The Spin & the Spun: True Tales From The Oscar Campaign Trail

The Spin & The Spun: True Tales From The Oscar Campaign Trail from Rouslan Ovtcharov on Vimeo.

LOCATION:
Los Angeles Press Club
Thursday, December 11, 2008 from 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM (PT)
4773 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90027
www.lapressclub.org




THE SPIN & THE SPUN: TRUE TALES FROM THE OSCAR CAMPAIGN TRAIL

The presidential election may be over, but Oscar campaigning is just heating up. Each year high profile, high cost marketing efforts push major movies for Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG Awards and other honors. It is an annual rite for studio marketers, publicists and entertainment journalists, who each have a role, whether it is creating publicity campaigns or providing coverage that can shape a movie’s profile.

In a rare behind the scenes look at how the Hollywood publicity machine works, these members of the media, marketers and publicists share stories about how the big movies of recent years were promoted, as well as how the battle is shaping up for the 2008-2009 awards season, which will culminate with the presentation of the 81st annual Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 in Hollywood.

“If you have ever wondered why certain movies are Oscar contenders and others are not, this panel will provide an insider’s view of how things really work in Hollywood,” says Block, a show business historian and Editor-at-Large, The Hollywood Reporter.

This lively panel discussion will be presented by the Los Angeles Press Club in the Steve Allen Theater on Thursday, December 11, 2008 beginning at 7:30 pm. There will be a networking reception before the event beginning at 6:30 pm and for an hour afterward. Admission is free for Los Angeles Press Club members, non-members pay $10 prepaid in advance or $20 at the door, students pay $3 prepaid or $5 at the door.

"Finally, we're going to hear the real story behind the Oscars," says Los Angeles Press Club President Chris Woodyard. "Veteran Hollywood journalist Alex Ben Block has assembled a top-notch cast of insiders who will dish the dirt on the true story behind the Oscars. Anyone who covers Hollywood or follows the entertainment industry won't want to miss this."
Among those featured on the panel will be Patrick Goldstein, film writer for the Los Angeles Times and author of the column and blog, “The Big Picture;” John Horn, entertainment reporter for the Los Angeles Times; Mark Pogachefsky, Co-founder and co-president of mPRm Public Relations; and Dennis Rice, a veteran marketing guru and publicity expert who has held high level posts at Miramax, October, Walt Disney and United Artists Pictures.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

MODERATOR: ALEX BEN BLOCK is Editor-at-Large for The Hollywood Reporter, Show Business Historian for Hollywood Today and Editor of an upcoming book about blockbuster movies for George Lucas Books. Block was Editor of two Hollywood trades: The Hollywood Reporter, and TelevisionWeek. He served as Associate Editor of Forbes Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of eStar.com and was Executive Director of the L.A. Press Club. He is author of "OUTFOXED: The Inside Story of America's Fourth Television Network," and international best-seller "The Legend of Bruce Lee." Block is frequently heard on radio and TV, and has won a number of journalism honors, including three L.A. Press Club Awards.

PATRICK GOLDSTEIN has been writing for the Los Angeles Times since 1979 and has been on the Calendar staff since 1998. His column, “The Big Picture,” offers news and insight on the currents and underpinnings of the film industry. He also has been a contributing writer to major publications such as Rolling Stone, Esquire, Playboy, Vogue, the Chicago Sun-Times, New York Times Sunday Magazine, and British GQ. He received a master’s degree in English literature in 1976 and a bachelor’s degree in film studies in 1975, both from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

JOHN HORN is a Los Angeles Times staff writer covering the entertainment industry
since 2002. He was previously a senior writer at Newsweek and at Premiere magazine, and the entertainment writer for The Associated Press. He began his journalism career at the Orange County Register , He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied dramatic arts.

MARK POGACHEFSKY is Co-founder and co-president of mPRm Public Relations, which provides guidance for motion picture and corporate clients. He has worked on such movies as Brokeback Mountain, Good Night and Good Luck, Mystic River, 21 Grams, Monster, Memento, Elizabeth, L.A. Confidential, In the Bedroom and Fargo. He founded The Pogachefsky Company in 1992, which was merged into mPRm in 1998.

DENNIS RICE has supervised press, advertising, promotion and awards campaigns for films including The Apostle, Hilary and Jackie, Scary Movie, The Cider House Rules, The Incredibles, The Chronicles of Narnia and Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2. He was most recently President of Worldwide Marketing and Publicity for United Artists and was Head of Publicity for Buena Vista Pictures (Disney) . He began his entertainment career at The Walt Disney Studios in 1992 as the head of Marketing for the Buena Vista Home Entertainment Division. In 1998, he shifted into feature films as President of Marketing and Publicity for October Films, a specialty film division of Universal Pictures. He worked for Bob and Harvey Weinstein as President of Marketing at Miramax films for several years where he supervised awards campaigns that resulted in more than 60 Oscar nominations for films such as The Cider House Rules, Bridget Jones' Diary, Chocolat and In the Bedroom.

The Future of News with Lee Abrams

Moderated by Ezra Palmer, former editor of Yahoo News and a Wall Street Journal veteran. Panelists include Lee Abrams and Ron Kaye.


Video by
Edward Headington

Islam and the Media

On Thursday, Oct. 23rd, the Los Angeles Press Club presents a panel discussion about the portrayal of Muslims and Arabs in the media. It seeks to shed light on current efforts to engage more realistic Muslim characters, storylines and news coverage, and bring depth and balance to a faith and people frequently misunderstood in the media. Moderated by Jon Beaupre, professor of journalism at Cal State LA and the secretary of the Los Angeles Press Club, the panel features:
Steve Padilla, Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times
Robert Greenwald, Founder/Director, Brave New Films
Kamran Pasha, Screenwriter/Director/Novelist
Lena Khan, Independent Filmmaker and Social Activist
Ahmed Ahmed, Actor, Comedian with Axis of Evil Comedy Tour
Munira Syeda, Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Moderated by Jon Beaupre

Video by
Jahan Hassan



Video by
Pars National

Sam Sperling

Sam Sperling at the Los Angeles Press Club October 15, 2008

Video by
John F. Gannon

LA Press Club Campaign '08 Debate

"Campaign '08: Is the Press Doing Its Job?" Presidential Debate Panel

Moderator - Kitty Felde, Senior Reporter at KPCC 89.3 FM

Panelists - Ted Johnson, Managing Editor of Variety and in charge of http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/, the blog that investigates and reports on the connections between politics, celebrities and the entertainment industry; Bill Welch, Reporter with USA Today; and Andrew Breitbart, conservative commentator who runs his own site, http://www.breitbart.com/, and writes for the Washington Times.

Video by
Edward Headington

Daniel Pearl Fellows 2008

An exciting reception and discussion with the Daniel Pearl Foundation, Jewish Journal Editor in Chief, Rob Eshman, the Pearl Family, and Daniel Pearl Fellows, Umar Cheema and Utku Çakirözer.

Video by
Edward Headington

President's Award - Steve Lopez

Los Angeles Times columnist, Steve Lopez, receiving the President's Award from the Los Angeles Press Club at the 50th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards.

Video by
Edward Headington

May Day Melee: One Year Later

Panel discussion with Pepe Barreto, Entertainment Reporter with KMEX-TV; Yareli Arizmendi, who co-wrote the screenplay and starred in "A Day Without a Mexican"; Rick Nahmias, writer, filmmaker, and photographer with "The Migrant Project: Contemporary California Farm Workers"; Laura Angelica Simon, award-winning writer and producer of "Fear and Learning at Hoover Elementary"; and L.A.P.D. Deputy Chief Michael Hillman.

Video by
Edward Headington

All For a Few Perfect Waves

Wednesday April 30, 2008 at 7:00pm
Los Angeles Press Club at the Steve Allen Theater
4773 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90027
Category: Media
Website: http://lapressclub.org
WHAT: Party and book signing.

David Rensin's new book, "All For a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki 'Da Cat' Dora," is an oral and narrative biography of the once and forever (and late) enigmatic king of Malibu and world wanderer.

____________________
Video and Editing by
Rouslan Ovtcharov

Transforming the Los Angeles Times

An Evening with L.A. Times Editor Russ Stanton
Thursday April 24, 2008 at 7:00pm
Los Angeles Press Club at the Steve Allen Theater
4773 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90027
Category: Media
Website: http://lapressclub.org
WHAT: Transforming the Los Angeles Times: An Evening with Editor Russ Stanton.

The L.A. Times just turned to its innovations expert to become its next editor. Russ Stanton, in what likely will be his first live public appearance since becoming editor, will talk about the slipping circulation and slashed budgets that face The Times and newspapers around the country. And he may offer a few early glimpses of how he plans to turn things around. How will The Times continue its Pulitzer-winning tradition? Come hear Stanton on the future of the news business, and hear answers to your questions about the West's largest daily newspaper.

_____________________
Video and Editing by
Rouslan Ovtcharov

Herald Examiner Reunion Party

“A Return To Corky’s: The Ultimate Herald Examiner Almost-20th Reunion Party

WHAT:
Corky's, one of the world’s great newspaper bars, may be long gone. But for one night we will recreate Corky's -- at least in spirit -- at the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood to commemorate the late, great Herald Examiner, which perished just over 19 years ago. Former editorial employees, friends and those just curious about an important piece of L.A. history will reminisce, catch up, party and discuss the lasting imprint of one of the city's most colorful newspapers.

The Herald Examiner, once the largest afternoon daily in the U.S., livened up the city until its untimely death in 1989. For one glorious evening, the HerEx and the 11th Street tavern that slacked thirsts, provided a refuge for journalists and hosted bad karaoke for a generation will live again!

WHO:
Producer/Moderator Alex Ben Block ('79-'84) is joined by legendary editor Jim Bellows ('78-'81), Ron Kaye (current editor of L.A. Daily News), Linda Breakstone and HerEx alumni who scattered to just about everywhere -- the Times, Daily News, broadcast, magazines and the Internet. Know where to find a fellow HerEx'er? Track them down or let us know about them.

WHY:
Because it's time. The Herald's legacy couldn't be more important given the threats to important media voices -- all under pressure because of a souring economy, new media and changing consumer preferences.

WHEN:
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TO Thursday, March 13th, Reception and networking start at 6 p.m.; Program starts at 7:30 p.m.; HerEx Reunion Group photo immediately following the program. Spirit of Corky’s bar ‘til 11 pm.

WHERE:
The Los Angeles Press Club at the Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles , CA 90027 (two blocks west of Vermont Ave ). Plenty of free parking behind the building (enter off of Berendo Street); Metro: Red line, Sunset/Vermont station.

Video by
Edward Headington

1st ANNUAL NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISM AWARDS

1st ANNUAL NATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALISM AWARDS
A1 Best News Story - Print
MATTHEW GARRAHAN, Financial Times
2nd Place: Nikki Finke, LA Weekly

A2 Best News Story - Television
JACOB H. SOBOROFF, Why Tuesday?

A3 Best News Story - Radio
DARBY MALONEY an MATT HOLZMAN, KCRW
“Film Piracy”
2nd Place: Noe Tannigawa, Hawaii Public Radio

A4 Best News Story - Online
NIKKI FINKE, LA Weekly

B1 Best Feature Story - Print
MATTHEW BELLONI, Esquire Magazine
2nd Place: Richard Tomlinson, Fergal O’Brien and Monee Fields-White, Bloomberg “Bono Inc.”

Honorable Mention: Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, “Bullets in His Head”

B2 Best Feature Story - Television
JEFFREY K. HOWARD, KCLV, Las Vegas
2nd Place: Shawn Edwards and Russ Simmons, WDAF Fox4News, Kansas City

Honorable Mention: Sandie Newton, Mona Khanna, Billy Sexton and Daniel Penz. KTVT CBS-11 News

B3 Best Feature Story - Radio
QUEENA KIM and CHARLES SOLOMON, KPCC, “Bambi”
2nd Place: Beth Accomando, PRI’s The World

Honorable Mention: Claude Brodesser-Akner, Matt Holzman andRay Guarna, KCRW

B4 Best Feature Story - Online
NIKKI FINKE, LA Weekly
2nd Place: Sara Shereen Bakhshian, CW Network

Honorable Mention: Jacob H. Soboroff, Why Tuesday?

C1 Best Critic - Print
ELLA TAYLOR, LA Weekly
2nd Place: Jason Bracelin, Las Vegas Review Journal

Honorable Mention: Michael Sraqow, Baltimore Sun

C2 Best Critic - Television
SHAWN EDWARDS and RUSS SIMMONS, Fox4News, Kansas City
2nd Place: Jeffrey K. Howard, KVBC, Las Vegas

Honorable Mention: Manny Dela Rosa, KMIR6NBC, Palm Desert

C3 Best Critic - Radio
JOE MORGENSTERN, KCRW
2nd Place: Peter Noble-Kuchera, WFIU Public Radio, Indiana

Honorable Mention: James Taylor, KCRW

C4 Best Critic - Online
NIKKI FINKE, LA Weekly

An Evening with Bill Boyarksy

Discussion of his new book, The Big Daddy, and time recently spent on the campaign trail in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Video by
Edward Headington