Movie star, producer, Oscar nominee for “Frida”– Salma Hayek is all those things. But she’s also married to Francois Pinault, a nice man who is a billionaire and runs Gucci among other things. Our LEAH SYDNEY reports from Golden Globe week that Salma now would like to be called Salma Hayek Pinault. Last weekend Salma and new-almost dad Jeremy Renner cohosted Film Independent’s Annual Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch held at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.
Leah reports: Jeremy started off the ceremony by looking at Selma and joking, ” Oh great, instead of us having an amazing weekend together, we have to hand out these checks.” Salma looked simply smashing in basic black, white pearls and a pink coat. As the duo handed out the various honors to the worthy filmmakers, Salma quipped as she was trying to say a particularly difficult name, “Great, this one they give to the Mexican dyslexic.”
This worthy group gave four Spirit Filmmaker grants out, including: Peter Nicks, director of ‘The Waiting Room’, who received the Stella Artois Truer Than Fiction Award, Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims for ‘Only The Young’ and Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel for ‘Leviathan.’ Mynette Louie received the Piaget Producers Award and Laura Colella got the Jameson FIND Your Audience Award for ‘Breakfast with Curtis.’ Jeremy ended the ceremony by saying, “Go spend the money on booze or whatever, but have a great time!”
This brunch always attracts the VIPs, including Film Independent co-chairs Josh Welsh and Sean McManus, Jack Black, producers Bruce Cohen and Cathy Schulman, “Beasts Of The Southern Wild’’ star Quvenzhane Wallis and director Benh Zeitlin, actress Rosemarie DeWitt, Warner Brothers’ Sue Kroll and many more.
I spoke with the lovely Rashida Jones, who was there for her “Celeste & Jesse Forever.” She told me that she dosen’t think she’s going back to the “Office” finale, because of her work on NBC’s other hit, “Parks and Recreation,” Her famous Dad, Quincy Jones, is set to celebrate his 80th birthday this March 14th.
Seems like Quincy and his good pal Michael Caine, were born on the same day, same year and at the same hour. Rashida told me that “they will be celebrating with parties all year, all over the world.” Rashida’s co-star in the film, SNL’s Andy Samberg will serve as host of the Spirit Awards ceremony which will be broadcast on IFC on Saturday, February 23rd…
Julianne Moore won what was presumably her last award for playing Sarah Palin in “Game Change” on Sunday night. She’s won everything imaginable. So The Gold Council’s Sally Morrison hosted a chic soiree for her at the Selma House at the Chateau Marmont, a new little quaint cottage right off the hotel. The Gold Council has been based there with their stunning jewelry they’ve been lending to celebrities. When party goers were telling her she was a sure thing for winning, Julianne said: “I’m so happy that the film is getting the recognition that it deserves. And I don’t want to jinx anything!”
The co-author of the book that the film was based on, Mark Halperin, said that he was currently writing a sequel to “Game Change,” called, “Double Down,” this time about the Obama/Romney campaign. Talented actor– and now writer as well-Danny Strong who wrote the screenplay for “Game Change,” also came out to support Julianne as did Garcelle Beauvais, Sarah Paulson, Dita Von Teese and “Les Miserables” star Eddie Redmayne, who memorably played Moore’s uh, different, son in “Savage Grace.”
