Report from the Los Angeles charity DAD premiere

16-Nov-2002 • Die Another Day

Yahoo News have reported on the little-known charity premiere that took place in LA earlier in the week. the event was organised to benefit "The Dana and Albert Cubby Broccoli Center for Aortic Diseases" and was strictly by invitation only:

Doing justice to Bond began at arrivals, where evoking the film`s frozen Icelandic setting called for a blue carpet and a 150-foot wall where half the 15-foot-wide panels were clear ice embossed with the 007 logo. Nearby were Olympic-style fencing duelists battling on 5-foot-high platforms.

The most spectacular death in Hollywood history almost occurred when one of the duelists toppled backward and nearly landed on MGM chairman Alex Yemenidjian. Imagine the MGM topper skewered by a sword at a Bond premiere. Who needs publicity campaign if something like that happens?

Fortunately, Yemenidjian and the shaken-not-broken duelist lived to die another day.

Meanwhile, guests continued down the carpet to a 40-foot-long, carved-ice bar serving Finlandia martinis. The concept seemed to be: If you can`t serve a martini before a Bond movie, when can you?

Inside the Shrine, a screen was set on the stage. Though the house is huge, it worked remarkably well for a screening. However, one source said the hair-pulling hassles MGM had with the Shrine management over everything from ticketing to bringing popcorn into the auditorium (the venue just got an expensive makeover and they`re a bit touchy about neatness) makes it unlikely the pair will be doing another screening together soon.

The after-party was in the adjacent exposition hall, which was transformed with acres of white carpet and cobalt blue lighting. The main feature was a 45-foot high, white fabric cube with a four-sided bar, Plexiglas flooring and go-go dancers. One savant said the space had a "techno Ice Capades feel it."

The room did look quite hip, though many of the guests appeared to be from the two-dozen Bond marketing partners. Think of a rave with Ford dealership execs.

And as for as the event`s price tag: A survey of other studio party planners (and they were all there) put the cost between $750,000 and $1 million. Which leaves open the question: If that`s what a "special screening" costs, what`s the tab for next week`s London premiere with Queen Elizabeth?

Among those raving about the picture were director Lee Tamahori; stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry; plus guests Tim Allen, Sean Astin, Sharon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Tara Reid, Barbara Sinatra, John Salley and Venus Williams.