Adrienne Janic – From Model to Television Co-Host
“I played the part of a shop owner’s wife. I had on a mini-skirt, stiletto heels, and big hair, just really gaudy. It was what I thought an auto shop owner’s wife would be. The guy came to get his truck, and he thought it was getting done for free. Well, little did he know that I was going to charge him $1,500.00. So, I really got under his skin, and he was so upset with me. He called me every nasty name in the book (which was cut out of the show), and the director loved what I did and asked me to come back for another episode. That one episode led to more episodes on Overhaulin’, and the next thing I knew, the network called me and asked me to be the Co-Host.” Before joining Overhaulin’ on TLC as a Co-Host, Adrienne hosted several shows on E! Entertainment. She hosted the pilot Music Café, and worked as a spokesperson for Coca-Cola’s Fanta Soda. Adrienne was born and raised in Whittier, California. Her mother was from Mexico, and her father was from Yugoslavia. Adrienne always knew she was an entertainer, and as early as six years old, she acted and danced on stage. She continued acting and dancing all through junior and senior high school. Adrienne attended Rio Hondo Community College and even wrote for a local newspaper for a short while. At a supermarket one day, Adrienne was approached by a scout who asked her if she wanted to enter a modeling competition. At first she thought it was a scam, but the scout assured her it wasn’t and that it wouldn’t cost her anything. She thought about it and brought her dad along to the competition. Adrienne came in second place and won $200.00. “For a 17-year-old, $200.00 was a big deal. So I did more local contests around the Whittier area. I would win anywhere from first to third place, and put cash in my pocket. One day, a photographer said I should go to Los Angeles to visit the different modeling agencies, and do this professionally. It took me a while, because Whittier seemed so far away from Hollywood to me, even though it was only twenty minutes away.” Adrienne eventually gathered up the courage and went to five modeling agencies. The first one turned her down, telling her she was really pretty but too commercial. The other four wanted to sign her, but she ended up going with Ford. Adrienne had no idea that they were the largest modeling agency in the world. “When I went to their open call, my hair was down to my waist, and I came in wearing so much makeup, big hoop earrings, red lipstick, too much mascara, blue eyeliner. I thought I was supposed to look like the cover of Cosmo. They actually told me to come back the next day and take off the earrings, get rid of the red lipstick, and remove the makeup. I thought, oh wow! I can’t go there without makeup. But once I came bare-faced, they offered me a contract.” Adrienne has been with Ford Models for 10 years now. She started off doing Seventeen Magazine, Fitness Magazine, and was featured in so many more popular fashion magazines. “As I’ve grown more comfortable in my skin, the more modeling jobs I’ve booked. I’ve learned with modeling it’s not so much physically—it’s how you feel about yourself, your confidence, and your personality. And as a result, I’ve been booking a lot more. But now with the show Overhaulin’, it’s been tough, but Ford has been really supportive.” I asked Adrienne where she saw herself in five years. She would love to be doing films, and has already had some small supporting roles. “Film is a whole other game. The pace is a lot slower, which it’s hard for me to get used to because I’ve done so much television. You shoot an episode in a week, or a couple of days, and I’m done. But in a movie, you’ll shoot just one scene in a day. On television, I can shoot my whole part in a day. It’s different, but I do love the big screen. So I hope to be there one day.” Highest High Lowest Low I asked Adrienne if there was a love interest in her life, and she confessed that there was a special guy. She dated enough actors and models to know that she didn’t want to be with them. The more she got involved in those past relationships, the more they turned into a competition. One guy she dated had the nerve to ask her why she had more auditions and bookings than he did. “A lot of insecurities came out with them. I just didn’t need that. I’m secure with myself in a relationship, and I don’t want to be with someone who’s like that. But at the same time, when I dated a guy that was not in the industry, they didn’t understand the schedule, or the fact that I had to do a kissing scene when it’s just work and doesn’t mean anything. That was tough, too. So I wondered where could I find that balance with someone who understands my schedule and is behind me 100 percent? So the guy I’m seeing is in production. He’s very supportive. He has to travel and be on set for hours at a time. With him, I think I finally found the right balance.” Adrienne’s father has been her biggest fan since the day she decided she wanted to enter this crazy business that we call show business. He told her that whatever she wanted to do, whether it was basket weaving, or an oil painting in the mountains—he was behind her 100 percent. Adrienne’s mother was a little tougher. Being that she was from Mexico, she was big on education. Her mother had come to this country to better herself, and she had become a nurse. “I’ve always known that I wanted to travel the world. It’s such a big world out there, and I didn’t want to stay in Whittier in school. So right out of high school, when I got the opportunity to model and travel the world, my dad gave me a little bit of money and told me to have fun. So my dad has been my biggest fan.” And Adrienne is doing just that, and having fun right now. She is really grateful for her job at TLC. “After ten years into this business, I’m so glad I didn’t give up. There were many times I wanted to throw in the towel. But to see the famous people that stuck with it succeed, that’s what kept me going. I probably have more rejections than I have had jobs, but you grow from that. You learn to have thick skin; and when something does happen, you’re grateful for it, because nothing is forever. So I’m going to try to ride this wave for as long as I can. I am going to enjoy every minute of it!” Interviewed and Written by Kaylene Peoples |
Category: 2006
Sheryl Lee Ralph “Sometimes I Cry”
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Sheryl Lee Ralph’s “Sometimes I Cry”: Raising Our Women’s Consciousness to This Crippling Epidemic HIV/AIDS
“I was like whoa! With women come children, and then there were families. Why is no one saying anything about this? Then there was the great debate, when our vice-president sat up there when the question was posed, ‘What do you think about the rising rate of infection in black women when it comes to HIV AIDS?’ He said, ‘Huh? I wasn’t aware of that at all.’ I said, oh my god, we’ve got to do something. So these stories have always been in my head. And I sat down one day and I just started to write them down. And I was afraid because I thought I can’t write. Well, I can write. Nah, I’m too lazy to write. No, no! You have to sit and write every day! No, I can’t do it. I’m not committed enough to write. No!!!! I was giving myself all the reasons why not, and had writer’s block before I even started. And then one day I said, ‘Get over yourself! Let’s do it.’” So Sheryl Lee Ralph sat down and started writing. She found Sherri Smith, who wrote as fast as she spoke. And before Sheryl knew it, she had nine stories. Then the Black AIDS Institute sent out a letter asking women to submit their stories, and that’s how “Sometimes I Cry” came together. December 2005, during World AIDS Day Week, Sheryl Lee Ralph performed “Sometimes I Cry” for the first time. There was a lot of support. It stunned her. She was hoping people would be receptive, but she had no idea they would be that receptive. They started to come out by the hundreds. They had a 4-day run in Santa Monica a few weeks ago, and people were there every night. “Sometimes I Cry” made money for the foundation. Sheryl could not believe it. “I thought we’d break even. We did a co-partnership with somebody. We made money for the foundation because people came to see the show. It’s just been amazing the kind of calls we’ve gotten since then. We’re going around the country to New Jersey, Arizona, New York 3 times in different areas. There’s been talk about off Broadway and Broadway. It’s exciting.” “Sometimes I Cry” is about the loves, lives, and losses of women affected by HIV/AIDS. Sheryl Lee Ralph wanted to create a piece that would shed some light on the fact nobody was really talking about this disease. “If you’re a female who is thinking about sex, or may have sex in the future, then this disease is all about you. We really have to create a movement. So for me ‘Sometimes I Cry’ is much more than a show—it’s a movement for women to really take stock of their self-esteem, their sexual well-being, their sexual rights, their reproductive rights, all of that to take stock in how they lead their sexual life.” Sheryl gives shocking information about the new rate of AIDS infection, that it is starting to equal that of men; and it is becoming increasingly obvious that the weight and the burden of HIV is going to be borne by women, which means death. “And in my mind, life is born of women, not death. Don’t get it twisted just because you’re young and you think sex is all about you. A lot of folks, once they have it, continue to have it, especially if they’re lucky. Good sex is a good thing to have. At the same rate, there are things like abstinence, and there is nothing wrong with abstinence. You abstain while you’re in your mama and your daddy’s house. Then you get out there on your own, and you get buck wild, but you don’t have the proper information, so therefore you’re not protecting yourself properly and you catch an STD. And HIV is definitely an STD. So I’m saying, let’s give all of the people the proper information so that they can make good choices for themselves. So I’ve got this show to let you know, be aware.” The show is basically different women’s stories with each one running about 15-20 minutes. In this one-woman show, she takes on these true-to-life characters herself and becomes everything from a kid to a 68-year-old grandmother who ends up getting HIV/AIDS. “I am not making this up. She’s out there, and it’s real. Miss Chanel—the successful entrepreneur who lives the life of Chanel: The Manolablonic shoes, the Chanel suit, the Chanel bag, and she never knew or thought that sex would be or could not be good for her. Why would it be bad? I’m still working on the 11-year-old twins having sex with Bubba to get ‘they hay done and they nails did’—both of them infected with AIDS, and Bubba’s 35.” Sheryl had read the book, The Purpose Driven Life, and she realized that it was her purpose—to create a movement to help young women take stock of their lives and move forward in a healthy way. She realized it is harder to have a message that means so much to her, yet she is constantly hearing people tell her to quit talking about AIDS. “Until somebody can introduce me to the test tube babies, we all get here as a result of one particular act—sex! We may talk about sex, but mostly in a salacious manner, but we need to talk about sex in a healthier human manner. And right about now, it’s not about birth; it’s about death, and it is very real.” Even though Los Angeles is home for Sheryl Lee Ralph, she has really enjoyed doing the show in other places where she found people to be so supportive and excited about it. The church doors have swung wide open, and she is very happy about that. “I don’t care what anybody says. The black church is a powerful institution, and we got to get right with the churches.” Highest High “For those who want to bring it to their city, just log on towww.sometimesicry.org. and let us know—let’s just make it happen, because it is all about you and your well-being. Because everybody’s sitting up there, waiting for you to do something. And it takes ordinary people every day to effect real change.” What’s next? Sheryl wrote a script called Red Rum and Coke. Red Rum is “murder” spelled backwards. The screenplay is about a mother in her 40s with a very successful daughter in her 20s, and the things that she thinks she knows about her daughter are not at all what she knows. The more she digs, the more she finds out. It is set in Jamaica, where Sheryl would love to do a movie some day. “People ask me all the time if I’m going to make “Sometimes I Cry” into a book, or a film, or stage performance, or perform it at schools. So I think I’m going to have to put it in all of those forms in some way or another. Oddly enough, when I was doing Dream Girls on Broadway, there was this dreadlock ‘commedianish, social commentaryish’ person who had this strange name. If you could catch her, you would run after your show to go see her. And her name was Whoopie Goldberg. And she was doing this one-woman show. And I remember seeing that show and thinking what it must be like to be up there talking about things that she was passionate about, and affecting people, and I always held on to that. One day I was doing ‘Sometimes I Cry’ and I was like, oh my god, it’s a Whoopie Goldberg moment! “I really have to thank the people I work with, like Sherri the typist, and then Scott Hamilton, who produces with me. We’re working on doing a tour, and getting it on the college campuses. We’re working with Dr. Lightfoot at USC, and we’re putting together a complete package for people who ask, ‘What do I do next?’ I’d like to be able to hand young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years old a DVD with a workbook and say ‘these are some of the things you might want to consider.’ I love being able to have that sort of synergy with someone. I’m looking forward to the 16th annual Divas Simply Singing, October 7th, in Los Angeles. People can log on towww.Divassimplysinging.com.” Interviewed and Written 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
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
Ridin’ Out Her Vision – Maggie Barry
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
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
