Story of O - 13 (Events - Global)
What
happens when Hollywood’s elite wants to party for charitable reasons?
Well, the location becomes Cannes at Festival time, the venue becomes a
multi-million pound yacht and event management company GSP is enlisted
to produce the party. Sat Bal hopped on board (24 May'07)
A glittering show of
philanthropy for the
humanitarian crisis in
Darfur was spearheaded by the cast of Warners Bros’ Ocean’s 13 which had its recent world premiere at the 60th Cannes Film Festival.
Resembling a Robin Hood-style reverse Ocean’s plot, the film’s main
stars succeeded in acquiring money for the needy when the privileged
came out to party.
The
party host and film’s producer, Jerry Weintraub, ushered on board
George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen
Barkin and Shaobo Qin, among others, ensuring that the yacht RM Elegant
lived up to its name.
Clooney unwinds at the Ocean's 13 party
Elegance
was also the name of GSP’s game. “RM Elegant was berthed in Cap
d’Antibes in what’s known as ‘the billionaire’s berth’ says GSP
co-director, Emma Gold.
“The yacht was already very well furnished with the kind of luxury
interior one would expect of such a vessel and this influenced a
stylish but understated party theme.”
Complementing,
rather than competing with, the surroundings meant that GSP used
enhancements such as mirrored plinths bearing orchids and white
furniture with hints of lilac and silver to blend with RM Elegant’s
porcelain interior.
"We met George, Brad and the rest of the cast and the whole thing can only be described as a surreal experience!” Emma Gold, GSP
“We handled all the logistics including the flowers, bars and caterers, all from London,” explains Gold. "Cast security was key and this was handled by Warners who closed down the marina for the duration of the event.”
"Are you sure this is RM Elegant, George?"
Security issues combined with OK!
magazine’s exclusive media rights to the party meant that the stars
weren’t exactly out. “The cast couldn’t go onto the exposed top deck
because of the risk of being photographed by paparazzi,” says Gold.
Brad Pitt at the party
“Altogether
we catered for 140 guests comprising the cast and their friends, the
Warners contingent and sponsors. The fact that the event was staged on
a yacht did mean honouring customs such as asking guests to remove
shoes before boarding.”
One wonders what Jimmy Choo chief, Tamara
Mellon, made of this maritime quirk. The
Darfur charity focus saw sponsors such as Chopard donate a large sum of
money for this and it was rumoured that tickets were sold for a million
dollars.
Guests
ruminated over delicacies prepared by London’s Cellar Catering Company,
which included iced bowls of fresh brown shrimp, spinach-wrapped
nicoise tuna sashimi and chargilled langoustine skewers with lemon and
parsley.
(Below) GSP's Emma Gold stays vigilant
London uber-club, The Cuckoo Club let loose its mixologists who concocted
a
whirl of gin-based Wonderwall and Cuckoo Delight cocktails. “Drinks
were supplied by Moet & Chandon, Grey Goose vodka and Martini,”
Gold says.
“They were all donated for the charity element.”
In fact, the altruism saw all
services - including GSP’s - donated for the Darfur benefit.
“The cast took the event very seriously and arrived at the appointed time of
8pm,” Gold remarks with near incredulity.
“And they stayed until the party wound down at around 12.30. It was a
great success and picked up the prized 5 out 5 Martini-glass rating
and, crucially, raised $10m for Darfur as well as drawing media
attention to the crisis.”
Event management on this scale
isn’t for the faint-hearted. So how does a troubleshooting event
director cope with the French Riviera rippling behind her while Messrs
Clooney et al. shimmer before her? “I’m not a celeb star-struck kind of
person,” reflects Gold “but I have to admit that we met George, Brad
and the rest of the cast and the whole thing can only be described as a
surreal experience!”
RK _________________________________________