Lights? Check. Camera? Check. Action? Action? Due to some cantankerous wintry weather, there was less action than expected.
As it was, the Lights Camera Action Academy Awards gala - the Little Rock watch party formerly known as Oscar Night America - was shortened due to freezing rain that descended onto Little Rock early on the evening of March 2. But the show did go on at Chenal Country Club, with event chairman Lori Snyder overseeing and Heather Brown of radio station KLAL-FM, “Alice” 107.7, and Barry Brandt, KATV-TV, Channel 7 meteorologist, as hosts.
The gala, a benefit for Wolfe Street Foundation, underwent a name change after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it would sanction no official Oscar Night America watch parties for 2014. All the main features were there, though: guests in tuxedos and glitzy gowns; a VIP “green room” reception; red-carpet interviews; myriad silent-auction items; and a live auction that included a Dallas Cowboys sports package, a silver fox stroller, an Alwand Vahan bracelet from Jones and Son Fine Diamond & Bridal Fine Jewelry and a trip to New York complete with Fashion Week passes.Red-wrapped boxes sold for $40 for a chance at a pair of platinum and silver 3-carat diamond hoop earrings. A sumptuous four-course dinner featured bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin and caramel flan cheesecake. There was a “Predict the Winners” raffle ballot. Testimonies on behalf of the foundation’s Wolfe Street Center, whose mission is “to provide facilities for support groups faithful to the original 12 Steps and to develop and implement programs aimed toward education and prevention for those persons interested in recovery from … alcoholism.”
Shown on multiple big screens in the club ballroom, the awards broadcast was disrupted by periodic satellite-feed problems, but guests did enjoy such early elements as the wisecracks by host Ellen DeGeneres, and the touching acceptance speech made by Best Supporting Actor Jared Leto, before rushing off to beat the front that would turn slush to ice later.
High Profile, Pages 43 on 03/09/2014