Don't be surprised if you see photos of Hilary Swank, Ali Larter, Kate Walsh, Pete Wentz, Aaron Eckhart, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Panettiere and, heck, maybe even Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Dubai in a year or so.
Last night, these celebs showed up in their best borrowed jewels, gowns and designer suits to walk a red carpet, talk about Dubai and pose for photos with the Donald.
"It was really weird," said one seasoned reporter. "Stars didn't do the line like they usually do. They were being taken to various press outlets. And no one wanted to talk about anything else else, even their upcoming projects. Just Dubai. It was like they were doing paid infomercials for Trump's hotel."
About that pay ... Asked if he'd ever been to Dubai, a powerful publicist for an Oscar-level star who attended the party told me, "Not yet! But with this party's free trip, I'm going real soon!"
So it wasn't just the stars who were getting freebies (free first-class air travel, luxury hotel/residence digs, free cars), it was also their reps who brokered the appearance deals. And this is on top of major cash outlays as well, according to participants.
This kind of party payola is pretty par for the course, but Trump, as usual, has taken it to a new level.
Which he also did when he introduced Christina Aguilera, set to perform later in the evening: “We just love Christina, and I’ve been with her many times. But not in a sexual way, though I wish, I wish.”
To see more stars in their Trumped-up style, keep reading ...
Photos: Donald Trump and Orlando Bloom. Christina Aguilera and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. WireImage
If you'reDonald Trump, it's not hard to get celebrities to show up for your party. And if you're a powerful and wealthy sultan, it's even easier.
An exclusive party to launch the Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai will be thrown by Donald Trump and His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem at a private estate in Bel-Air on Saturday night.
And the stars are definitely coming out for this bash.
The long black limo list includes Hilary Swank, Russell Crowe, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, Brent Bolthouse, Aaron Eckhart (Harvey "Two Face" in "Dark Knight"), Kate Walsh, HBO honcho Colin Callendar, WolfgangPuck, and more. Heidi Klum, Naomi Watts and Demi Moore turned out for the NY version June 23.
So who is this sultan dude? He's the founder-chairman of Dubai World, a holding company that has $80 billion-$100 billion in assets, including one of the world's largest port operators, a massive private equity house, retailer Barneys New York, and Nakheel, developer of the new hotel and Dubai's palm-tree-shaped man-made islands.
He also owns the port operating subsidiary that had control of six U.S. ports until Congress objected to handing the keys to a Middle Eastern company.
Shuttles will ferry nonceleb guests from a UCLA parking lot all night. There will be a live performance by Christina Aguilera, with DJ duties being handled by Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz, and you just know he's gonna play a few of his preggers wife Ashlee Simpson's songs.
I'll be there to check out the celeb scene and report this weekend.
The party is officially designed to spread the word about the 62-story, stainless steel and glass luxury hotel/residence masterpiece -- which will be tallest structure on Palm Jumeirah and is expected to be completed in summer 2011.
But I'm betting they're gonna lay the groundwork for major celeb attendance for the grand opening in Dubai.
Photos: Donald Trump poses with a replica of the new luxury hotel in Dubai at the NY launch party. Orlando Bloom is just one of many stars expected at the bash Saturday night. WireImage
According to People.com, an unshaven Bloom, 31, met up with the Victoria's Secret model and her parents for a cozy lunch at Catalina's in Rose Bay, in Sydney.
Kerr, wearing a gray jersey dress and brown boots, told a fellow diner that her jet-lagged sweet had been "very reclusive" since arriving Down Under. "I've had to drag him out today," she chirped.
But once he met Ma and Pa Kerr, Bloom perked up, and, as they were leaving, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor was seen giving Kerr's mum a big hug. Awww.
Wonder if Orly will be in L.A. with Miranda next week? She's doing promotional appearances for Victoria's Secret, including the launch of a fragrance, Heavenly Kiss, at Eva Longoria's new restaurant, Beso, on May 6.
But you can judge a film by its premiere party star power.
Tuesday’s night party in New York for Martin Scorcese’s “The Departed” drew a Hollywood icon (Lauren Bacall), a music legend (Billy Joel) and two Rolling Stones (Mick and Ronnie). Listen for some classic Stones tunes in Scorcese's return to his "Mean Streets" beginnings. Along with the cast, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, this party was a pretty big bill to top.
But writer/director Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” party – sponsored by Chanel - at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood came in a close second.
The reigning queens of the night were definitely Sofia - in a Chanel Spring '07 pleated chiffon dress - and her movie muse, Kirsten Dunst, in a Christian LaCroix halter gown.
Penelope Cruz came glued to her “Volver” director Pedro Almodovar. Geoffrey Rush caught up with Angelica Huston, who later chilled on the patio with her husband and Jason Schwartzman. Will Ferrell was there and so was Courtney Love, who is starting to do a Thanksgiving Day Parade float imitation again (shock!).
I think I saw Samantha Mathis (where the heck has she been anyway?) in the crowd. Mike White and Robin Tunney seemed to be in good spirits.
One of the first to arrive was Maria Bello, followed by LA’s ultimate cool trio Donovan Leitch, Kristy Hume and Ione Sky and famed fashion photog Ellen Von Unwerth.
Also in the party: Mischa Barton, Drew Barrymore, Milla Jovovich, The Strokes, and Bow Wow Wow.
Dunst kept close to her patio table for most of the night, closely guarded by her PPP (Protective Personal Publicist) Steven Huvane.
No sign of a hot date for the "Marie" star. But guess who arrived late and snunk in under the radar? Her rumored on-again/off-again beau, Orlando Bloom.
Perhaps now that Bloom’s ex-girlfriend Kate Bosworth has dieted down to bare bones, his eyes are back on the slightly meatier Dunst, who at least has a BMI that might permit her to model in Madrid.
Much like “Marie Antoinette,” the most impressive aspects of the party were not the actors but the astonishing set, costumes and props.
The Chateau was transformed into a tiny Versailles with a ballroom, crystal chandeliers, Louis XIV chairs, period rugs, huge gilded mirrors and bouquets of pink roses/ gardenias.
Perrier Jouet was flowing and a decadent dessert banquet was piled with white chocolate boxes containing tiny berries, pastel-colored French macaroons, meringue, tarts, pink and lavender cupcakes and petite cotton candy.
The only thing missing was a few white powdered wigs, which, come it think of it, would have looked better on Bloom than that wierd flat hat.
This isn’t the first time the Chateau – which was actually inspired by a Loire Valley chateau - has been cleared out and transformed.
“I remember we cleared the lobby out for our very first party,” recalled Marmont’s owner Andre Balazs. "It was for Sofia's 17th birthday party."
How tres, tres appropriate.
By the way, the mystery of where those pink Converse shoes came from has been solved.
Seems Io Bottoms, who plays a lady-in-waiting in "Marie," bought the pink Chucky's in Paris for Kirsten to wear during rehearsals and down time on the set.
"They cost about 80 Euros," she explained, "They were a gift for Kirsten."
Then Sofia's bro, Roman Coppola, slid the funky modern shoes into that shot of Marie Antoinette's fancy French period footwear.
So now you know.
Photo Credits: Mick, Leo and Ron get satisfaction at the New York premiere of "The Departed." Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.
Photo Credits: Long live the Queens! Kirsten and Sofia party hearty at the Chateau Marmont. Eric Charbonneau/WireImage Photo Credits: Penelope Cruz, a buzzed about Oscar possibility, makes the scene at the Marie Antoinette party at the Chateau. Eric Charbonneau/WireImage Photo Credits: Better than her 17th birthday party? You betcha. Sofia's table awaits her at the Marie post party. Eric Charbonneau/WireImage
At the London premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” Keira Knightley told reporters thats she’s not, we repeat, not, not, absolutely not anorexic.
She told People that she knows she’s not suffering from the common eating disorder because her grandmother and great-grandmother suffered from it. Um, o-kay, but can't this eating disorder thing run in the family?
The fact that Knightley’s skimpy backless gold Gucci gown showed off her bony ribs, sharp shoulder blades, bird-thin arms, protruding sternum and spine did absolutely nothing to feed all those preposterously silly, silly rumors. How does this viscious gossip spread, anyway?
Hey, at least the London press got to actually speak to her about something. Not to mention getting actual sound bites from her “Pirates” co-stars Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
Fat chance the hundreds of press who waited for 5 ½ hours at the Disneyland “Pirates” premiere had to get her to talk about anything.
But thumbs up for that new disheveled short bob, Keira. It makes your absolutely not anorexic hollow cheekbones look way full and healthy.
Photo Credits: Keira Knightley is not suffering from anorexia. She’s just incredibly, incredibly skinny. And anorexia runs in her family. Now leave the poor girl alone, people! WireImage/Ferdaus Shamim
The most popular ride at Disneyland Saturday was the red carpet for the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”
And the longest. The red carpet was over 1,000 ft. long, rolling down Main Street, snaking by Fantasyland and ending at Adventureland. But for hundreds of international TV, radio, internet and print reporters and thousands of fans who'd come to see “Pirates” stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, the carpet ride became pretty disappointing by the end of the night.
Fans staked out coveted spots along the carpet when the park opened at 6:30 a.m. The press arrived at 3 p.m. to prepare for celebrity arrivals from 5-6. But by 6:30, only a few non-famous guests came wandering in.
Since the premiere invite stressed ‘pirate garb,' there were more eye patches, head bandanas, gold earrings, skull 'n crossbones, puffy shirts, and pirate hats - not to mention dark sooty Jack Sparrow eyeliner - than you could shake a saber at.
Early on, the throng of fans – most wearing Disney's pirate mouse ears (gold hoop earring in one ear) – were hopeful and enthusiastic, shouting, screaming, holding up banners and photos of Depp and Bloom and ‘We Love You Johnny!’ posters. They were only too happy to jump and scream to create B-roll color for the camera crews and applaud the professional Disneyland pirates who were singing, playing accordions, juggling balls and knives and walking on stilts up and down the carpet.
There was a pre-party with grog and grub at the Blue Bayou and Café Orleans for the premiere guests. They could also ride the new Pirates ride that features characters from the film (Jack Sparrow, his nemesis Captain Barbossa and the squid-faced Davy Jones) and then fill three huge red, yellow and green bleachers to view the film scheduled to be shown on an outdoor screen at around 9 p.m.
But by 7:30, the fans out on the carpet were getting hungry and hoarse, children began whimpering and even the seasoned press was turning surly.
“We’ve been standing here 5 hours and we’ve not seen a single lead actor from the film,” groused a KTLA reporter. “This is insane. Why would they make us stand out here this long?” Even a befuddled German reporter asked, “Is this normal?”
“Is Johnny here?” reporters pestered the nervous Disney publicists. “Where’s Keira?” "Has anyone seen Orlando?” "Will they talk to us?”
“They’re here,” one publicist promised. “Johnny’s doing the new Pirates of the Caribbean ride and they’re taking photographs. But he’ll be here. Just be patient.”
So reporters relaxed and chatted up non-Pirate people to kill time. “Entourage” star Kevin Dillon told press that his fans scream “Drama!” and “Viking Quest!” wherever he goes. Director James Cameron, who has a cameo on “Entourage,” plugged his new film “Avatar,” a sci-fi flick set on another planet that will be released next year in 3-D HD. But he admitted he’d probably do better with a real “Aquaman” since it’s gotten built-in buzz from the show.
Jon Voight stammered when a reporter asked if he’d seen his new grandchild. The answer was “No” but he’s, um, “very proud of Angie and all the work she's doing.” And he hasn’t sent a baby gift. And he’d really rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.
Holly Robinson Peete was very popular with press because she actually knows Depp from his “21 Jump Street Days.” “Who would you like to have a pirate adventure with?” queried a TV reporter. “Well, not Johnny. He’s a friend. Unlike every other woman in the world, I just don’t feel that way about him,” Robinson-Peete explained.
Marilyn Manson – dressed not like a pirate but like Marilyn Manson – was also a hot interview once word spread on the line that he actually knows Depp, who may star in a movie he’s making about Lewis Carroll. “I’m just here to see Johnny. He’s my friend. He’s a real pirate. I’ve got absinthe in my boots and I’m a pirate, too.” Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed autographs, talked to a few TV reporters and tried to ignore the smattering of loud “boos” from the crowd. Inexplicably, his wife Maria Shriver wore a Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt emblazoned with Michelangelo’s David wearing a sequin fig leaf.
Finally, around 8 p.m., a few actors who actually appear in “Pirates” made their way down the press line. Bill Nighy, who plays the octo-pussed Davy Jones, said it was surreal having to play piano with his face tentacles. Vanessa Branch, who plays the wench Giselle, revealed how much fun she had slapping Depp in all three films.
All three? ...
Photo Credit: Keira Knightley faces what Disney called the longest red carpet in the world. WireImage/Lester Cohen
Photo Credit: Johnny Depp signs autographs for fans at the Disneyland premiere of "Pirates." WireImage/Lester Cohen
Photo Credit: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver walk the "Pirates" plank. Wire/Image/Gregg DeGuire
Spirits were sky high - literally - at last night's world premiere of “Superman Returns.”
At the after-party, the cast - Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane), Kevin Spacey, (Lex Luthor)Parker Posey, Frank Langella, James Marsden and that hot new Man of Steel Brandon Routh - were all ecstatic about the raves for the iconic super hero's return to the big screen.
The top secret party location - according to the clever ’Daily Planet’ party pass - was due to concerns that the evil Luthor might crash Sup's party. But the bash turned out to be in an open air venue on the Veteran’s Administration grounds - just a quick limo hop from the nearby Mann Village and Mann National theatres in Westwood.
Spotted in the family-style crowd: a blonde Roseanne Barr with her son Buck, former small screen Superman Dean Cain, Eva Longoria and her arm candy Tony Parker, Josh Jackson, Shaq O’Neal, Virginia Madsen, SNL stars Chris Kattan, Rachel Dratch and Amy Poehler, “Star Wars’” Mark Hamill, Michelle Trachtenberg, Paul Stanley of Kiss, Anna Paquin and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Everyone, even cast members, brought families, including Routh (pronounced like south), whose real-life mom carefully smoothed her 6’3” inch son’s hair before photogs snapped him arriving at the bash.
But guests had more to do than mingle. Some lined up to be snapped for a souvenir Daily Planet front page. Others snarfed down-home vittles in a cornfield/picnic tables Smallville setting. Many hung out nibbling sushi and cocktails in Luther's disco-like lair lit by laser lights.
A few guests even tried to fly.
That sporadic deafening roar heard through the night came from a 747 engine-sized fan that simulated sky diving for those brave/stupid enough to climb into flight suits and slap on helmets. “Imagine throwing yourself into a tornado,” explained the machine's operator. Um, thanks but no thanks. A far more popular exercise was the strap-in Gyroscope. But most parents only dared let young children leap on trampolines with bungee harnesses around their middles for a fleeting feeling of flight. Bosworth sought relief from fans and press in a well-guarded celeb section with her on-again beau, Orlando Bloom, who has his own even bigger premiere – “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” premieres on Saturday at Disneyland.
The blonde actress affectionately rubbed Bloom’s back and kissed him languorously. Bloom kept close watch when his girl was pulled away to pose cheek-to-chest with her super onscreen love interest. He even barked a cautionary “Hey!” when Routh squeezed Kate a little closer. No worries, Orlando. Routh’s girlfriend Courtney Ford was watching, too.
So where’s Superman/Clark Kent been? Seems he flitted off to Krypton to find his family, leaving behind a really annoyed Lois and a worried Mom.
In reality, he was trapped in Hollywood Development Hell for a decade until 2004, when “X-Men” director Bryan Singer signed on and made his vision: a more human – and sexually active – superhero who returns to earth to find that his true love has a five-year-old son and is involved with another man. Oh, and that his nemesis Luthor is out of jail and taking over the world again. Man, that guy just never gives up.
Routh handled it all - the long press line and the onslaught of congrats and photo requests at the party - like a pro. But he’s gotta feel like he’s landed on another planet. The unknown actor explained that he's gone from wearing Superman pajamas as a kid and dressing up like Superman for Halloween in 2004 to landing this lead role a year later.
But his onscreen mom – Eva Marie Saint – wasn’t worried about Routh getting warped by overnight fame. “Brandon will be just fine. He’s very grounded and disciplined,” said Saint. “He’s a good Midwestern boy – born in Iowa - and he has a firm foundation and values.”
But she did have one beef with the actor. No flight lessons.
“I didn’t get to fly once,” Saint complained. “I’ve told the producers that I’m not doing the next movie unless I get to fly. Superman should take his mom flying at least once!”
Photo Credits: Kate Bosworth cuddles close with her Pirate beau Orlando Bloom at the "Superman Returns" post party. WireImage/Eric Charbonneau
Photo Credits: Brandon Routh gets cozy with Kate, who plays his on-screen love, Lois Lane. Better watch out, Orlando. After all, the dude is Superman. WireImage/Eric Charbonneau
Last night, these celebs showed up in their best borrowed jewels, gowns and designer suits to walk a red carpet, talk about Dubai and pose for photos with the Donald.
So it wasn't just the stars who were getting freebies (free first-class air travel, luxury hotel/residence digs, free cars), it was also their reps who brokered the appearance deals. And this is on top of major cash outlays as well, according to participants.
