For Mature Audiences Only!

Scenes from last week ...

When last we left this rollicking 1,500-person Gala for Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, guests (mostly international media buyers in town to preview new programming) were enjoying an irreverent take on the Wild West inspired by the film Blazing Saddles. A parade filled with an eclectic assortment of entertainers and characters -- a bluegrass band, girls on horseback, an antique ice wagon, a prison wagon -- had just come through. Following it was an antique circus wagon filled with exotic creatures who clearly held the promise of something wickedly delightful.

From an event standpoint, the parade was designed as a "pied piper;" an intriguing tease that would move guests from French Street to Midwest Street on the backlot where this blazing event would heat up even more.


Guests followed this motley crew to the mouth of a large clown, reminiscent of a funhouse facade, and through it to a main stage. While many guests transitioned into this alternative environment, even this wasn't enough to lure everyone. Apparently, we'd done TOO good a job at making everyone feel part of this town. No one wanted to leave! To spur them on, we began by closing the bars and letting people know the bars were now open on Midwest Street. But those fried pickles were just too good! We had to take the next step and close the food buffets in this section. Essentially we ended up making our Western world into what many of these cities became after the gold rush -- a ghost town. Yet now, with everyone on Midwest street, we could really let the show begin!

On the main stage, the host of the evening, announced, "Let the show begin." At that point the sky filled with fireworks, marking the end of the first half of the event and the beginning of a program designed for a more mature audience.

It was then that Lucent Dossier, a troupe of performers that walk the fine line between exotic and exotica, who are more Mad Max than Le Cirque, shifted the mood to an after-hours feel with a sexy stage show.

Magical face make up is as detailed at the costumes that the performers of Lucent  Dossier don.

As the troupe took the stage three floats appeared on the street. Each one was "manned" (although that is so not the right word!) by beautiful models supplied and styled by Kelly Cutrone. The first was a "chandelier" float that included a settee and a giant overhead chandelier.

 
The next was a bubble float complete with a bathtub. Some of the models were adorned in balloons to look like they were covered in bubbles, as a giant bubble machine pumped bubbles into the crowd.

And the third creation was a giant bird cage fitted with confetti canons that blew feathers.

Get Me To The Church On Time!

The floats with the models ended their journey at the church. Upon their arrival, bells chimed and little people opened the doors. Our intrepid attendees, who were ready for anything at this point, made their way inside the church. The effect was mesmerizing. The area had been transformed into a miniature version of Versailles filled with chandeliers and gilded French furniture, creating a beautiful European environment.

Everything in this environment was both beautiful and exotic.

Like Versailles, mirrors were a big part of the decor and we used them to explore the adult theme of voyeurism. From any mirror guests could see what was going on in this interactive interior setting. In one area, a dominatrix ruled the space. In another models lounged in vignettes. There were even viewing rooms where guests could watch as a beautiful woman surrounded by gorgeous shoes had her feet tickled by a little person. Everything was toned just right to create layer upon layer of beauty and interest.



Meanwhile, at the Post Office...

In the Post Office storefront, we created an environment of mysticism with decor and entertainment. A Lucent Dossier postmistresses in a Harry Potter-esque environment, distributed handwritten letters to guests that revealed something about them. The intuitive had actually written these letters two months before the event which was genuinely impressive. Another intuitive was housed in an elixir room where he handed specific drinks custom made for each guests' tastes.

An avant-garde food court set with picnic tables and upholstered benches

But no one needed psychic abilities to know that the food at this party was going to be something special. We mixed it up a bit by bringing in the ever-so-popular food trucks. In this case we brought in the Canter's Deli Truck (a Los Angeles late-night institution) to serve corned beef sandwiches along with potato latkes and the Buttermilk food truck that served red velvet pancakes. We had Hot Dog on a Stick serving turkey dogs and jalapeno cheese sticks. These stations were part of a 1930's avant-garde food court set with picnic tables and upholstered benches. The one challenge we had was finding a vendor for funnel cakes, of all things. We finally worked with the Fry Girls, who also served fried candy bars, and began testing a month out.


Back at the Courthouse

Inside the courthouse there was a main stage with multiple acts. Emily Autumn and Rasputina, both alternative singer/songwriters, performed dressed in vintage 1930's attire. Harlow Gold, a six-piece female dance troupe performed dressed in colorful stockings and garters. As they entertained the crowd, two women and two men, each dressed in all-white vintage wardrobe, danced in white cages elevated on platforms.

Harlow Gold

Between sets,  DJ Choc spun LPs as our "Champagne Chandelier Girls" performed aerial acrobatics while pouring champagne to awaiting guests. Talk about rocking the house ... the courthouse that is!

A Champagne Chandelier Girl

Outside and to the right of the courthouse, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelics took the stage. This show launched their national tour and they were awesome!

In the end, we used every facade on Midwest Street. Each one became a completely different environment that transported guests to an alternative world that engaged them on every level with art, performance, cuisine, fashion and the mystical. I think it's safe to say that for these international attendees who came to Hollywood looking for something special found it at this event -- a 3-D fantasy world that touched all their senses.  

Parting Shot: One last look at the exotic world that existed only for one night 
but will remain in memory forever!