TOM CRUISE HONORED AS 2018 Pioneer of the Year at CinemaCon in Las Vegas - CRUISE IS THE FIRST MOVIE STAR TO RECEIVE THE AWARD

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation (WRMPPF) honored Tom Cruise, multiple Academy Award nominee and three-time Golden Globe winner, as its 2018 Pioneer of the Year. Director, producer and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie presented Cruise with the prestigious award at the Foundation’s annual Pioneer of the Year dinner, which took place Wednesday night at Caesars Palace during the National Association of Theaters Owners (NATO) annual convention, CinemaCon.
Cruise was honored before an audience of 2,500 motion picture executives consisting of film studio chiefs, theatrical distribution heads, and exhibition presidents and CEOs. Multiple Emmy-winning actor and comedian James Corden surprised guests to emcee the evening that included a special performance by Tony and Grammy Award-winning Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr. Additional appearances were made by actors Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg and Paramount Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Gianopulos.
A tradition for 72 years, the Pioneer of the Year dinner honors leaders of the motion picture industry and within the philanthropic community. The Pioneer of the Year award is one of the motion picture industry’s highest honors. This year’s event raised a CinemaCon record of more than $1.5 million for the benefit of the Pioneers Assistance Fund which provides financial assistance to individuals in the motion picture distribution and exhibition community who are encountering an illness, injury, or a life-changing event.

A global cultural icon, Cruise has portrayed some of the most memorable characters of all time in blockbuster films such as Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, Risky Business, Minority Report, Interview with the Vampire, A Few Good Men, The Firm, Rain Man, Collateral, The Last Samurai, Edge of Tomorrow, The Color of Money and the Mission: Impossible franchise, among many others.
Cruise’s versatility is evidenced by the films he selects and characters he portrays. He has had a producing role on many of his legendary films and has worked with a remarkable list of award-winning and esteemed film directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Neil Jordan, Brian de Palma, Cameron Crowe, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ed Zwick, Steven Spielberg, Michael Mann, J.J. Abrams, Robert Redford, Brad Bird, Doug Liman and Chris McQuarrie.
Cruise will next star in the sixth installment in the Mission Impossible (July 27, 2018) franchise for Paramount Pictures followed by Top Gun: Maverick (July 12, 2019), the studio’s long awaited sequel to the Cruise classic Top Gun.
“A consummate filmmaker, leader, and visionary involved in all aspects of film production, Tom is an accomplished member of our entertainment community who demonstrates extraordinary creativity and exceptional influence in our industry; these qualities make him a true pioneer,” said Kyle Davies, President of WRMPPF and President of Domestic Distribution at Paramount Pictures. “We are delighted to honor Tom as the 2018 Pioneer of the Year.”

Cruise is the first actor to receive the award. Having achieved extraordinary success as an actor and producer in a career spanning over three decades, Cruise is a three-time Academy Award® nominee and three-time Golden Globe Award winner whose films have grossed $9 billion in worldwide box office — an incomparable accomplishment.

IT’S A WRAP! Kitty Bungalow’s CATstravaganza a Roaring Success Cat Lovers, Broadway Fans, and Hollywood Stars Raise Unprecedented Funds for Feline Friends

Last night on Saturday, April 21st at the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, Cat-Lovers, Broadway fans, and Stars of two legs and four came out to support Kitty Bungalow’s musical CATstravaganza, Hamilton’s Cats. The show ended up being the most successful of Kitty Bungalow’s to date aiding the non-profit’s mission of turning feral cats into furrever companions by raising more than $65,000.
Kitty Bungalow Founder and Head Mistress Shawn Simons said, “This, our now seventh year of our celebrity musical event, was by far our most ambitious undertaking. Thankfully, our sponsors, celebrities and friendly audience did not disappoint all coming out to be a part of the music and laughs, all for a not so funny cause, the feline over-population problem still plaguing our city. The kitties couldn't be more grateful.”
The show Hamilton's Catstold the story of a small-town cat rescue that decided to put on the musical Catsas a fundraiser for their organization. Sadly, no one was interested until they discovered Andrew Lloyd Webber planned to attend. Featuring the talents of Fred Willard (“Modern Family”), Emily Deschanel (“Bones”), Wendi McLendon Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Mindy Sterling (“Con Man”), Kirsten Vangsness (“Criminal Minds”), Nicole Sullivan (“Black-ish”), Bethany Joy Lenz (“Dexter”), Elaine Hendrix (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”), Carla Jimenez (“The Mick”), Brendan Robinson (“Pretty Little Liars”), Lori Alan (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), Maiara Walsh (“Switched at Birth”), and Moshow the Cat Rapper. 
The event began with the Hamilton’s Cats stars walking the red carpet at 7:00pm, which was hosted by Bonnie-Jill Laflin. At the same time, doors opened to guests where they could bid on prizes, play games, or enjoy magic tricks with The Fantastic Fig and his Cat Newton. The curtain rose at 8:00pm, with a half hour intermission beginning at 9:00pm where guests were treated to live music by duo Almond&Olive. After the end of the second act, Kitty Bungalow’s theatre patrons enjoyed an after party with DJ’s, an open bar, tapas, and other treats.
 The year’s CATstravaganza was a roaring success; and thanks to Kitty Bungalow’s sponsor Solid Gold Pet Nutrition, 100% of all sales went to help rescue more homeless animals. Additional thanks go to Fizzion Concentrated, Lime Crime, and Michelson Found Animals.
About Kitty Bungalow: Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that rescues, neuters, socializes and finds homes for feral kittens while providing outreach, education and Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) services. Dedicated to the city of Los Angeles and its street cats, their goal is a truly humane LA.

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Unleashes Nightly Shows, Sliders Unite, Annual Halloween Costume Contest & Drag Show, and More Chilling Entertainment Through Nov. 1

Dark Harbor Unveiled with Largest Opening Weekend in History of Attraction

The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor opened on Thursday, September 28 unveiling a spectacle of new, terrifying attractions with more monsters and scares than ever before. Thousands of brave thrill seekers joined the cast of spirits and phantoms for a completely sold out opening weekend. The blood curdling terror of Dark Harbor will continue with themed entertainment and thrilling special events on select nights through November 1.

Dark Harbor offers hair-raising-fun entertainment and special ghoulish events throughout the frightful season. Nightly shows on the fire stage welcome the Queen Mary spirits showing off their terrifying talents with fire breathing, circus performances, monster dance parties, live music, and more. The Ariel stage holds nightly spine-tingling performances by the world-renown contortionist, a silk aerialist, magicians, nightly DJs and more.

Dark Harbor Sliders will skid fear down Monster Midway, showing-off their death defying tricks and popular Slider Olympics, with two shows per night. On October 14 and November 1, Dark Harbor will once again push the artistic boundaries of ‘sliding’ by bringing the top sliders from across Southern California together at the authentic haunt with Sliders Unite.

On Halloween night, October 31, Dark Harbor will celebrate the haunted holiday with its annual costume contest. Then November 1 will welcome the Dia De Los Muertos celebration. Thrill seekers are invited to don their best costume, dance with monsters, and sip specialty spirits for a frightful fete like no other.

Dark Harbor 2017 unveiled multiple new attractions including the gruesome new maze, FEAST, that tells the tale of the newest resident spirit, Chef, and his long-forgotten legend. FEAST is the 4th maze onboard the actual Queen Mary ship, venturing into previously unrevealed areas. Also new this year, the Chef’s Meat Locker unveiled the frozen depths of the one-of-a-kind ice bar experience taking guests into a 9-degree environment for a curated selection of flavored tasting flights.

Iconic Dark Harbor mazes Deadrise, B340, Lullaby, Soulmate, Intrepid and Circus returned, each with new enhancements and horrors, haunted by the spirits of The Captain, Half Hatch Henry, Scary Mary, Graceful Gail, Iron Master, The Ringmaster and more than 400 terrifying monsters.

For the first time, Dark Harbor offers three parking options for convenient and cost effective festival arrival and departure. General parking is located at the Long Beach Court House for $15 a vehicle and in the Aquarium of the Pacific Parking Structure for $3/hour or $16 per vehicle. General parking guests can hop on the FREE shuttle bus for complimentary rides to Dark Harbor from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., or board the FREE Dark Harbor Express boat at Dock 4, operated by Aqua Link open 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Premium parking is limited and available onsite at the Queen Mary for $20 per vehicle.

Dark Harbor will be open on select night through November 1 from 7 p.m.-12 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday nights, and 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday evenings. Happy Haunting Hour is available 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. in the all-new Voodoo Brew in Voodoo Village before the gates open to Dark Harbor. Tickets to Happy Haunting Hour are very limited, start at $20 and include general admission to Dark Harbor with arrival prior to 8 p.m. General admission tickets start at just $24 online. For more information, or to purchase tickets visit www.queenmary.com/events/dark-harbor.

2017 Knott's Scary Farm

Knott's Scary Farm kicked off Thursday night at Knott's Berry Farm for its 45th year of Halloween haunts, scares, and clowns. This year there are 9 mazes to go through.
One of the new mazes this year is "Dark Ride", an abandoned carnival attraction. There were fire-breathing dragons and possessed furniture, tons of blood and guts.
Also new this year "The Pumpkin Eater", taking visitors into the lair of a seven-foot creature that likes to have its visitors for dinner. The maze takes you through the inside of a giant pumpkin, seeds and all, as well as through all sorts of other creepy obstacles, including a cave of creepy insects, a labyrinth of thorns, and a cornfield.
Next the Re-Vamped "Trick or Treat": One of Knott’s most popular mazes has gotten a very scary new twist this year. This maze is now in the dark! You’ll be given a flashlight to make your way through this well decorated house. But beware, your flashlight is defective. Along the way, your flashlight will turn itself off and on, blink, change colors, and vibrate. This was a highly entertaining attraction. There’s a lot of psychological terror that comes with walking through a maze filled with monsters in the dark! Cool and fun, my favorite!

Returning Mazes:

"Paranormal Inc.", which returns from last year. This maze includes a pre-show that sets up the maze, with its earnest parapsychologists trying to capture a ghost spirit. The pre-show leads into a trek through an abandoned hospital returned to life, with corpses, vengeful nurses, high flying aerial stunts and ghostly special effects as guests investigate a haunted hospital.

"Special Ops": Armed with specially designed laser guns, brave groups of guests will embark on a mission to fight blood thirsty zombies. There are more interactive targets this year. This maze has changed significantly over the years and moved from its outdoor location in Camp Snoopy to a controlled environment behind Mystery Lodge.

"Red Barn": If you like blood and gore, this one is for you not to be missed! Take a trip to a blood-soaked barn filled with carnivorous animals seeking to prey on human flesh in the Red Barn gore maze. Legend has it the farmer who owns the barn was transformed into a heinous creature that sends his sadistic sons to ensure his legacy. None dare enter the barn, for those who enter never escape.

"Voodoo": This old favorite has been significantly rethought for the 2017 season, breathing new life into an old swamp. By switching the flow of traffic in the maze and having guests enter through last year’s exit, they’ve made the experience feel new. This is a seriously impressive maze with actual swamps filled with water, stilt houses, and a patchwork of voodoo hexes and creatures from the bayou.
"Tooth Fairy": This twisted tooth fairy steals more than just baby teeth as he drags his victims out of their bedroom window and into a world of cruel dentistry. Tooth Fairy is a bloody and gory maze.

"Shadow Lands": There were some great enhancements here, including a show scene at the beginning and an enhanced finale. The story takes place in an ancient Japanese temple and into the midst of the shadow lands.

Also, this year marks the end of the road for Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, who is concluding her run at Knott's Scary Farm after more than two decades. But she still is bringing it after all these years.
 Knott's other Scary Farm show is “The Hanging”, which this year runs with the subtitle "Fake Noose."

Other attractions include Scare Zones: Fiesta De Los Muertos, CarnEVIL , Ghost Town Streets, the Hollow and unlimited rides on some of the famous Roller Coasters and Rides!

This is far most one of the funnest Halloween Parks to go to!

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION'S TWO COASTS ONE OCEAN FUNDRAISING EVENT IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES TO PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY BEACHES

The Surfrider Foundation hosted the second of two annual Two Coasts One Ocean bicoastal fundraisers to support clean water and healthy beaches on Saturday, September 16th in the Pacific Palisades, CA.
Guests were invited to enjoy handcrafted cocktails at the open bar and a seated dinner by renowned caterer L.A. Roots, bid on custom surfboards and specialty items at the silent auction, win once-in-a-lifetime surf experiences, and dance to the sounds of DJ MAXV and an acoustic set by Ethan Tucker. The evening was sponsored by KROQ, JetBlue, Uber, SALT., Don Q Rum, Gucci, and DaKine.
With 33 years of fighting for the protection of our ocean waves and beaches, and more than 80 local chapters and 60 youth clubs across the nation, the organization has made incredible strides including working with a coalition to help pass the first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, making California the first state to outlaw single-use plastic bags. Funds raised from TWO COASTS ONE OCEAN will go towards furthering Surfrider’s mission and activist network dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our ocean and coasts for the future. 

Ashley Judd, Keke Palmer, and more at PaleyFest Fall TV Previews

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, The Paley Center for Media hosted the final day of its 11th Annual PaleyFest Fall TV Previews, honoring the EPIX series Berlin Station at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills.
Panelists included: Richard Armitage, “Daniel Miller”; Leland Orser, “Robert Kirsch”; Ashley Judd, “BB Yates”; Keke Palmer, “April Lewis”; and Executive Producer & Showrunner, Bradford Winters; with TV Guide Magazine’s Jim Halterman as the moderator.
The Paley Center for Media hosted the ten-day festival celebrating Fall TV’s most anticipated new and returning series including shows from all four major broadcast networks, cable television, and premium streaming services.

Women in Film’s Emmy Nominees Party

The weekend kicked off with the annual Variety and Women in Film’s nominee party on Friday night held at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood, presented by Halo Top Creamery. Emmy nominees included Viola Davis, Samira Wiley, Claire Foy, Alexander Skarsgard and Cicely Tyson. Many attendees also stopped to pose with the Mercedes Benz on display before moving on to enjoy mini bean burgers, fig appetizers and the Halo Top Creamery ice cream bar that awaited them inside. Some celebrities like Kathryn Hahn and Abbi Jacobson choose to spend the bulk of the evening on the patio, sipping Svedka cocktails with the Variety logo stenciled on top and chatting under festive blue lights with a soundtrack from DJ Daisy O’Dell in the background.

2017 Host Committee members Kelly Kahl, David Nevins, Mike Hopkins, John Landgraf and Lena Waithe were on-hand to mix and mingle with Women in Film board member Lake Bell, “The Handmaid’s Tale’s” Yvonne Strahovski, “Empire’s” Serayah McNeill and comedy stars like Keegan-Michael Key, Sarah Hyland and Zoe Lister-Jones. But nominee Dolly Parton stole the show forming a half circle of people around her to say hello and snap a photo with her. O’Dell’s playlist included ’90s hits and modern day chart toppers, and as the night went on tunes like Mariah Carey’s “Honey” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” even got attendees singing and dancing in front of the ice cream bar.