Media Coverage

Stars poised for Elton's Oscar bash

For celebrities without an invite to the Academy Awards, the party everyone wants to attend in Hollywood this weekend is Elton John's Oscar viewing bash.

With a guest list including David and Victoria Beckham, the Osbourne family, Lindsay Lohan and Sharon Stone - months of preparation has gone into laying on the massive charity fundraiser.

Speaking as the lighting rig was erected within a huge marquee especially laid on in West Hollywood, event producer Virginia Fout explained the work that goes into the staging: "I start working on this event six months prior, there are a lot of moving parts. You have a fundraiser event, it's all hinged on a live telecast, there's a live performance later, a live auction and it all has to go like clockwork, you need the right army in place."

It seems having Elton John as a boss can be quite a daunting prospect: "We know what he likes and doesn't like, you know the day after if he doesn't like something we'll be sure to hear about it, so we won't make the same mistake twice."

Scott Campbell, from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, explained the importance of the charity bash: "This event is really the most important event we do. Last year we raised over $4.3 millions, this year we hope to exceed $5 million"

Chef Wayne Elias revealed that most of the celebs forget about their food fads for the night: "At the moment I have four requests for some steamed fish and steamed vegetables, but honestly every year I have noticed that about 95 percent of guests eat what is served to them, with a few changes where we maybe substitute the carbs for vegetables.

"It's the only night you can be extravagant. Its all about drinking dancing and eating so I think people understand why not enjoy it? They can diet the next day!"

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5inFhNV5BOuJ4CksqIv7cO5R3XbHA