Death Race’s Max Ryan – Making a Career Playing the Villain and Making It Look so Easy!

Death Race’s Max Ryan – Making a Career Playing the Villain and Making It Look So Easy!

Landing your first part in a movie your first time out is a big deal, but landing your first role in a blockbuster starring Jet Li and directed by Luc Beson is a sign. Max Ryan has proven that he is and always has been a force to be reckoned with. He plays the villain in Death Race and has had major roles in countless other movies (Blackline, Dark Moon Rising, Kiss of the Dragon, League of the Extraordinary Gentlemen,The Box, Four Years Running, Craven Marsh, Thr3e, Attila the Hun, and The Corrupt).

An Interesting Fact…

At age 12, Max received his first motor cross bike. He had saved his money and his dad helped him buy it. “I started racing school boy motor cross, won my first race at 13 years old; it was my fourth official race.” After that he got sponsored and made it to the British championships in his teen years. After that Max transitioned to super bike and started road racing. “I love bikes and cars, how fast will the bike go, how fast will the car go … Ok, let’s go!” Max loves sports and pushing it to the limits. He’s a big skier and although he’s never skied in America, he laughs that when he skies, the question is “How fast can I go down this hill without killing myself!”

I understand there was a life altering incident that occurred while you were racing. Could you please share that with me?

I was on my race bike. I had a really big accident. You know most riders break a leg and a collar bone—most riders do—you fix it and you go back. I was about 30. I said that’s it, I’ve had enough now. I enjoyed my time, but I want to do something else. I thought maybe it was too late to start something else and I fell into this business (acting). I did a lot of print work and commercials then got bored with that. I thought if I can’t be an actor, then I’m going into property, also another interest of mine. My first movie audition wasKiss of the Dragon. That was the commencement and it set the precedence of who Max Ryan was to become.

Looks like you fell right into your destiny.

It was a real challenge. Thrust into that kind of world first shooting commercials and all of a sudden I’m being [thrown] around and beaten up by Jet Li, and cracking Bridgette Fonda around, I was like ‘damn I hope no one’s watching.’ And all of a sudden I start playing these bad guy roles.

So you have a few movies in production right now that have yet to be released.

Yes. The big one is Death Race for me right now. I’ve shot 4 studio pictures and they’ve been amazing. To stay in the studio system for any actor, to be really honest, it’s difficult. So you get asked to do independent films. And I’ve got three movies now that are in post production. They’ll be coming out next year. That’s the exciting thing. I’m actually the good guy in 2 of those movies.

Well that’s positive. (They both laugh) So we actually get to see you smile.

That’s going to be interesting for me even. They’re looking really sexy. By the end of the year all three of them will be finished.

So you were lucky… You know I’m not going to say lucky because that’s not a really fair term. People work hard and people call them lucky. That’s not really fair.

Yeah it’s been hell because I was living in England trying to get an agent or a manager. It’s like getting a hole in the head. It’s difficult. You walk into [an audition] and you’re either on it or you’re not. It’s a fine line between getting it right. But for me I put it out there. I really give it a good shot. I think I’m just a competitive guy. With the racing I kind of have it in my genes, my metabolism, my body and my train of thought that I want to be really good at what I do. That takes a lot of focus. It doesn’t come easy. It’s extremely challenging.

It probably takes a lot of energy I would assume.

It takes a lot of energy—emotional energy. Trying to hold a relationship down is really difficult. Telephone relationships have been difficult. It’s cost me a couple of relationships if you know what I mean.

So have you worked around that problem yet?

Not right now. I thought I cracked it but I missed—another chapter of my life.

So you mentioned that being a competitor has helped you land roles. Is there anything that you feel as an actor that you do that gives you the edge?

I am not good at auditioning. I don’t think any actor is good at auditioning, but I think I am particularly bad. I’m nervous. I don’t like being put on the spot. I’m Piscean rising star Leo with an element of Virgo. (Laughs) Don’t ask me why I know that! The casting part of it I’m not particularly good for, but some of the roles I go for they have that element of maybe nervousness or intensity about them so it kind of plays in my favor. This is a helpful message to any aspiring actor or actress: Whenever you get scene, make sure you have everything down in your head. Whatever the other character is saying, what you’re saying. You’ve got to put it down on tape. Find a location and make a film of it. Just make it short and sweet and bring it home. That’s what I did on death race. I was in Europe shooting this TV series and I got sent the sides. We shot it and it happened really quickly. It was just one of those things that was real. I was so excited. I got the offer with the tape. I didn’t have to come to America [to audition].

Tell me about your role in Death Race

I play an inmate named Pachenko who is a killer [Other characters: Jason Slatham, Tyrese Gibson, and Joan Allen]. Set in the future of America and it’s a high security penitentiary. He is sent to kill Jason’s wife and frame him. Jason finds out that it was Pachenko who killed his family. They end up on the race track. Pachenko is a neo-Nazi with tattoos and a mohawk. When we were doing the fight scenes there wasn’t much said because the atmosphere was really intense, and it comes across on camera. There are very intense moments. Even when I saw it, it was so silent and so powerful. It was really good stuff. I’m proud of this work. Everybody including myself worked really hard on this movie.

When you’re in the trenches of such a deep role like that, almost the anti-thesis of whom you might really be, do you find yourself actually becoming that role?

That’s a difficult question. The body goes through a big change. That’s number one because of my diet, training, costumes, and then I was branded with tattoos. I don’t sport any tattoos. So it does have some effect. I’m not a killer of course. But it becomes a very intense chapter in my life. In the audition, I was picked was because I got it down. Like I said it’s a fine line between getting it right and getting it wrong.

It seems like your aim has been dead on for most of your acting career.

I’ve done some great movies. For me it’s all about decisions. I know when I’ve done wrong. I just pick it up and make adjustments where needed. I make really big notes in my mind about auditions.

So what’s next for you?

I have three movies that I am currently the choice, and I want these movies to work out. I wish I could talk about them. They will not be the characters I have played before. One in particular is a really sensitive role. He’s an American icon and it’s a very intense drama, but a real life character, not fictitious. The script is really quite disturbing. The next six months are going to be interesting.

Highest High

The first job (Kiss of the Dragon) I got because it was my first movie. I hadn’t worked for 3 to 4 months. I had gotten offers to do commercials and print. And I said no. I have to stick to my guns here. And when that phone rang, I was like yeah there is a God! That was a real high. I called my mom and Dad. Mom started crying. It was wicked. I learned a lot from that movie as well. Luc Beson gave me some great advice and I still hold on to that today.

Lowest Low

I think I lost some movies because of myself. I am very outspoken. It’s not my fault it’s just the way I am. I went into this one audition. They wanted a big monologue and I completely flubbed it. It was a nightmare. And the casting director said ‘thank you very much.’ He didn’t even look at me. With 15 people in the room, I said ‘I just want to say something in my own defens—that was probably the worst read of my life.’ There was total silence. I used to beat myself down. Think about it for a few days [wishing I had done something differently]. Now I don’t audition unless I am really on it. You’ve got to love the competition and whoever gets the job is right for that part.

On Women

Like any guy I like beautiful women, but I’ve matured a little bit. I still want a beautiful girl, but now I want to know what’s in her head, what makes her tick. I’m in the industry so I attract people in the industry. I’ve met some beautiful women. Personality is really a big thing. The next five years I am looking forward to finding a woman and start a family. It’s just going to hit and it will happen.

A lot of actors have aspirations of writing and directing. Do you have any of those types of aspirations?

I’m a writer. I’ve written 2 screenplays. One of them won the Queens Spirit Award at the Queens Film Festival in New York, which was a huge step. I have a co-writer I worked with on the script for over 5 years. I am particularly good at writing action and dialog because of my background and I’ve read a lot of scripts. As a writer I have achieved something but I don’t think I would ever write again. It consumes your life. I only wrote something because I wanted to make it in the future and I want to star in it. I haven’t directed anything. I’m an actor right now and that is where I want to focus my energies. I don’t want it to take away from what I am currently good at.

To learn more about Max Ryan, visit his website atwww.maxryan.eu.

Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples

Alice Greczyn – Working Hard for the Hollywood Dream

Alice Greczyn lives the Hollywood dream. Unlike the young starlets who were discovered back in the 30s and 40s, most people struggle for years before they ever got that big break—and some never got that break their whole career. After filling out a card for a modeling agency at the mall with her friend on a whim, she received a call back. She modeled in and around Denver, Colorado, and then one day, a Los Angeles manager came to her agency and requested she come out for pilot season. Out of 300 rising talented aspiring actresses, Alice was one of the three invited to Los Angeles. She immediately booked a commercial and had a guest spot in a film. But don’t be fooled. This actress worked really hard for what she’s earned.

Since that first audition, Alice Greczyn has appeared in several movies including Dukes of Hazard, Shrooms, Fat Albert, and her most recent film, which was just released, Sex Drive. Greczyn’s first television show was the short-lived NBC series “Windfall,” playing the daughter of a lottery winner. She currently co-stars on “Lincoln Heights” where she plays Sage. I interviewed Alice in her brand new apartment in LA and I could see why she is one of those chosen few—she has that special indefinable something. Some have referred to it as the ‘it‘ factor. If she comes across half as authentic on screen as she does in person, then it’s no wonder why she’s come so far in such a short time.

Tell me about some of your recent roles.

I wrapped a film called Sex Drive which will be coming out I believe in October. The director was Sean Anders and he let the actors adlib a lot. I was working with a lot of good people: Clark Duke, Seth Green, James Marsden, Josh Zuckerman, and these guys are funny. And coming from Lincoln Heights where (understandably so) every word needs to be said exactly as written, it was really fun for me to go and be goofy and improv. I play an Amish girl, which was really weird because I so don’t look Amish, but whatever, if they want me for that, okay. It was a lot of fun. I filmed in Florida this summer. I was actually working during the writer’s strike so I was one of the lucky few.

The horror film I did is called Shrooms , and it’s about bad trips while on shrooms. That was my first horror film and that was just exhausting. It was fun. I thought it was a really cool idea and I had so much fun working on it. Plus I got to film in Ireland for 2 months. That was amazing and travel is definitely my favorite thing to do. If I’m not working I’m gone somewhere. That’s nice because my family travels too.

Looks like you’re really close with your family. Are they very supportive of your career?

Yes. I’m the oldest of 5 kids. My mom and my dad and our cat Gypsy. We all traveled a lot together and lived in very small quarters for a long time. So we’re very close. We were home schooled our whole lives. And since we moved around so much our whole lives, we pretty much just had each other.

That’s interesting about you being home schooled. You must have some kind of an edge to be able to book these roles. It seems like it’s happening for you rather effortlessly. Do you think that maybe your education (home school as opposed to traditional schools) is what has helped you get an advantage?

I can see both sides of the argument to home school or to not home school. I’ve had people ask me about it. “Oh I’m thinking of home schooling my daughter. What do you think?” For me it has definitely helped a lot. It’s made me very adaptable, very flexible, I was always told ever since I was a little girl, “Oh you’re so mature. You can speak with adults.” I only had adults! And then my siblings. It definitely made me very open minded.

Did you have any obstacles in pursuing acting?

The biggest obstacle was finding a place to live in Los Angeles. I always tell people get a place to live first. It took me about a year to finally decide I was going to do this. I had roommates and some of them just did not go well, and it’s very expensive to live here as we all know. Fat Albert was a job which allowed me to really cement here.

Auditioning is hard too—it’s exhausting. I don’t feel guilty now about the money I make or anybody else makes because it’s payback for years of work. It’s a fulltime job. During pilot season, I was going on 3 to 4 auditions a day, staying out all night, reading scripts, getting coaching, and driving all around. But then once you are working, it’s like a vacation. I’m focusing on one character, especially if it’s an ensemble cast that’s even better because then you have some time off, and then you can really develop more than having to fry your brain out trying to do too many things at once. Or there’s a flip side—You don’t audition enough and that’s just really discouraging.

Do you take a lot of acting classes?

I took acting classes for the first year and a half I came out and now if I’m having a hard time with a role, or I just want to sharpen up, there are a few acting coaches I see. I prefer to work more one on one as opposed to a class model.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I hope to still be doing films and call a little more of my own shots. I’d love to get married sooner than later I guess. I used to have a whole 10 year plan and honestly with this job, who’s to say. I have no idea. The industry could decide it’s done with me tomorrow. In 5 years I would love to have gone to massage school and be a license massage therapist. My dream would to be able to do one or two amazing films a year, travel with my family, do massage therapy, and cook and do all the things that I like. I’ve never been the type to want to just do one thing.

Maybe you’ll do those things with different roles.

Exactly! That’s the fun thing about acting. I can play different characters. I can travel through time. I can be an army nurse one day and the next day I can be a fashion model.

Highest High

I like being able to take my family on vacation. I was able to pay for them to come out here and go to Catalina Island for a few days. When I was a kid we didn’t have a whole lot of money and our vacations were camping. We literally lived in camp grounds without a house for quite a while. And there were a lot of us. So it was a big treat if we got to eat at the Cheese Cake Factory once a year. So it’s nice when they come out, we can splurge and go to the Cheese Cake Factory every night if we want. [I’d like to] help my siblings out with college. That’s probably my greatest high, being able to share it all.

Lowest Low

Anxiety attacks. This industry is not very friendly to the emotional psyche. It’s just very easy to get stressed out and spread too thin. I have to get away in order to come back. I can’t do what some of the people out here I’ve seen do. It’s just too much. I don’t know how I could go from one job to the next to the next to the next. Pilot season was a pretty low point for me. I was just ready to give it up. There’s nothing humane about it. Everyone just sees you as what they hope you’ll fit. But so many times, you get so rundown and you wake up in the middle of the night and you can’t go back to sleep [worrying if you know all your lines, etc…]. It’s hard to maintain friendships, much less personal romantic relationships when you’re in a job where you do have to travel. I’ve lost touch with so many people and it’s very difficult to maintain a healthy sense of sustained connection and love and support when you’re just exhausted all the time.

What advice would you give to someone who’s trying to pursue an acting career?

Logistically have a place stay if you’re going to come out here, whether it’s a friend or a relative. Save up a lot of money. Secondly, do not take things personally. Have a lot of back bone and a lot of self-discipline. You can’t be sleeping away your auditions. You can’t be lazy and show up on set and make everyone else mad at you because you were out late partying. Keep being inspired and that will get you a long way I think.

Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples

Showtime® Style 2006 Review

Showtime Style® 2006 Review

Page 1.

At the Showtime Style 2006 Retreat, celebrities like Angela Bassett, Darryl Hannah, Andrea Bowman, Kathy Hilton, Kristen Bell and Tichina Arnold were spotted testing products, getting treatments, and walking away with bags and bags of goodies, from micro-dermabrasion kits to cashmere hoodies to laptops to exquisite and exotic jewelry. Many enjoyed the spirits of Margarita King and Star Ice, and ingested the non-alcoholic inner skin treatments from Borba. I watched like a voyeur as other celebrity personalities got eyelash extension treatments and vacation packages to exotic lands. I went from booth to booth and decided that I wanted to know what these vendors, inventors, designers, and founders had to say. I tested, tasted, felt, and learned all about these fabulous products myself while my photographer followed me and captured the essence of the afternoon at the Luxe Hotel’s Penthouse Suite.
Barbara Moore with DPA, manned the only table that had products from vendors who could not be there, like Dove, and Lykovouno,FouFouDog.com – Designer Doggy Wear, and an assortment of other goodies. Showtime offered a DVD pack, which included several of their shows: BROTHERHOOD; LIZA WITH A Z; SEXUAL HEALING; and HUFF the second season.

Jennifer Chang of Kumi Kookoon graciously showed me her assortment of linens. I felt the soft silk and envied anyone who possessed one of these bedding sets.

“We do loungewear for the home, bedding, embroidered butterflies, slippers, eye masks, and we’re giving away drawstring pants for the Golden Globes. We’ve been in existence a little over three years, and we’re based out of Los Angeles. We sell all over the world—we have a big celebrity following. I used to be a CPA, and I just hated it. My mom used to be a designer, so I thought I would do something I liked with my life, and here I am. It’s amazing how fast the company has grown. Gwyneth Paltro, Halle Barry, Debra Messing, Adrian Brody, and the like call all the time to order stuff.”

–Jennifer Chang

To learn more, visit www.kumikookoon.com.

As I turned around, I almost tripped into a woman wearing a lab coat. She was applying a micro-dermabrasion treatment, Derma New, to a woman’s hand. I looked on as she skillfully swirled the white tool around. When she was finished, her patient’s right hand looked at least five years younger than her left—it was amazing to watch! Well, needless to say, I wanted to try it for myself, and as the clinician worked her magic, she explained the entire process to me.

“My husband and I created the concept out of our former Day Spa in Beverly Hills, called Dean Rhodes for Hair, Skin and Body, and we’re going to be six years old this year. We’ve taken the clinical micro-dermabrasion procedure and created a way for consumers to get the same results at home. The crystals from the machine are in a cream base, a very super anti-oxidant rich cream, and we’re working the crystal cream onto the skin with a battery-operated tool. Now, when we apply a moisturizer or toner, your skin absorbs it so much more naturally. It’s about getting clinical procedures and results at home without having to go to a clinic. We’re literally polishing wrinkles, fine lines, hyper-pigmentation, sun damage, acne scars, and we’re also reducing pore size. The kits retail starting at $80.00. For less than the price of one micro-dermabrasion clinically, you can have a whole 30-day supply at home. It’s really affordable, it’s very safe, very effective, and it’s for all skin types. We think micro-dermabrasion is for everyone, even those with sensitive skin because we’re able to uncover fresher, newer skin that may be clogged, or may be congested on the surface. There may be dead skin cells; there may be excessive oil production. It’s all about finding the right type of exfoliation. If you’re not exfoliating, you’re not taking care of your skin. Initially, use it every day for five days in a row, and then take five days off; and then it comes back into your regimen two or three times a week after that.

“There is a complete skincare system that complements each of the systems. For instance, the sensitive skin system has sensitive skin care that nourishes that newly resurfaced skin. There are nourishing skin systems for all types and other formulations that nourish hands and feet. We can be found at Sephora in the USA and France, Alta nationwide, select locations at Nordstrom on the West Coast, and we’re in fine salons and spas all over the world in twenty countries.”

–Amby Longhoffe

To learn more, visit www.dermanew.com.

After my treatment I turned to my left and was immediately drawn to this bag of gummy bears. You see I was starving. I hadn’t had anything to eat all day. So I plopped a few of those gummy bears into my mouth. They were delicious! Scott Vincent Borba watched me and smiled. Then he offered me some water to wash them down. Okay, I’m game. Delicious! I looked at the calorie count and was shocked to see a zero with tons of nutrients. The bottle of water alone practically filled me up. He then proceeded to tell me all about his product.
“Borba is the first ever, new critical skincare water. Every bottle has 4 million nano spears, and literally, as soon as you drink it and put it into your trachea, it goes 100% into your blood stream. It attacks not just your face, but your back, your chest, legs, wherever there are issues. When you drink the product, within seven days, drinking it twice a day, you’ll see a result. Everything is clinically proven. We’re the first water that actually hydrates you. We’re actually four eight-ounce glasses of water in one bottle. All your supplements and vitamins are in one. All of your skincare is in one bottle. The packaging was made by the same manufacture that makes Louis Vuitton purses, so you have that texture. There are no calories, no carbs, and no sodium. It’s 100% organic. So for people that never take care of their skin, you can drink your way to clear and anti-aging skin.
“We have many different formulations: Anti-acne formulations 62% reduction in 28 days twice a day; 30% reduction on fine lines and wrinkles; 66% increase of hydration. It’s great for eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, and sensitive skin; one for cellulite stretch marks; and it also burns calories, so you lose weight. Borba is great for before and after sun damage. Then we have topical products that synergize the benefits. So when you use the topical products along with the internal products, you’re getting a whole synergy. It’s literally communicating and breathing and allowing the two to synergize to make it heal faster. Then we have the first ever skincare candy, gummy bears and jellybeans, using the same technology as the other products. I am a gummy bear fanatic. They have half the calories of normal candy, and the more you eat, the better your skin looks. You can buy this at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Magnolia Bakery in NY.”

–Scott Vincent Borba

To Learn more, visit www.borba.net.

So are you getting the picture yet? Everywhere I turned, there was something exciting going on. And they were all things I really wanted and needed to know about. As I enviously passed the three cosmetologists giving manicures, pedicures, and facials, I forged ahead. I passed through the hallway, and to my immediate left were these gorgeous handbags. They looked very expensive and they were unique in their design. They were the Moonsus / Marsuscollection from Canada, and the line, which is only four years old, has already been covered in fifty magazines.
“A lot of women are looking for a stylish bag in the market. There are not many stylish but functional bags available in the market. The interior has a sleek lining, which is mostly for laptops. The fabrics are designed for water and stain resistance with Jaguar fabric, which is one of the most durable. The men’s line, Marsus, is created along the same premise. But they are in the style of a backpack, which is preferable for men. The fall line is with traditional black leather, and the lighter colors are for spring. And new accessories come out once a year. You can buy Moonsus / Marsus online, at high-end boutiques, and department stores. They retail for $250.00 – $390.00. They are a nice quality, nice design, and affordable.”

–Christine Kuo

To learn more, visit www.moonsus.com.

Showtime® Style 2006 – Showtime & DPA Present Luxurious Pre-Golden Globe Celebrity Suites

SHOWTIME® Style 2006

SHOWTIME & DPA Present Luxurious Pre-Golden Globe Celebrity Suites

Nathalie DuBois and Sharon Stone at DPA's Last Years' Emmys Suites

No dollar amount is too high, especially when it comes to our “A-list” celebrities. The cast of shows like “Desperate Housewives,” SHOWTIME’s “Sleeper Cells,” and even the French film “Joyeux Noël” are all prime examples of those celebrities who will be in attendance at the SHOWTIME® Style 2006. These lucky “celebs” will receive some of the most elaborate gift bags ever given for a single event. The gift bags total a whopping $40,000.00. The event is being held at the Luxe Hotel in Beverly Hills, January 14th and 15th.

Host SHOWTIME® has much to celebrate at this year’s Golden Globe® Awards. For the first time in the network’s nearly 30-year history, one of its original series received Golden Globe® nominations in two major categories—Best Television Series-Musical or Comedy and Mary-Louise Parker for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy forWEEDS. In addition, Elizabeth Perkins was recognized for her supporting role in the critically acclaimed comedy with a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Televisionnomination. Also, SLEEPER CELL was nominated for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.

In an unprecedented move, SHOWTIME® will distribute to celebrity guests some of the network’s most anticipated new 2006 original programs, including the new drama series BROTHERHOOD, and the remixed, re-mastered Bob Fosse 1972 landmark film LIZA WITH A Z, among other award-winning programming.

“SHOWTIME is hosting gift bags for the first time for a celebrity pre-Golden Globe Awards suite in partnership with my company DPA,” says Nathalie DuBois, its founder.

DPA was built specifically to strategize exclusively for people in the entertainment industry: everything from marketing to production to publicity worldwide.

When I asked Nathalie which celebrities had confirmed, she said she was only at liberty to say who had been invited. I guess that serves for the element of surprise. I am very curious to see which lucky celebrities will be in attendance.

Some of the invited guests are Sharon Stone, Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, directors and producers Charles MacDougal, Amy Winter, and Catherine Houston.

Nathalie DuBois, who is no novice when it comes to celebrity gift suites, has successfully brought together a staggering number of companies from across the globe to participate in this unique and extraordinary weekend event, and the list of companies is mind-boggling.

Designers:

Maggie Coulombe, a Maui-based designer who will be providing a multi-purpose wrap and a modernized traditional couture Japanese kimono. The New Zealand based clothing line, Untouched World, is gifting a vast array of clothing and beauty products made from botanical extracts found exclusively in New Zealand. Von Dutch will be premiering two new lines for men and women, in addition to their new line of sunglasses called Kustom Eyes, and their new energy drink. CO2, along with their their new line of Cashmere sweaters for men and women. And last but not least is J. Gerard, whose gift bag includes an Avanti Silk Brocade Jacket and one of their fabulous couture gowns.

Jewelry and Accessory Designers:

Jewelry and Accessories Lounge are Niessing, offering tension rings, as well as a necklace, valued at $3,700.00 to one of the guests; Energetix, a German-based jewelry line will provide gifts to the celebrities, and to their pets a magnet therapy pet tag. Fileena will present her as well as gift guests with one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art. Isis Jewels will also present their designs with a gift of jewelry. Goldenbleu will also be presenting guests with a variety of gifts, which include couture handbags. And finally, Moonsus/ Marsusfeatures their line of stylish but functional laptop bags, and Moonsus, the female line of laptop bags, will present each guest with a bag. Marsus, the men’s line, will also present our guests with a men’s laptop bag.

Spas and Salons:

Their Treatment Spa will present each celebrity guest with a gift as well as special in-house treatments, ranging from micro-dermabrasion to high-end manicures. Frederic Fekkai Salon and Spa will offer up-dos, blow-drys, and conditioning treatments for their in-house treatments, and they will also present each guest with their new Protein Rx PM Repair Strengthener, as variousFrederic Fekkai products. DermaNew, a new line of resurfacing cosmetics, will provide our celebrity guests with an Oxygen-infused micro-dermabrasion procedure, and a gift bag full of their products. In addition, Lucy B Cosmeticswill provide a variety of lip products such as Lemonade Lip Balm, and Lip Bar with celebrity make-up artist Patrick de Fontbrune. Varnish Nail will treat each guest to a manicure and pedicure with Champagne and Rose Petals, as well as 24K Gold flecked nail polish, and an assortment of other products. Borba skin care from within offers each celebrity guest a week’s supply of their Skin Balance Water and Gummies. Xtreme Lashes will provide a lash extension treatment to each guest, and they will also provide a lengthening mascara and curler. Kemado Body Opulence and Cosmetics, a line of ethno botanical cosmetics made from essential essences, pure extracts, and superior natural ingredients, will present guests with their vast array of products. FinallyBiotene, a line of French dental care, will provide a dental care kit in addition to a variety of products.

Vacations and Exotic Companies:

The Patio of Dreams will feature gifts ranging from silk linens from Kumi Kookoon to vacations from Pearl Resorts in Tikehau and Bora Bora. Kumi Kookoon, a line of fine silk linens, will give an expensive travel pack perfect for a long flight. And for selected guests, they will provide a complete set of bed linens. Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort and LeTahaa Private Island and Spawill present an exotic, elaborate vacation stay for selected guests.

SHOWTIME® Style 2006 Gift Table:

Gifts from Lykovouno, London Sole, Fou Fou Dog, Ting Bling and Bullies in a China Shoppe DÈcor. The Bar will include beverages from Badoit,Volvic, Han Asian Vodka, The Margarita King, Izze, Star Ice, and Dove Chocolate. Han Asian Vodka, Star Ice, The Margarita King, and Dove Chocolate will also provide gifts.

I guess the question is, “Are our celebrities worth all this extravagance?” The answer is yes. After all, kings and queens have had gifts bestowed upon them for centuries, so why shouldn’t our own brand of American royalty enjoy a taste of those same luxuries!

Written by Kaylene Peoples

Additional information provided by Nathalie DuBois of DPA.

12TH Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Talent Retreat

12TH Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Talent Retreat:
The Contributors

Backstage Creations, specialists in award show gifts, and custom backstage talent retreats, created the talent retreat for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, simulcated live on TNT and TBS Sunday, January 29th at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, 7:00 p.m., CT at 6:00 p.m. MT. Presenters were thanked for their time and participation by visiting the talent retreat during rehearsals, to select specific gifts from the following product lines offered by the participating companies:

Amouage combines the 2000 year perfumery heritage of Arabia with modern French perfume technology to create a unique product. Learn more by visiting: www.amouage.com.

Beverly Hills Physician.com is one of the largest plastic and cosmetic surgery practices in the nation. They specialize primarily in plastic surgery and host a large network of physicians and aestheticians in the categories of beauty and wellness. They provide highly trained surgeons, medical staff, spa-like facilities, and patient services. They have over 100 years of combined experience, and have a clientele base of over 15,000.

“We’re giving away today, a free Lasik eye surgery. One of our clients is Dr. Glen Caleb. He’s one of the foremost laser eye surgeons on the MTV reality show with Jessica Simpson. He did her eyes. She said it was like an act of God. He’s operated on Mary Pierc. She won the French open recently, Last Friday he did David Kerridine’s eyes, and he also did Tate Bigs. He’s very renown for his celebrity clientele. He’s one of the founders who has done over 35,000 procedures.

“The best candidates for this kind of surgery go case by case. But what we try to do is get each individual to come in and get their eyes actually checked to see what is their plausibility of having the Lasik surgery. We’re very honest as to whether or not they need it. It’s a free consultation for anybody, and from there they decide if there’s something further that can be done. If you wear glasses just for reading, you’re not the best candidate. However, those who suffer from near-sightedness and far-sightedness are definite candidates. For example, a tennis or baseball player will be able to see the ball better, therefore improving their game. One of the Seahawks who will be in the Super Bowl next week, was just operated on by Glen. Glen continues to have 100% success rate with all his patients.” Learn more by visiting: www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com.

–David Canter

Coby Electronics “Coby Electronics is gifting presenters and award winners with a TF-DVD500, a sleek, stylish, ultra-compact portable DVD/CD/MP3 player with a 3.5” screen that offers entertainment and convenience at the same size of a personal CD player! Winner of a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award, the unit makes the ideal companion for traveling business executives or college students and young people looking to enjoy their favorite flicks. The player also comes with an adjustable stand (which doubles as a battery pack), remote control, headphones and carrying case and are available in many retailers including Fry’s, J&R Music World and on Amazon.com. Coby produces over 300 consumer electronics products including innovative portable DVD players and MP3 players designed for every lifestyle.” Learn more by visiting: www.cobyusa.com.

–Van and Laura
Coby Electronics

Lamarthe USA creates handbags from Paris. They are designed and crafted from fine Italian leather. This European line is debuting its Spring/Summer selection at the 2006 SAG Awards™. Learn more by visiting: www.LamartheUSA.com.
LeVian Time® offers four collections: Duo, SoHo, DeLano, DeLano Midi. Some embracing an elegant classic look, while others have trend-setting sporty shapes in stainless steele, or with exotic straps in muted, traditional and fashion colors. LeVian also offers a chronograph and two time zones. They are available in Barneys and Sak’s Fifth Avenue.

Learn more about Marchon Eyewear by visiting: www.marchon.com.
PHYTO does hair care, and has gifted certificates to a Malibu salon. Learn more by visiting: www.phyto.com.

“Shu Uemura is a Japanese makeup artist who started in the fifties in Hollywood. He worked on such stars as Shirley MacLaine, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra. He started creating product in the sixties, and we had the number one selling cleansing oil and eyelash curler in the world. We work with a lot of celebrities. We custom make all of Madonna’s and Oprah’s lashes. We just made a $10,000.00 diamond eyelash for Madonna which you will see on her next single. We have over 70 eyeshadows. We have something for everybody—It’s all about options. We cater to teen up to more mature women.

“Shu Uemura launched their first cleansing oil in the 1960s, which is still the number one selling cleansing oil to this day in the world. We sell one piece every 30 seconds worldwide. But what we’re most known for is the eyelashes, cleansing oil, and eyelash curler, and in honor of the SAG Awards and our fifteen-year anniversary, we created a 24-karat gold version of our eyelash curler. ‘Cause you know it’s all about the bling!” Learn more by visiting: www.shuuemera.com.

–J.P.McCary
Director of Artistry and Education

Starwood Hotels and Resorts French Ploynesia have Bora Bora vacation packages at luxurious Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa, or the new St Regis Resort Bora Bora—the most lavish resorts in all of French Polynesia. Six days, five nights in an over-water villa which include: Tahitian Blessing spa ritual for two; Robert Wan Tahitian Black Pearl jewelry, and upgrades on Air Tahiti Nui. Learn more by visiting:www.starwood.com.This event was put on by Karen Wood’s Backstage Creations. Additional information provided by Backstage Creations.

Interviews with Beverly Physicians.com, Coby Electronics, and Shu Uemura conducted by Kaylene Peoples.

12TH Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Talent Retreat

12TH Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® Talent Retreat
Alan Bronstein – Color: The Rarest of All?

The past few months have been filled with award shows ranging from the American Music Awards to the Golden Globes. And if you have been paying attention to the media at all, it has become obvious that our celebrities are walking away with more than just trophies. We recently reviewed an award event that gave away 40,000.00 per gift bag per celebrity who attended. Well, the SAG Awards is no different. January 28, 2006, I visited the Shrine Auditorium backstage the day before the big event, and caught a glimpse of what our Hollywood royalty would be getting this time.

There were only a select few gifting for the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®, but these goody bags carried a lot of weight. There were perfume, skincare, makeup, laser eye surgery gift cards, CD/DVD players, etc…. But the most exquisite and rarest present of all were fancy colored diamonds. I spoke with Alan Bronstein, the color diamond expert who is among the world’s most trusted advisors of colored diamonds to leading jewelers, fine jewelry designers, and private investors. He is the respected curator of the world’s most famous natural fancy colored diamond collections, the Aurora Collection and the Butterfly of Peace Collection. He lectures widely ranging from the United Nations to the New York University, and he has published two seminal books, Collecting and Classifying Colored Diamonds – An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection and Forever Brilliant: The Aurora Collection of Colored Diamonds. Alan explained just how rare and precious these gems really are.

Alan Bronstein has worked in the diamond business for 25 years as a diamond broker in the diamond business. Somebody came along with a yellow diamond, which was beyond his understanding. It changed the whole course of his career in terms of what he wanted to do with his life. He decided that he wanted to focus on these rarest of diamonds that existed in the world. He had never known that diamonds came in colors (most people don’t know). It became his mission to explain to people that diamonds do exist in different colors: yellow, pink, blue, orange, and green. Honored with such an experience, he wanted to let other people know that they existed, too. So, in the process of the last 25 years, he made a diamond collection, which has been in the Museum of Natural History in New York for the last 16 years. It is considered the finest diamond collection in the world. This has become Alan’s passion and his dream. He has become the advisor and spokesperson for the Natural Colored Diamond Association, an organization that wants to get the message out that diamonds come in different colors, that they’re made by nature, and that they can also be made by man.

“We want to differentiate, and we want to let people know that there’s a difference between natural colored diamonds that come out of the earth (that were made by Mother Nature), and something that can be created in the lab by mankind, which you can make as many as possible and are not rare at all. I want to give you that same experience I had when I first saw the first colored diamond. I was so awestruck, and I wondered what I was looking at and how it came to be. It became my desire to learn as much as possible about fancy colored diamonds.”

Ridin’ Out Her Vision – Maggie Barry

When you’re unfamiliar with a designer’s style and her background in fashion, it’s practically impossible to be disappointed with what’s being flaunted on stage. Most people would argue that it’s all art anyway, whether deemed as “good” or “bad” by the masses. And most people would also say that Los Angeles designer Maggie Barry is one of those good ones. In fact, her Spring 2006 ride-em-cowboy collection is a visionary tale worth telling.

Showcased at the Twin Springs Building off Spring Street, Barry was among the many-featured designers that took part in the P.KABU L.A. Fashion Week Runway Series, a low-key and less populated event than Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios.

Strapless side cutout dresses in vibrant shades of reds and blues, paired with cowboy boots, buckled hip huggers, and fringes swaying in the wind kept things oh so interesting. With a model walking the walk with guitar in tow, the evening was an entertaining look at sexy western wear and her unique interpretation of casual fashion meets glam. White jeans, mini-skirts, short shorts, and eclectic accessories were spunky and right on.

Now take a quick step back. An FIT graduate from New York City, Barry went from starting her own accessory line to starting her own company, Van Buren, to emerging as a solo designer in 1996, then launching the Maggie Barry collection in 2000. With outrageous success during the Van Buren era, having custom created designs for musicians Donna Summers, Lenny Kravitz, Billy Idol, and Cher, Barry catered to the “body conscious consumer of the 80s and 90s.” She was known for “clothing celebrities and wanna-bees in edgy leather jackets, pants, and bustiers.”

Now her self-titled collection embraces the more feminine side of fashion, like using soft rayon lycra jersey just flowing over a woman’s curves, and featuring light, flowing separates and dresses. All in all, Barry keeps things modern, versatile, and what else, but hot.

Written by Elana Pruitt

Feelin’ Pretty in Louis Verdad

Our bodies are our temples, or so we’ve heard. And with springtime rapidly approaching, pushing aside fox fur collars and velvet blazers of fall and winter, the sense and sensibility of Louis Verdad fashion means remembering what it’s like to sit upright, with your legs crossed.

Couture designers, season after season, are proving that looking sexy and feeling feminine can succeed without desperately coveting cleavage and bare midriffs. And Verdad’s Spring 2006 collection takes that up about 10 notches––vamped up vintage, Sunday bests, yet tailored, crisp, and rich-bitch-vacationing-in-the-Hamptons all in one. His highly anticipated runway show during L.A. Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios was a teaser of sorts. A grass-bordered catwalk with oversized flowers insinuating the arrival of spring, front-seater excitement, and the show’s opening antics as unique as Verdad’s vision kept my virgin eyes frantically wanting more, more, more.

It was just another day for gorgeous, skirt-suited Ms. Master, only being held back by her doggie’s sexy nanny pushing the puppy’s pink stroller ever so slowly. With this opening act worth remembering, the rest of the show you not only couldn’t forget, but why would you want to? Feelin’ pretty in Verdad fashion seems like a cinch. Belted up to here, snug right there, and topped with a wide-brimmed hat or satin gloves, he knows that women love to make statements of style. Especially when the weather warms and skin begins to bare, the female silhouette is one worth adorning.

It was a black, cashmere two-piece that aroused a Hollywood stir. Madonna wore his design for the MTV Music Awards show a few years back when she shared “the kiss” with Britney. Hardly a best-kept secret, many would say that Verdad’s rise to fame took off from that very moment. Notably, the American-born Mexican designer has dressed starlets like Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, and Cate Blanchett. And with Paris Hilton, Garcelle Beavouis, Lucy Liu, Gina Gershon, Aisha Tyler, and a soiree of Tinsel Town sitting up close and personal during his show, it’s simple—this designer’s got somethin’.

But let’s do it different than all the rest, he declares through bib tops, A-cut polka dot dresses, ruffled “my mom made me wear this” tiered skirts, secretary pencil skirts and blouses, sophisticated culottes, and belted jackets galore. His blushing pinks and lavenders, polka dot combos, striped-and-floral pattern mixing, and sharp shades of gold and silver contribute to his sassy and eclectic spring collection.

Written by Elana Pruitt

Agenda Magazine Features the complete Spring/Summer collections of the following designers from San Francisco Fashion Week:

San Francisco Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2006 offers clean lines, an array of color pallets, and an impressive line-up of emerging designers.

Enjoy celebrated couture wedding and evening designers such as Christina Hurvis Couture, Frenchhaute couturiers like Colleen Quen Couture, and Americana Levi’s Jeans. See what San Franciscans take for granted with luxurious style, beautifully tailored ensembles and fresh new playful attire with an intense array of colors juxtaposed with faux furs, leather, and familiar cotton and denim. Clear out your closets and consider a new wardrobe San Franciscan style!

Ana Mulford, Christina Hurvis, Colleen Quen, Emerging Stars
Erin Mahoney, His by Her
Levi’s, Lily Samii
Mel Rose, Oda
Richard Hallmarq, Saffron
Shivani K, Sweat Free
Teshub, TOUCH Vintage
Valentine, Wee Scott

San Francisco Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2006 Photographed by Arun Nevader

A Runway Rundown at Smashbox

When Fashion Week rolls around, there’s rarely a dull moment at Smashbox Studios, even when a designer produces fewer “hits” than “misses” during his/her runway show. Time spent checkin’ out the new digs of Spring 2006 is at least a moment of entertainment for each attendee piling through, whether standing in back or taking the empty seat no one’s claimed yet. Take the first-ever Fashion Week beauty show from Smashbox Cosmetics and Sephora, teaming for a presentation themed “Exotica.” Celebrating the beauty of the rain forest by showing spring makeup trends proved to be a stage spectacle, no doubt. It was belly dancing, glittered body paint, bronzed skin mania, feathers, knitted bikinis, and oh yes, a makeup show amongst it all.

Conveniently cushioned between Single and Louis Verdad on the first day of Fashion Week, energy kept a flowin’ from attendees all around. The heat was rising, Lightbox included . . . it was hot in there! And when it comes to baring it all, the Sheri Bodell show said good-bye fall fur fashion, and hello spring sexiness. Front-row rocker Tommy Lee may have caught serious attention before lights dimmed, but as models walked, gushing turned to the designer’s collection. Rooted in neutral browns, whites, and pinks, and, tastefully, a touch of just enough black, Bodell’s influence stems from 1960s vixens and starlets of the big screen, like “Sexy Brigitte Bardot slip dresses, Marianne Faithful blouses, and Mia Farrow minis.” And quickly rising to fame is 28-year-old designer Desanka Fasiska, whose artistic quality kept celebrities Mena Suvari, Aisha Tyler, and Taryn Manning entranced by her spring collection. Influenced from “African and tropical prints,” Desanka’s safari theme also included smock-style dresses, opaque leggings, flowing cotton voile jackets, and shades of soft pinks and greens.

Saja directly followed Desanka fever, as designer Yoo Lee kept the creative juices rumbling. The girlish optimism of childhood depicted through subtle embellishments and delicate details are said to have inspired Lee’s seasonal collection of vintage beauty. Bold colors, Bohemian-inspired knitted cover-ups, and dress-up-or-dress-down floor-length flowy dresses would make you start to wonder. Can I really pull all that off with rolled-down socks and my pointy flats? Well, according to the spring Saja collection, the possibilities of fashion continue to be endless.

And when it came to closing the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, there was a first. Retail leader St. John hit the Main Tent, right where Kevan Hall jumpstarted the whole event on day one. Redefined and redesigned, a company known for its sophisticated women’s knit suiting and professional wear brought youth and vibrancy to Los Angeles for its first show at Smashbox. Angelina Jolie, the newest face of California fashion label St. John, was a no-show, but the collection still claimed its original stance of excellence. Belted knee-length dresses, tons of black evening wear, and tans, whites, and striped pieces added sex appeal as well as a touch of modern sassiness and youthfulness. And in turning the corner from fall and winter to spring, St. John is bringing them back-––sharp lookin’ hats for extra pizzazz. The perfect shoe may always be a gal’s mantra in completing her outfit, but remember there’s a fashion first time for everything.

Written by Elana Pruitt