Liams Blog

Seven Questions with Wall-E Director Andrew Stanton

Hayley Kaufman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:21:31 GMT

Andrew Stanton is the man behind the number one movie in America Wall-E, the animated apocalyptic tale about the last robot on earth. From the Oscar-winning director who also brought us Finding Nemo, in my opinion, this is his most brilliant work yet—you will of course have to judge it for yourself. Wall-E is now playing in Bay Area theaters. I recently met up with Stanton at Pixar headquarters for another exciting installment of Seven Questions.

What do you hope audience members will take from your new flick Wall-E?
Andrew Stanton: I hope they are just as entertained as with other Pixar movie experiences but in a fresh, new way.

As an employee at Pixar, what are the perks of the job?
AS: Free cereal.

Which album would you take to a deserted island?
AS: Thomas Dolby, Flat Earth.

What cartoon changed your life?
AS: Hello Kitty. It's by Mark Anthony, and it’s a Warner Brothers cartoon about a bulldog that finds a little kitten.

courtesy of Pixar

What would you herald as your greatest achievement?
AS: My kids.

What has been your most treasured Pixar momento?
AS: It would be a model of “Mr. Spell” that we used in Toy Story when Woody has to give a little speech and Tom Hanks signed it: "Thank you Mr. Spell".

LM: What are your words to live by?
AS: Don't steal.

LM: At your last supper, who would your two guests be and what would you want to eat?
AS: David Lean and Peter O' Toole, and I would eat fried clams because it’s my favorite food.

LM: Peter O’ Toole does not like fried clams.
AS: Well, more for me.

LM: A right royal treat. Thank you Andrew. Now hug me.
AS: No Liam. That's creepy

7 Questions with Project Runway Runner-Up Ricky Lizalde

Hayley Kaufman — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:24:57 GMT

Photography by Ricky Camargo

Project Runway contestant Ricky Lizalde was in San Francisco this week to raise money for goodwill.org. I caught up with the fashion man at the Levis Store in San Francisco.

Why is the city of San Francisco important to you?
RL: It's is where I experienced my first Gay Pride in 1992.

How has Project Runway changed your life, if at all.
RL: It has opened doors. People stop and listen now.

Define your fashion?
RL: It is simple and sexy.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?
RL: My mom. She was a seamstress and inspired me greatly.

The number 7 is important to you. (Luckily this interview is for 7x7) Why?
RL: I am the seventh son of seven boys. I have seven sisters. Plus, I have a dog called "Seven."

If you could take just one outfit to a desert Island, what would it be?
RL: My 501's, a plain white T-shirt, my new hoodie. Oh and a striped hat, designed by me.

Where do you hope to be in ten years time?
RL: I hope to be the Tom Ford of lingerie.

LM: Thanks Ricky, Good Luck.
RL: Thanks very much Liam.

Oscar's Big Fundraising Night

Iris Lin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:54:41 GMT

photography by Rick Camargo

Greetings!

San Francisco's glitterati came out for Oscar night at the 28th Academy of Friends Gala at Fort Mason.
As ever the event was a storming success with cocktails and nibbles and guests clothed in cocktail dresses and black tie attire to make for an all-around fun and festive eve.

The Oscar show played out on big screens around Fort Mason.

’80s star Taylor Dayne brought the house down with an explosive 30 minute set.

But, the big star of the night was Oscar who encouraged over three thousand people to come out and raise funds for HIV/AIDS organizations around the Bay Area. Thanks Oscar, let's do it again next year.

Cheers
Liam
-)

Oscar party people Taylor Dayne brings the house down

Watching the show Girlie action

Fernando and Greg announce the winner of a car

7 Questions with Oscar-Nominee Marion Cotillard

Sarah Sung — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:31:11 GMT

photo courtesy of Picture House Inc.

French actress Marion Cotillard is not a household name … yet. But her Oscar-nominated performance in La Vie En Rose, playing the late French chanteuse Edith Piaf, is nothing short of brilliant. She deserves to take home the Oscar, and then the whole world will know of this bright, young acting talent.

I met the delightful French actress for 7 questions for 7x7.

Enjoy!
Liam
-)

1. Marion Cotillard, welcome to San Francisco. What are your first impressions of our mad, fab city?
Marion Cotillard: My brother, he lives here. It’s not the first time I’ve come here, and it’s not going to be the last. I love that there are sidewalks, and you can walk in the streets. It’s very green. I love the shape of the snake streets also.

2. Your life has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride since taking on La Vie en Rose and playing Edith Piaf. Has it been a joy ride?
MC: Well, Mmm. I spend maybe a month in France in two years, so I am far from home. It has been an amazing adventure, but it changed a lot of things.

3. How would you describe your relationship with Hollywood, if at all?
MC: I feel welcome in Hollywood, and the welcome I have is so beautiful.

4. You have a golden voice, and you must have some musical heroes. Who are the musicians or the artists that have inspired you?
MC: Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Radiohead and Serge Gainsbourg.
LM: That’s a good mixture. I would like to hear all of them harmonizing in a musical remix.
MC: Oh wow, unfortunately. Well maybe Radiohead can sing Joplin and Redding and Gainsbourg, but they are dead.

5. Is there a movie you watched growing up that inspired you to act?
MC: Well, actually it was not a movie. Some movies like Annie, Jan Houston I mean she was, I was close to her age when I saw the movie. It was a musical, and I have always loved musicals. So maybe it would be Annie. But I admire Greta Garbo.

6. The Oscars are coming up. Congratulations on your nomination. Has anyone given you any good advice about how to prepare for the big day?
MC: No not yet, but I am pretty relaxed. You know, it’s a huge thing to be there, so I think that the advice I would give to myself is to have fun.

7. Finally, please complete the sentence for me: Acting to me is about …?
MC: Sharing emotions and telling beautiful stories.

Rocket Dog Rescue Benefit at Slim's

Iris Lin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:46:21 GMT

Slim's on 11th Street in SF was the host venue on Saturday night for an evening of comedy, music, silly dog tricks and more for Rocket Dog Rescue.


Marga Gomez	Johnny Steele	Caroline Lund

I had the joyful task of playing emcee for the night and a right royal treat it was.
Johnny Steele and Marga Gomez made 'em laugh. Red Meat and Caroline Lund performed.
And the night wound down with a brief set by DJ Nikita.

A fun night of fun and fundraising for Rocket Dog Rescue. WOOF!

photography by Rick Camargo


Rocket Dog Rescue	dog humor

backstage with Red Meat	Rocket Dog Rescue angel Peli Boucher

dog tricks

Rocket Dog Rescue Benefit

Sarah Sung — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:37:02 GMT

Greetings chums,

I want to invite you to a once-in-a-lifetime event this Friday night to benefit a wonderful woman who lost her worldly goods, her home and three foster dogs in an horrific fire just before Christmas.

Pali Boucher dedicated her life in recent years to finding homes for rescue dogs. Many friends of mine have adopted some of Pali's four-legged friends and experience the never-ending joy a dog can give.

Tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. at Slims on 11th Street, I will be the master of ceremonies for a benefit for Pali so that she may get back on her feet and find a new home. This will be a fun, groovy night out. Please come and enjoy some comedy and music and help support a woman who has given many dogs a home and now needs a home herself.

I hope you'll come down and join us. See the flier for details.

Cheers,
Liam
-)

Be an Extra in the Harvey Milk Movie

Sarah Sung — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:49:38 GMT

Mention Harvey Milk and many people beyond the boundaries of San Francisco respond with “who”?

That’s about to change because a movie is being made about the late, openly gay San Francisco supervisor and soon much of the world will know about this great man.

Harvey Milk was America’s first openly gay politician, and his life was cut tragically short when another Supervisor, Dan White, gunned him down at SF City Hall along with Mayor Moscone in 1978.

Sean Penn plays Milk in this now in-production movie, directed by Gus Van Sant. It’s being shot around San Francisco over the next few weeks. And, you can be in the movie, too! The producers are calling for extras to partake in the memorial marches that took place after Milk’s assassination. They will be shot in the evening on Monday February 4 and Friday February 8. Check the website for times. Yes my dears, it will be a long night but who can resist the opportunity to be a part of movie history?

By the way, if you walk through the Castro anytime over the next few weeks you might notice a few changes. The movie producers have been painting parts of the hood to make it look more 1978 than 2008. The Castro Theater and Harvey Milk’s camera store will be featured heavily in the film.

This is great for San Francisco and great for the friends of Harvey who finally have their glorious and tragic tale told on the big screen.

See you on the movie set.

Cheers!
Liam
-)

7 Questions with Craig Ferguson

Sarah Sung — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:07:06 GMT

Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson performs at Cobb’s Comedy Club this Friday and Saturday.

1. When someone mentions San Francisco what comes to mind?
CF: Clam chowder and homosexuals

2. I knew you were a soup man. What makes you laugh?
CF: Being tickled and children laughing when dressed as little kittens.

3. What is your favorite sound?
CF: Peace and quiet… and children laughing when dressed as little kittens.

4. What is your perfect Sunday?
CG: Ahh, one with crushed nuts.
LM: How about “Sunday” with “a-y” on the end not “a-e.”
CF: Well, the same answer: one with crushed nuts—that’s a perfect Sunday.

5. What’s your favorite smell?
CF: Vanilla

6. What’s life in America about for you?
CF: It’s about 33 cents to the pound. No really, it’s about optimism and new beginnings.

7. Why should people come and see you at Cobb’s this weekend?
CF: Why not.

Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson Sings for Kids

Sarah Sung — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:51:50 GMT

Greetings friends,

Photos by Rick Camargo

She came, she sang. We wept, we blinked. Then she was gone.

San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House was the venue on Monday night for the Help Raise Healthy Children Gala. Oscar winning “Dreamgirl” and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson was the headliner.

She belted out just three songs—each one amazing; each one raised the roof. From Aretha Franklin’s “Change is Gonna Come” to the crowd fave from Dreamgirls “I am Changing,” Hudson didn’t disappoint. However when she left the stage after just three numbers one did feel a tad shortchanged.

The other star of the night was Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner Marvin Hamlisch. He whizzed through half a dozen of his movie hits including tunes from Funny Girl and Cabaret.

The gala was fun and entertaining—meaty on talent, but thin on performance time. Proceeds from the event went to the Help Raise Healthy Children campaign.

Enjoy the pics.
Liam
-)

British-American Christmas Bash

Sarah Sung — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:37:15 GMT

Greetings,

Boy, do Brits know how to throw a Christmas party or what? They’re especially good here on American soil, and this past week British-Americans proved they know how to do it best.

The Westin St. Francis Hotel in downtown San Francisco was the setting on Tuesday for the 44th Annual BABC Christmas Luncheon, and it was Festive with a capital “F.”

Father Christmas joined the 900-strong crowd for a luncheon filled with food, wine, fun, frivolity and the holiday spirit. Yours truly was the master of ceremonies presiding over the mega charity raffle with generous prizes and offerings of trips to all corners of the globe.

Proceeds from this festive Brit bash go to Rafael House, a wonderful nonprofit that helps homeless people get back on their feet.

It was my fave Christmas event of the year!

Cheers, oooh and Merry Christmas y’all!

Liam
-)