While this column has been my soapbox for a number of years, this marks the first time it’s been used to promote a soapbox derby race. But we’re proud to do so in that the event–dubbed the first annual Downhill Derby, the brainchild of Josh Canova, owner/executive producer of Detour Films, Venice, Calif.–has been created to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles.
People from all sectors of the industry–production companies, ad agencies, post houses and other vendors–will turn out on Jan. 7 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for a day of live music, food, drink and soapbox racing thrills down Heartbreak Hill at the Rose Bowl.
The proceeds are largely being raised through sponsorships. Sponsoring a car and participating in the race costs $1,500. Sponsorship of a car, having it built and delivered race-ready runs $2,500. And there are other forms of sponsorship opportunities such as drink cups ($1,000), a banner ($850) and a booth ($850). The suggested donation per event attendee is five dollars.
The Derby is hosted by Detour Films with the help and collective support of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) and The Boys and Girls Clubs of Los Angeles. Canova said they hope to raise $100,000 to be spread among the 28 Boys and Girls Clubs in Greater Los Angeles. The clubs provide a safe haven for kids primarily after school, enabling them to channel their energies into art and music programs and leadership initiatives, helping the youngsters to make better sense of where their skills and talents lie.
Canova related that he loved soapbox derby racing as a kid and that the fund-raising event “taps into the child in everybody. There’s an element of competition that everyone loves–and a lot of fun to be had.”
Most importantly, he continued, “We are helping a worthy cause. We researched organizations that help under-served and underprivileged kids, and found the Boys and Girls Clubs to be efficiently run with funds and resources going directly to programs that support and nurture youngsters. It’s a chance for the industry to simply give back to the community we live and work in.”
Industry folk have worked hard to get the Downhilll Derby off the ground, gaining necessary approvals from the City of Pasadena, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and the Pasadena Police Department. The goal is to get 25 to 30 cars sponsored for the race; at press time, event organizers were about halfway there, according to Canova.
The event steering committee consists of Canova, Linda Rahn of the Boys and Girls Clubs/L.A. Alliance, Robert Yniguez, race director of the All American Soapbox Derby, AICP’s Steve Caplan, GARTNER’s Rich Carter (who is AICP/West president), Anne Kurtzman of David & Goliath, Jennifer Smieja of Wieden+Kennedy, Ali Hileman of Mirror Films, Sue Crain of Argyle Brothers, Mel Mathis of The Camera House and Christie Cash of Cut+Run.
For further info, go to www.detourfilms.com/downhillderby or call (310) 883-8818.
Oscar Nominees Delve Into The Art Of Editing At ACE Session
You couldn’t miss Sean Baker at this past Sunday’s Oscar ceremony where he won for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Editing on the strength of Anora. However, earlier that weekend he was in transit from the Cesar Awards in Paris and thus couldn’t attend the American Cinema Editors (ACE) 25th annual panel of Academy Award-nominated film editors held at the Regal LA Live Auditorium on Saturday (3/1) in Los Angeles. While the eventual Oscar winner in the editing category was missed by those who turned out for the ACE “Invisible Art, Visible Artists” session, three of Baker’s fellow nominees were on hand--Dávid Jancsó, HSE for The Brutalist; Nick Emerson for Conclave; and Myron Kerstein, ACE for Wicked. Additionally, Juliette Welfling, who couldn’t appear in person due to the Cesar Awards, was present via an earlier recorded video interview to discuss her work on Emilia Pérez. The interview was conducted by ACE president and editor Sabrina Plisco, ACE who also moderated the live panel discussion. Kerstein said that he was the beneficiary of brilliant and generous collaborators, citing, among others, director Jon M. Chu, cinematographer Alice Brooks, and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. The editor added it always helps to have stellar acting performances, noting that hearing Cynthia Erivo, for example, sing live was a revelation. Kerstein recalled meeting Chu some eight years ago on a “blind Skype date” and it was an instant “bromance”--which began on Crazy Rich Asians, and then continued on such projects as the streaming series Home Before Dark and the feature In The Heights. Kerstein observed that Chu is expert in providing collaborators with... Read More