Nice, France Old Town at night

Red Carpet Productions Vintage Clothing for Sale

This vintage Gianfranco Ferre dress is one of kind and is new and never worn. Price provided to interested parties only. #GianfrancoFerre #vintageclothing #vintage #runway

2016 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party

The Clive Davis Annual Pre-Grammy Party

Sunday, February 14, 2016 is not only Valentines Day but the date of one of the hottest parties in Los Angeles during Grammy weekend.  The entire week leading up to the Grammys are filled with parties throughout the City but none creates the hyper madness as Clive's pre-grammy affair.  This year there is a battle for A-list star attendance between Davis and the wedding of Apple Executive and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine's marriage to Liberty Ross (ex-wife of movie director Rupert Sanders). Low and behold they are both schedule for the same date and time. The Iovine/Ross wedding is being held at David Geffens Beverly Hills mansion which is only a few miles from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, site of the Davis annual A-list soiree. There was an attempt made by the Davis organizing team to change the date to Saturday evening which has been the day of the party for the past 40 years, but unfortunately the hotel had already booked the date.  The reason for this years Sunday date is because the pre-grammy party was always held the day before the Grammy and this year the Grammy's have been moved to Monday instead of Sunday, thus canceling out the Saturday date.

The logistics this year included a massive security checkpoint for partygoers with scanners and waning of guest before they are even checked into the ticket line.

From my perch in the Beverly Hilton lobby I spotted a number of A-Listers and B-Listers lining up to be waned and scanned, dressed in black tie and evening gowns.

The annual pre-Grammys event honored music manager Irving Azoff, who received the Recording Academy’s Industry Icon Award and a cast of movie stars, music industry hotshots were also in attendance. Party goers included Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Jane Fonda, Christina Aguilera, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, John Legend and a whole lot more.

There were several musical performances with Beck and Dave Grohl providing a tribute to David Bowie by performing his song “The Man Who Sold the World.”  Some other performances included Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, Fetty Wap, and  Earth, Wind & Fire, who honored the recently deceased founder and front man Maurice White.


At the pool the next day I spotted several of the attendees (Dionne Warwick, Chaz Ebert) resting up and getting some sun before the nights Grammy Awards.  I actually hung out with Jamie Foxx who was babysitting his daughter and some young relatives while they played in the hotel pool. We sang some old school music that he was playing on his boombox, including the Average White Bands, Play That Funky Music White Boy and Bell Biv Devoe's Poison. He was busy signing autographs for anyone who came up to him and taking selfies with anyone who asked. He finally turned it into a party when he and another pool attendee started dancing to BBD's song.  He kept turning the sound up until finally security came over to see what was going on.  It was funny watching the guys face when he realized it was Jamie. Of course he couldn't do anything about it because it was Jamie.  The perks of being an A-lister. #CliveDavisGrammyParty @JamieFoxx #BeverlyHiltonHotel #Grammy #Pool #Party #BellBivDevoe

Jamie Foxx with his daughter and nieces and nephews in the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

Jamie Fox, Evelyn Wheeler and Linda O'Bannon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and Evelyn Wheeler and the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool


Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

The 58th Grammy Awards

Monday February 15 was the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center hosted by LL Cool J.

World Premiere of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the LA Film Festival

June 4, 2016 the astounding Deborah Riley Draper documentary film Olympic Pride, American Prejudice had its world premiere at the LA Film Festival in Culver City, California. The film which chronicles the 18 African American athletes who competed in the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, Germany at the height of Hitler's Nazi regime is a tour de force from Deborah Draper.  The 18 athletes who competed in track and field, boxing and boxing were Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Mack Robinson (the older brother of baseball player Jackie Robinson), Art Oliver, James Clark Atkinson, John Brooks, Dave Albritton, James LuValle, John Woodruff, Archie Williams, Frederick Pollard,  Jack Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, Howard King, Willis Johnson, John Terry, Tidye Pickett, and Louise Stokes defied Hitler's notion of Aryan Supremacy.  Since the German's filmed everything, there is tons of footage of the track and field competitions. Although Jesse Owens was well known for the four gold medals he won in Germany, the other 17 athletes were largely ignored once they returned home under Jim Crow laws.

Written and directed by Ms. Draper whose 2012 multi-award winning film Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution (covered in this blog numerous times over the years) was just a glimpse into where this filmmaker is headed. Her tenacity for digging into the souls of the individuals covered in her documentaries is trail blazing. The research that it took to create this film is amazing. Ms. Draper and her crew traveled across the USA and to Berlin and beyond to bring a creditable film to the screen. From the opening vintage footage of the 400 meter race to the end logging each of the athletes accomplishments during and after Berlin, this film will inspire and fill you with pride.

Executive produced and narrated by multiple Image and Grammy Award winner Blair Underwood,  his well-tuned voice also resonates with the accomplishments of the athletes. The background music and the theme song " Find My Victory" written by Composer Cheryl Rogers for the film will fill you with emotion and if you find yourself shedding a tear, it's just a sign that the emotional ride was well worth it.

Executive Producer Blair Underwood, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, Executive Producer Michael Draper, Executive Producer Amy Tiemann and daughter Miranda and husband Michael at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival

Lorrie Ivas and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the LA Film Festival screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the Arc Light Cinemas

Eric Johnson and Shannon King Nash 

Executive Producer Blair Underwood, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival

Caralene Robinson, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival

Line Producer, Lacy Barnes, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Caralene Robinson on the red carpet at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival

Executive Producer Blair Underwood and Evelyn Bakon Wheeler at the Olympic Pride, American Prejudice cocktail reception at the Culver Hotel during the LA Film Festival

Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, and Eric Johnson 

Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper at the Q&A after the screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice at the LA Film Festival

DP Jonathan Hall, Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper, Executive Producer/Narrator Blair Underwood at the sold out second screening of Olympic Pride, American Prejudice

Lorrie Ivas, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper after the screening of Olympic Pride,  American Prejudice at the LA Film Festival

AAFCA Awards in Los Angeles

Grammy week in LA is loaded with parties and events everywhere. However, I arrived at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Tuesday, February 9, 2016 to attend the AAFCA Awards the next evening.  This will be my third attendance at the AAFCA's. I am here to support my friend Writer/Director Deborah Riley Draper (her first documentary film was Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution) for which she was awarded the AAFCA Best Director Documentary Award in 2013) and is currently working on her second documentary, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice.  Deborah asked me to act as her publicist on the red carpet, as she will be presenting the Best Director Award for a documentary film along with Louis Gossett, Jr.  It was a full day starting with a visit to the taping of the The Talk at CBS Studios and lunch with Deborah, Lacy and Linda at the divine Asian fusion restaurant Rock Sugar.

Below are some AAFCA red carpet moments.

Actress Emayatzy Corinealdi

Comedian Tommy Lee Davidson

Actor Courtney Vance

Director Deborah Riley-Draper

Deborah Riley-Draper

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph

Chaz Ebert and Deborah Riley-Draper

Singer/Actor Tyrese Gibson

Deborah Riley-Draper and Louis Gossett, Jr.

Stars of TV Sitcom "Blackish"

Miles Brown and Yara Shahidi from Blackish

Chaz Ebert

Deborah Riley-Draper

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Courtney Vance star of the OJ mini series as Johnny Cochran

2016 Sundance Film Festival

Park City, Utah

After a short 35 minute ride from Salt Lake City Airport we arrived in Park City for my first trip to Sundance with four friends from Chicago.  We stayed at a luxury triple level, three bedroom, three bath condominium at the base of Deer Valley Ski Resort. Our arrival was late day and even though we hired Guardian Angels to shop for food for the Condo, we opted to go out for dinner.  Based on a recommendation from our airport driver we chose Deer Valley Lodge restaurant. The restaurant featured a seafood buffet which turned out to be quite amazing. I had some of the best oysters, King Crab legs, sashimi, shrimp and a variety of other seafood on the buffet that I have ever experienced. Between the buffet, all day travel and the mountain air, I slept like a newborn.

The following day we attended the screening of Director Spike Lee's documentary about Michael Jackson http://www.sundance.org/projects/michael-jackson-s-journey-from-motown-to-off-the-wall, one of Sundance's hottest tickets. There is some great footage of Michael's time at Motown and the beginning of his solo career.  The genius of Michael is told by Spike Lee through an abundance of archival footage, interviews with peers who knew Michael, other Jackson family members and in Michael’s own words and images.  It is an in-depth look at his solo career and his collaboration with Quincy Jones.  It is an important portrait of how passionate and hard-working Michael was in his quest to become the “King of Pop.”  Michael Jackson; From Motown to Off the Wall. Speaking of quest, Questlove was in the audience and part of the Q&A with Spike Lee following the screening.
Michael Jackson; from Motown to Off the Wall

After the Spike Lee screening we headed into Main Street to attend the BET party. We didn't stay very long but I did get pictures with some of the stars in attendance, Gabrielle Union (who is currently starring in Nate Parker's Birth of a Nation), Emayatzy Corinealdi co-starring in Don Cheadle's film Miles Ahead, and Vanessa Bell Calloway (Southside and You) the story of Barack and Michelle Obama.

Birth of a Nation and Being Mary Jane star Gabrielle Union with Evelyn Wheeler at BET Party in Park City, Utah

Gabrielle Union and Angela Thompson at BET party in Sundance, Utah

Emayatzy Corinealdi (co-star with Don Cheadle in Miles Ahead)  with Evelyn Wheeler at BET Party in Sundance, Utah

Vanessa Bell Calloway and Evelyn Wheeler at the BET party in Sundance, Utah

Following an early evening dinner, we attended an industry party at the home of Entertainment Attorney Corky Kessler.  He also headed a panel on Financing Your Film that we attended the following morning. It included a pitch session for scriptwriters looking to get their projects off the ground. Pitches were only allowed to be made in front of the panel members, so we didn't get a chance to hear them.  The winner was a twenty year old who didn't even have script yet, just an idea, but it completely floored the people listening to the pitch. Can't wait to see if it makes it to the screen or will be at Sundance sometime soon.

Chi-Raq creators with Evelyn Wheeler in Park City, Utah

Producer of Chi-Raq Roger Jackson with Evelyn Wheeler

This young man took my seat when I got up to get a drink so I made him take a picture with me (didn't get his name) at the BET Party at Sundance

I attended the screening of the documentary film chronicling the life of Dr. Maya Angelou. This film is superb and left almost everyone in attendance in tears. And Still I Rise.

Screening of the documentary "And Still I Rise"

Colin Johnson grandson of Dr. Maya Angelou at the screening of the documentary "And Still I Rise" in Sundance, Utah

1936 Olympics Movie Crowdfunding Team Awards

The Olympic Price, American Prejudice Crowdfunding Team Awards were held in Atlanta on December 19, 2015 at Maggiano's Little Italy Restaurant.  Awards were handed out to Team Leaders for a number of efforts including Most Donors and $1000+ Fund. A special award from the Team went to Writer/Producer/Director Deborah Riley Draper for Best Director. The Team wanted to be the first to extend this honor to her before all the other accolades start to come. OPAP has been accepted to the Berlin Film Festival to screen on February 14, 2016 and is schedule to screen at the Dusable Museum of African American History in Chicago on February 25, 2016. OPAP Narrator, Blair Underwood is scheduled to attend the Chicago event.

2015 Auditorium Theater Gala

Auditorium Theatre Stage taken from Facebook Page

The Auditorium Theater Gala in Chicago was once again one of the highlights of my year.  I was delighted to spend time with my Chicago friends attending the gala and hanging out for the rest of the weekend.  This years gala was held Saturday, November 21 at the Auditorium Theatre celebrating the end of the Billy Strayhdorn Festival (a three month celebration honoring William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) and what would have been his 100th birthday ) http://www.billystrayhorn.com. The evening once again began with cocktails and d'oeuvres at the Hilton Chicago Normandie Lounge, followed by dinner in the Grand Ballroom featuring a live performance of Billy Strayhorn compositions by Orbert Davis and the Rich Daniels Quintet.  Billy Strayhorn was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, best known for his successful collaboration lasting nearly three decades with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington.  His compositions include "Take the 'A' Train", "Chelsea Bridge", and "Lush Life". The event was attended by nearly 300 guests, and $215,000 was raised to support the initiatives of the Auditorium Theatre. Billy Strayhorn Lush Life Tribute. https://www.facebook.com/auditoriumtheatre/

Following the Gala, guests boarded trolleys to the Auditorium Theatre for VIP seating at the finale performance of "The Billy Strayhorn Festival, Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn." The fully staged salute to Strayhorn was directed by Bruce Mayhall Rastrelli and starred Broadway’s Darius de Haas, local cabaret icon Joan Curto, pianist Alan Broadbent, the Auditorium’s Too Hot to Handel Orchestra, Joel Hall Dancers and a 30-voice-all-male choir under the direction of Bill Chin.

It was an amazing evening celebrating an amazing American Jazz Icon.

Billy Strayhorn

This work is from the Carl Van Vechten Photographs collection at the Library of Congress.