The writer with Tobey Maguire

The glitz, glitter and glamour of Hollywood have always fascinated and intrigued me. As a young kid back in the early ‘80s I was more thrilled to watch the TV series Dynasty over Sesame Street only because of Alexis Carrington, Joan Collins’ fierce character in that program, who was and still is the embodiment of American fabulousness.

The pages of Vanity Fair’s Hollywood parties never fail to excite me. Every year, I was looking forward to the awards season in Hollywood which is kicked-off by the Golden Globes. The images of Hollywood enchant me to indulge myself in a dream.

In my vision book (something I learned from “The Secret”) which I updated in April 2007, the first few pages is all about being up-close if not personal with the Hollywood stars who moved me and be invited in a real Hollywood party. I wrote with certainty a line right beside Leonardo Di Caprio’s magazine cut-out — “A conversation with Leo before I turn 40”.  

When I learned that my dear friend Lindy who is behind the very successful on-line store Zemis.com is exhibiting her chic proudly Philippine-made hand-crafted accessories in a pre-Golden Globe event in a Beverly Hills mansion, my instincts told me to fly to L.A. And this is where my “Very Hollywood!” diary all began. 

“This is gorgeous! Where are these awesome pieces from?” asked the legendary Joan Collins as she was holding a Zemis neckpiece.  I was in awe in front of the lady who has had a strong influence on my personal style and fierceness. And here she is, equally in awe of the beauty of a Philippine-made product, looking like she has never aged a bit from her Alexis Carrington days in Dynasty.  This is such a Hollywood moment for me!

I was more thrilled when my dear friends Ruben and Janet Nepales asked me to join them as a guest of Paramount Pictures Pre-Globe event honouring Martin Scorsese who happens to be the Cecil B. DeMille Award honouree at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards. I have always regarded the Nepales’ as the bridge between the Philippine Film industry and Hollywood. Ruben sits as a Board of Director at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association where Janet is also a member.  That speaks so much about their influence and clout in the fame-focused and celebrity-driven city.

There is truth to other people’s take on LA as a city lacking in history and looking more of a gigantic studio set as I have seen this myself in most parts of the city; but not the venue of the Paramount party for Scorsese. 

The Chateau Marmont in Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood is the quintessential place for Hollywood parties and celebrity stories. It was here where Greta Garbo loved to stay for weeks during her infamous seclusion period.  James Dean hopped in through the hotel window to audition with Natalie Wood for Rebel Without a Cause. And this was the place where Led Zepellin, Jim Morrison and other rock legends regularly put up and where F. Scott Fitzgerald had a heart attack. Now, no other hotel in LA can have more Hollywood history than that!

And another historic Hollywood party unfolded right before my eyes. The entire room filled with film and television executives, publicists and celebrities went abuzz when two Hollywood A-listers of titanic stature Leo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet arrived almost together to pay tribute to Martin Scorsese. That’s when everyone at Chateau Marmont felt that the party finally started.

With George Clooney’s arrival (with his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis) it became more apparent that not all celebrities are created equal.

I was surprised that no one was minding Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford who was just quietly standing by himself near the bar playing with his blackberry. Winona Ryder who was once Hollywood’s darling was in a far corner sipping champagne with her beau while the self-confessed Pacquiao-fan Mark Wahlberg who was dressed like he just came from the grocery was playing cool with everyone.  

As I was taking photos of the star of the night Director Martin Scorsese having a chat with the gorgeous Kate Winslet, I saw Leo DiCaprio smiling. I wasn’t sure if he was smiling at me but I took it as a sign to start a conversation with the actor who had moved me since his ‘Gilbert Grape’ movie. And this to me was my ultimate Hollywood moment. What I wrote in my vision book became a reality!

While I was on cloud nine in the most star-studded party I have ever attended, Ruben handed me the invite to HBO’s exclusive 67th Golden Globe Award party at the Beverly Hilton.

Next Sunday, my “Very Hollywood” diary continues... the red carpet moments, the night of endless Moet & Chandon with TV and filmdom’s brightest and most stunning stars.