The 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards, held on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the prestigious Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, was nothing short of a spectacular celebration of Black excellence.
Events
South Asians Shine Bright at Pre-Oscar Party – “South Asians at the Oscars”
Leading up to the Academy Awards on March 10th, South Asian leaders from film gathered for the annual “South Asians at the Oscars” Pre-Oscar Party. Co-hosted by icons in the South Asian scene such as Kal Penn, Lilly Singh, Hannah Simone, Tan France, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Rupi Kaur, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Shruti Ganguly, Anita Chatterjee, and Archana Jain.
It was a Hollywood night with a lot of great vibes and starry sightings this week of the Oscars. J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot production company was again the site of the US- Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde Awards, an annual event created 18 years ago by Alliance founder Trina Vargo.
Thrilling Premiere: Fox’s ‘The Cleaning Lady’ Season 3 Unveiled with Star-Studded Cast Additions
Grab your mops and detective hats, everyone – it’s cleanup on Stage 15 because The Cleaning Lady is back, and this time, the mess is more thrilling than ever!
JX’24 Celebration Honors Groundbreaking Leaders in U.S.-Japan Entertainment
A week before the Oscars, JX held its JX’24 celebration at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, honoring trailblazers in the U.S.-Japan entertainment industry.
On Sunday, at its highly anticipated US premiere, Dolby Atmos technology transported viewers directly onto Arrakis, the desert planet of Dennis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two.” The latest installment in the iconic trilogy was an alluring experience from start to finish, and with Dolby and its beyond surround-sound and immersive visuals, it was very easy to feel like you had drifted right into the film. But for many premiere guests, the experience doesn’t end in the theater, and “Dune: Part Two” was no exception.
On The Scene: Experiencing the Dune: Part Two NYC Premiere with Dolby Atmos
When it comes to Denis Villeneuve’s films, and especially his takes on Frank Herbert’s cult-classic “Dune” series, one thing is for certain: they must be experienced in theaters. His 2021 film “Dune: Part One,” and it’s following continuation, “Dune: Part Two” (which will make it’s highly anticipated theatrical release on March 1st) are visual and audial masterpieces that transport viewers onto the desert planet of Arrakis, and there’s no better way to experience that than on the big screen.
When viewing a film like “Dune: Part Two,” where viewers are taken on a journey of such epic proportions, how to view it is key. Last night, the highly-anticipated (and star-studded) US Premiere of the film was presented in Dolby Atmos, a stunning technology that ensures sound can be precisely placed anywhere in a room, even overhead, creating an immersive soundscape that sounds more like real life. It’s a leap forward from surround sound that allows viewers to experience multi-dimensional audio with incredible clarity that brings them deeper into the story. For a film like this, Dolby Atmos creates a revolutionary new experience that makes it feel as if you are standing right beside Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atradies, or Zendaya’s Chani.
So what does this mean for viewers come March 1st? “Dune” fans can experience the film with the stunning visuals of Dolby Vision and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos when the film releases. One of the best ways to experience a film with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos is by watching a film at your local Dolby Cinema, which offers guests the best movie-going experience. It unlocks the emotional impact of every film, allowing you to see subtle details and ultra-vivid colors (courtesy of Dolby Vision) and hear sounds come alive all around you (thanks to Dolby Atmos). On top of that, Dolby Cinema also features spacious recliners with clear sight lines. Once you experience films in Dolby Cinema, you won’t want to experience movies any other way afterwards.
Herbert’s iconic novel was split into two parts for Villeneuve’s film saga. Where we left off in the first installment, Paul has just joined Chani and the Fremen on their journey in hopes of bringing peace to Arrakis. The latest installment follows his journey of embracing his fate as the Muad’Dib and avenging the enemies that destroyed his family. Plagued by visions of a detrimental reality, he must choose between fate and love, a near impossible choice. It’s an epic tale of wonder, hope and revenge that must be seen to be believed.
The film, which is currently the number one rated movie of all time on IMDB, is jam packed with new and returning stars, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka,” “Call Me by Your Name”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Malcolm & Marie,” “Euphoria”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”), Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Avengers: End Game,” “Milk”), Oscar nominee Austin Butler (“Elvis,” “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”), Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (“Black Widow,” “Little Women”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Thor: Love and Thunder”), Oscar winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter,” “Hairspray”), Léa Seydoux (the “James Bond” franchise and “Crimes of the Future”), Souheila Yacoub (“The Braves,” “Climax”), with Stellan Skarsgård (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”).
The orange carpet, reminiscent of the stunning hues of Arrakis (best-seen in a Dolby Theater!) was graced with appearances by Chalamet, Zendaya, Ferguson, Brolin, Butler, Pugh, Bautista, Walken, Seydoux, Yacoub, Skarsgård, Rampling, and Bardem, along with filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, producers Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and composer Hans Zimmer.
So what can you look forward to with Dolby on release day? Premium, immersive sound like you’ve never experienced before. With Dolby Atmos, you’ll feel transported into the world of Arrakis, as you’ll be placed right in the middle of the action and ultimately connect more deeply to the characters and emotions on screen. So be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat during high-stakes action sequences, as you may notice the sound of an Ornithopter flying overhead or hear the movements of a nearby sandworm.
Find your nearest Dolby theater here!
It’s always a good time to celebrate…especially when you’re celebrating with El Cristiano Tequila.
A few days before National Margarita Day, El Cristiano Tequila hosted its inaugural mixology workshop at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Co-founder Karan Khanna was on hand to help guide us through the class, where all guests learned how to create three cocktails: a “Mighty Pepper” margarita, the “Aloe There!,” and the “El Negroni.”
Great tequila, like great wine, or really anything in life, is a balancing act. And it’s this balancing act that sets El Cristiano Tequilas apart from others you’ve likely had. While a night out drinking tequila is likely to reward you with a not-so-fun hangover (along with any other regrettable moments, such as dialing an ex), El Cristiano is additive-free and uses only the finest blue agave from Jalisco’s Highlands.
So you can say adios to that burning sensation that typically comes with a shot of tequila. If you want to get all science-y, it’s said that the burn comes from ethanol in the alcohol, which lowers the activation threshold of VR1 receptors. Do away with the lime chaser by just upgrading to good tequila. (You’re welcome.)
And for those who may not be as familiar with Jalisco, true tequila can only be crafted in this legendary region of Mexico, much like true champagne can only be cultivated in the Champagne region of France.
The mixology class is an ideal way to learn how to make some great drinks, whether you could be Tom Cruise’s double in a reboot of the Cocktail movie franchise or whether you’ve never mixed a drink before in your life.
Guests also enjoyed yummy bites paired throughout the night with the drinks, including spiced chicken samosas with cilantro-lime yogurt, black truffle cheese fritters, and french fries. Yum!
About the drinks:
Both the “Mighty Pepper” margarita and the “Aloe There!” cocktail featured El Cristiano Silver, earthy and sweet with notes of mature fruit, cooked and fresh agave.
The Negroni is a classic cocktail, always made with Campari — but the mixologists added a nice twist by adding El Cristiano Reposado, smooth with light spice notes.
About the brand:
El Cristiano Tequila was born from a close-knit group of friends’ shared passion for tequila and Mexico — as well as over four decades of experience.
You can find El Cristiano Tequilas in stores across the country or check out the online store locator for a shop near you.