Hudlin Entertainment

The Oscar Luncheon

Reginald Hudlin at Oscar Luncheon 2013

The Oscar Luncheon is one of the three key Oscar events.  First is the Governor’s Ball, which I attended, but took no pictures of.  It was great, but since I have no documentation to share, I”ll just move on to the next event, which was the Oscar Luncheon.  This is an event where you can take a guest, which is not always the case.  So most of these fine pictures are by my wife.

The event itself is at the Beverly Hilton, which we were just at for the Golden Globes.  In the lobby, I run into Phil Alden Robinson. Phil is an amazing filmmaker (FIELD OF DREAMS, SNEAKERS, the last TOM CLANCY movie), a deeply committed social activist, and a fun and wonderful person.  I never spend as much time with him as I want to.  Last time we talked we discussed doing an adaptation of a comic book property together…I think I’ll try again this year. 

Reginald Hudlin and Phil Alden Robinson

Anyway, here we are.  He immediately got me involved in doing more the Academy, which I’d like to do anyway. 

Oscar Luncheon

Once you get inside, there’s a line of press and you take a picture with Hawk Koch, who is running the Academy.  Hawk has already made some good innovations this year, like making the shorts films available on DVD.  This is a great step forward in making the membership able to make an informed vote on all the films. 

Inside, the room is cool and blue. There are sexy red drinks everywhere.  All the nominees are there. It’s a star studded room.

Lunch seating is assigned, so you don’t sit with the other folks from your movie, which forces you to make new friends, which is good.  Turns out the producer of the Oscar nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE is a comic book head too, so we bond. 

Reginald Hudlin and Christopher White

There’s a black guy in the room I don’t know.  In a room with very, very few black people, I can’t believe there’s a guy there I don’t know.  So I go meet him.  Turns out that Christopher White is ALSO an Oscar nominee for his special effects work on THE HOBBIT.  He went to New Zealand ten years ago for a six month gig and has been there ever since.  He’s now got dual citizenship.  What a success story!

After lunch, they start calling names one by one.  When you name is called, you go stand at the amphitheater set up in one corner of the room for the official photo.  

The names are called in random order.  Not alphabetical, not by film or title.  Each person gets applause as they walk up. It’s very dramatic and suspenseful. You don’t when you will hear your name. 

Oscar Luncheon Photo Lineup

It goes on a long time.  My fellow producers are up there.  Most people are.  Not me.  I quietly start to panic.  Has there been some horrible mistake? 

Then…it’s my turn.  I step up.  The only other time I felt like this is when I graduated from college.  We are the class of 2013.  It feels glorious. 

I stand where they tell me.  I look behind me – Robert DeNiro.  Then Helen Hunt stands next to me.  Then Stephen Spielberg (the last name called) stands next to her. 

Oscar Luncheon Photo Full Lineup

I feel very good about where I am in my life.

Oscar Luncheon - pool

Afterwards there’s mad press by the pool so me and my fellow producers Stacey Sher and Pilar Savone go take pictures and do interviews with different outlets. 

Oscar Luncheon - press

At this point we’ve got the three people talking thing down smooth.

Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin, and Pilar Savone

People rarely use an interview with a producer –stars and directors are preferred – but we had fun!

Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum

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CAA/Blackhouse Dinner For Reggie!

Black achievement in Hollywood really isn’t recognized, let alone celebrated as much as you think it is.  It’s usually a fight for respect from white institutions and maybe a well intended but poorly executed tribute from black institutions.  So when Blackhouse (and black film support organization) and CAA (my new agency) came together to throw this incredibly nice event for me, it was shocking just because it happened.  One of the attendees, one of the highest ranking black executives in music, told me he was totally inspired because “this NEVER happens”.

Common, RZA, Sanaa Lathan, Brandon T. Jackson, Jordin Sparks and More Celebrate Reginald Hudlin At "Dinner With Bevy"

CAA/Blackhouse Dinner

Bevy Smith, Terry Crews, Reginald Hudlin

California Attorney General Kamala Harris behind JJ Abrams, Reginald Hudlin and Verdine White

Yvette Nicole Brown, JJ Abrams, Anika Noni Rose

Ron Gilyard behind Kamala Harris and JJ Abrams

Shaun Robinson and Reginald Hudlin

Common and Brandon T. Jackson

Common, Tavia, and Brandon T. Jackson

JJ Abrams, Reginald Hudlin, and Common

Stephen and Dayna Bochco, Dana Walden, Reginald Hudlin

Anika Noni Rose and Jordin Sparks

Verdine White, Reginald Hudlin, RZA

Stephen Bochco, Alfre Woodard, Kamala Harris in the background, Sanaa Lathan

Andre Harrell and Reginald Hudlin

Bevy Smith and Reginald Hudlin

Bonus photos!

Verdine White, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Reginald Hudlin, Ali LeRoi

Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, me, Ali LeRoi, creator/producer of ARE WE THERE YET? and many other fine entertainments.   Thanks for the classy picture Ali!

Helen Hudlin & Maxine Waters

Congresswoman Waters is originally from St. Louis.  My mom used to go roller skating with her sisters. 

Jordin Sparks, Terry and Rebecca Crews, Reginald Hudlin

Old friends and new: So nice to meet Jordin Sparks, who is as sweet as she is lovely and talented; and my old and dear friends Terry and Rebecca Crews.  Terry is one of the hardest working men in Hollywood but his positive spirit is the same as it was when he was working as a security guard.

Reginald Hudlin

Me giving thanks to everyone who attended.  The best part?  My mother got a standing ovation!

Talk about it on HEF – the Hudlin Entertainment Forum

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