Field Notes: The Media School Travel Blog

This semester I’m interning with a publicity/special events agency called A-List Communications, which plans and hosts events for festivals, premieres and awards. So far I’ve worked on events for New York Fashion Week, Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest Film Festival and the Oscars.

In order to execute these events and gain press coverage and buzz, we secure brand sponsors including a restaurant to provide food, a beverage company for drinks and the host venue, as well as any other companies such as clothing or accessories that may want representation of their brand at the event. Then, of course, we need celebrities and talent to help promote it.

One of the coolest events I’ve gotten to be a part of so far was our pre-Oscars party celebrating the Oscar-nominated film “Pain and Glory.” We hosted a cocktail hour and dinner at a beautiful new hotel called the West Hollywood Edition.

To prepare for the event, I helped create signage advertising the sponsors, designed and printed name cards to set around the tables so guests knew where they were seated and helped with dinner and drink menus. We arrived a few hours early to set up and inform the staff and production assistants of the run of show.

During the event, my main job was to check in the guests on our list. Antonio Banderas didn’t need me to cross his name off the list — his presence was known. He arrived with his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel. His daughter Stella Banderas and her boyfriend had arrived earlier and checked in with me. Penelope Cruz’s brother Eduardo came as well, and he was super nice and polite.

I had a conversation with Penelope Cruz’s bodyguard as we waited for her. He told me what it’s like behind the scenes, getting his clients around safely and avoiding crazed fans and paparazzi. He worked as head of security of Taylor Swift’s team for three years.

The film’s writer and director Pedro Almodóvar was honestly the star of the night, despite Antonio Banderas’ Best Actor nomination. He had the biggest smile and seemed to be having a great time. Sony Pictures Classics co-founders Tom Bernard and Michael Barker made speeches and honored the wonderful relationships they’ve had with Antonio and Pedro over the years.

Although I was working and it was a long and tiring day, I enjoyed the event, and I’m grateful to have gotten to experience it. I will always remember my first pre-Oscars party (hopefully, I’ll get to attend more!), and I look forward to even more amazing memories out here in Hollywood.