedy about the intense relationship between Robert Schumann and his wife Clara, and 21year-old Johannes Brahms. Written by Israela Margalit and directed by Rick Sparks, it runs March 12 through April 10 at the Lounge 2 Theatre in Hollywood. For tickets call 323-960-4412 or visit www.plays411. com/trio. “Wish I Had a Sylvia Plath” is a critically acclaimed comedy about tragedy as told through the character of Esther Greenwood, Plath’s semi-autobiographical heroin of The Bell Jar. It is a revealing and absurd interpretation of the legendary poet’s life in the moments before her death. Written by Edward Anthony in directed by Matthew McCray, it runs March 12 through April 17 at The Lounge Theatre in Los Angeles. For tickets call 855-585-5185 or visit www.roguemachinetheatre.com. “Private Lives” Two divorcees unwittingly book adjoining rooms while honeymooning with their new spouses. They soon realize the folly of their new marriages and escape together to Paris, only to be caught days later by their jilted spouses. Written by Noël Coward and directed by Andrew Barnicle, it runs March 15 through April 10 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. For tickets call 949-497-2787 or visit www.LagunaPlayhouse.com. “An Italian American Indian” A divorced writer with three teenage kids and a stoner for a best buddy believes he is being visited by chief Geronimo while

high on drugs, but gets worried when it keeps on happening again and again. Is Geronimo trying to save him from himself? Written and directed by Angelo Masino, it runs March 18 through April 9 at The 2nd Story Theatre in Hermosa Beach. For tickets call 310-374-9767. “Bonded” Sonny, Lily, and Jack, are the last remaining slaves on a crumbling, cash-strapped Virginia farm in 1820. When Asa, a “house boy” from New York, is brought in to help in the fields, repressed desires and memories of loss are unlocked, forcing Sonny and the other slaves to face their bridled passions and test the limits of the cruel world, as they know it. Written by Donald Jolly and directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, it runs March 18 through April 9 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Los Angeles. For tickets call 866811-4111 or visit www.thelatc.org. “Southern Comforts” follows the development of a December-December relationship between a feisty widow and a crusty widower who find love late in life. Written by Kathleen Clark and directed by Jules Aaron, it runs March 18 through April 10 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. “The Weir” When a group of hard-drinking Irishmen get together in a local pub on a stormy night, their amazing yarns prove to be both funny and spine tingling, until a mysterious young woman outdoes them, spinning her own haunting story of love and loss. Written by Conor McPherson and directed by Warner Shook, it runs March 18 through April 3 on the Julianne Argyros Stage at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. For tickets call 714-708-5555 or visit www.scr.org. So, while plucking some four-leaf clovers and cooking the corned beef and cabbage, be sure to set some time aside to treat yourself, your friends, and family to these wonderful delights our theatres are offering. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY 21

photo: Chris Evans

HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY

80 HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY