Oscars means big business for Hollywood industries

HOLLYWOOD - The Oscars are big business for stars and filmmakers -- but they also spell big bucks for limo firms, caterers, designers and thousands of others as Hollywood rolls out the red carpet.

In fact, the Academy Awards on Sunday are the climax of the annual awards season which generates fortunes for those behind the scenes in Tinseltown, who keep the champagne flowing, parties buzzing and posh frocks just right.

From the Golden Globes to the Grammys, the Screen Actors Guild ceremony to the Razzies, the awards shows -- and all those pre- and after-parties, keep everyone busy from November to February every year.

You don't have to go far to stumble on a red carpet in Hollywood -- even outside awards season, film premieres regularly attract scrums of cameramen, photographers and fans spilling across sidewalks outside key movie theaters.

So a visit to the cinema can sometimes turn into a scramble through a melee created by an arriving celebrity, lensmen's flashlights and shouts of "Angelina, over here!" ricocheting around the cinema lobby.

But Angelinos are used to it, and many depend on it for their livelihoods, as -- like the annual harvest elsewhere -- the first two months of the year bring huge crops of orders for everything that surrounds the shows.

Tony Adzar, founder & CEO of Red Carpet Systems, is one of those reaping the benefits: in February, he sells twice as much carpet as he does in August, and his is only one of dozens of similar firms.

"January and February are the busiest months of the year for us. We do service most of the majors, pre- and after-parties for the Golden Globes, Grammys, Oscars," he told AFP.

"On average we have 12-15 events a month, and in awards season, 20-25 events a month," he added, saying they make between $150,000-250,000 a month in awards season -- double the takings at other times of the year.

To get to the parties, people of course need limousines.

"It takes most of the companies in the Los Angeles and Orange County area to handle the volume created by the major award shows," said Jonna Sabroff, head of Integrated Transportation Services (ITS).

The larger companies, which have a fleet of maybe 25 luxury vehicles, "are booked to capacity and are able to give their affiliates and subcontractors a lot of business," she added.
ITS works closely with Sequoia Productions, which has organized Hollywood events for 23 years and produces the traditional post-Oscars soiree known as the Governors Ball.

The ball brings together the governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars. On Sunday night, 1,500 people will attend.

For Sunday's ball alone, Sequoia employs 150 technicians, 400 catering staff and a management team of 30. The company unveiled its menu last week, chosen by Austrian celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, also an Oscars veteran.

"We have been working on the Governors Ball and the other Oscar-related events for the past six months," said Gary Levitt, vice president of Sequoia Productions.

Red Carpet provider Adzar said awards season is exhausting, but essential for his and many other businesses in Hollywood.

"We love to be busy!" he said.

source: interaksyon.com

Stars pay tribute to Whitney Houston in US

NEWARK -- Hollywood stars, music greats and relatives praised the "sweet miracle" of Whitney Houston at a moving funeral service in her hometown Saturday, one week after the pop singer's sudden death.

A gold-colored hearse delivered Houston's body to Newark's New Hope Baptist Church, where she sang as a child before her voice was shaped and nurtured into a spectacular vocal that arguably made her the biggest star of her era.

Houston's casket was adorned with flowers as actor Kevin Costner stood up to deliver an emotional tribute to the singer, whose death at the age of 48 prompted sadness, grief and respect from fans and contemporaries worldwide.

"I urge us all inside and outside, across the nation and around the world, to dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney," Costner said.

The four-hour service ended with an audio recording of "I Will Always Love You," regarded by many as Houston's signature track and the theme of "The Bodyguard," the 1992 box office smash in which she co-starred alongside Costner.

While Houston's musical success took her away from New Jersey across the world, countless friends and relatives told of how the singer never lost sight of Newark and the community that shaped her.

Clive Davis, the legendary producer who became Houston's mentor, said he was spellbound when he met her in 1983.

"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime. You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, well, it takes your breath away," he said.

"Cissy, your daughter stepped forward and shattered me with her version of 'The Greatest Love Of All,'" Davis said, looking at Houston's mother, a gospel singer and one-time backing artist for soul queen Aretha Franklin.

And Costner, in a frank recollection of his time spent with Houston, told how the singer almost missed out on her role in "The Bodyguard," on account of her skin color and lack of acting experience.

"We could also think about another singer, was a suggestion. Maybe somebody white. Nobody ever said it out loud, but it was a fair question," Costner recalled of questions posed to him at the time by the movie's producers.

"I told everyone that I had taken notice that Whitney was black. The only problem was, I thought she was perfect for what we were trying to do," he said, crediting Warner Brothers for agreeing. The movie became a blockbuster.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker set the tone for the service, which opened to joyous gospel singing from the New Hope Mass Choir.

"We are here to mourn our loss, but to celebrate her life. God is in heaven, and with him is one of our angels, Whitney Houston," Booker said.

Streets near the red-brick church, which has been adorned with floral tributes, candles, balloons and condolence cards in recent days, were sealed off as the memorial service was by invitation only.

Fans were respectfully asked to stay away from the church, which had a capacity of only 1,500, for fear of crowds disrupting the event, but several hundred turned up regardless.

"I just wanted to get as close to her as I could," Tamecca Melvin, from New Jersey, told AFP.

"I've loved her, I grew up with her. Even though she was a megastar, she was a homegirl. She always kept that persona... and I loved that about her," Melvin said.

Motown legend Stevie Wonder belted out an adaptation of his hit "Ribbon in the Sky," changing some of the words to honor Houston's memory.

But Houston's ex-husband, soul performer Bobby Brown, with whom she had a daughter during a turbulent 15-year marriage, was reportedly asked to leave the service.

Reverend Jesse Jackson told CNN that Brown, who divorced from Houston in 2007, turned up with more companions than allowed, and was asked to move from the seats he had been allocated. But he refused and left the church.

"That was a difficult moment. I tried to get him to stay. They wouldn't make room for him," said Jackson.

Houston will be buried on Sunday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey next to her father, John Russell Houston, who died in 2003, ABC News reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Houston sold more than 170 million records during a near three-decade career, but in later years fought a long and public battle against substance abuse while trying to keep her performing talent alive.

Speculation has raged since her death that the singer may have succumbed to a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol, although official results from her autopsy may not be made public for up to eight weeks.

Saturday's private service angered some fans who wanted a large public memorial event at a nearby stadium.

"It's a disgrace," said Greg Packer. "All the streets have been blocked, it is very difficult to come here. The family should have done a public memorial, something."


source: interaksyon.com

Music world stunned by death of Whitney Houston

LOS ANGELES - Stars and music industry leaders paid tribute Saturday to singer Whitney Houston, who died aged 48 on the eve of the annual Grammys show.

Grammys organizing chief Neil Portnow called Houston "one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades.

"A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice," said the head of the Recording Academy.

Many stars took to Twitter to voice shock after Houston was found dead in the Beverly Hilton Hotel, hours before a traditional pre-Grammys dinner which she was due to attend.

"It's a tragedy. Whitney Houston was the greatest singer I've ever heard and she will be truly missed," wrote veteran crooner Tony Bennett.

Mariah Carey added: "She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth." while "Queen of Funk" Chaka Khan tweeted: "I'm speechless...I'm in shock right now. Just pray for her and the family."

Jermaine Jackson, whose brother Michael died in similarly shocking fashion at the age of 50 in June 2009 in Los Angeles, said his thoughts went out to Houston's gospel singer mother Emily "Cissy" Houston.

"I can imagine what she's going through, because I... , we've been through with my mother and its very tough to lose a child, and for your to outlive your child," he told CNN.

Christina Aguilera added: "We have lost another legend. Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed."

Motown great Smokey Robinson, who recently attended a tribute to Jackson in Hollywood, called Houston "one of the greatest voices in the history of music," adding "I will always love her."

From the younger generation, Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber tweeted: "Just heard the news. so crazy. One of the GREATEST VOICES EVER just passed. RIP Whitney Houston. My prayers go out to her friends and family."

"California Gurls" singer Katy Perry added: "So devastating. We will always love you Whitney, R.I.P," while award-winning rap artist Nicki Minaj: "Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time."

"No words! Just tears," added US singer Rihanna, while Hawaiian-born Bruno Mars said" "This is terrible news..I'm sick to my stomach. Nobody sang like Whitney."

Reality TV star Sharon Osbourne said she was "devastated" by the news. "My heart goes out to (Houston's daughter with Bobby Brown) Bobbi Christina. Always be proud of your mother, she was magnificent," she said.

source: interaksyon.com