(Los Angeles, CA) August 2, 2013 – Wayward cats no more! Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats, a local Los Angeles non-profit organization specializing in street cat rescue, is producing A CATbaret! – A One-Night Celebrity Musical Celebration of the Alluring Feline. This one-night only benefit concert is on Sunday, August 4 at 7:30pm at the historic Belasco Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. Mingle with the celebrities at a VIP after party following the event.

More info: www.kittybungalow.org
Tickets: http://kittybungalow.org/catbarettix.html

A CATbaret! hosted by Fred Willard (Modern Family), who will be joined by: Chris Carmack (Nashville); Bethany Joy Lenz; (Dexter; One Tree Hill); Keith David (CLOUD ATLAS); Thomas Dekker (TERMINATOR, SECRET CIRCLE, FOREVERLAND); Briana Evigan (Step Up); Ioan Gruffudd (FANTASTIC FOUR); Kathryn McCormick (Step Up Revolution); Mindy Sterling (AUSTIN POWERS); Shelley Regner; (Pitch Perfect) Olesya Rulin (HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) and Nicole Sullivan (Mad TV).  Plus celebrity choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon and the So You Think You Can Dance dancers, Dancing with the Stars and more!

A CATbaret! is a musical revue of popular cat-themed songs, showcasing music from show tunes such as Be A Lion to Elton John’s classic rock Honky Cat; from the bluesy Black Cat Bone to the 60’s pop hit Walking My Cat Named Dog; plus everything in between.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the CATS IN WHITE SPATS Award, given to those in the entertainment field who have demonstrated commitment to animals.  This year Tricia Helfer will receive the award, presented by her cast mate Michael Trucco (Barely Legal, Battlestar Galactica). A former model, Helfer’s best known for her four year star-turn as “Six” on the Award-winning Syfy series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.  She’ll star as “Molly Parker” in the new ABC series Killer Women reuniting with Trucco, premiering early 2014.   On the film side, Helfer’s credits include MEMORY with Dennis Hopper; A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS with Harvey Keitel and Scott Caan; and OPEN HOUSE opposite Brian Geraghty and Anna Paquin.

Kitty Bungalow is doing their part to manage the homeless pet population that that finds our city shelters killing 75% of the cats entering the system. On-the-ground rescues are key to lowering this sad statistic.  A CATbaret! will help raise the funds to finance the medical services and supplies it takes to have these cats complete Charm School and find loving homes or ultimately re-integrate into their colonies.  On July 14, Kitty Bungalow will complete a brand-new charm school facility with first-rate socialization and examination areas for its pupils.

A CATbaret! sponsors and supporters include: World's Best Cat Litter, By Nature, Nature's Variety, and foundation support from Found Animals and Best Friends Animal Society Initiative NKLA media sponsor Modern Cat Magazine and the LA Philharmonic.

by Alicia Hollinger

Burbank, CA (Pop CultureToday) – 6/24/13 -- Richard Matheson, a prolific science fiction writer best known for the original "I Am Legend," the novel that inspired "The Incredible Shrinking Man," "Somewhere in Time," and classic episodes of the "Twilight Zone," died suddenly Sunday at the age of 87, just days before he was to be honored at this year's Saturn Awards.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films had planned to award Matheson the Visionary Award at this year's ceremony on Wednesday. Instead it will be presented posthumously and the 39th Annual Saturn Awards will be dedicated to his memory.

“We are heartbroken to lose a writer of towering talent, unlimited imagination and unparalleled inspiration,” said Academy President Robert Holguin.  “Richard was a genius whose visions helped bring legitimacy and critical acclaim to science fiction and fantasy. He was also a longtime supporter of the Academy, and everyone associated with The Saturn Awards feels emptier today to learn of this enormous loss.  Richard’s accomplishments will live on forever in the imaginations of everyone who read or saw his inspired and inimitable work.”

Celebrity attendees expected include:
·  J.J. Abrams (director, Star Trek: Into Darkness; producer, Revolution)
·  Amy Acker (Much Ado About Nothing, The Cabin in the Woods)
·  Julie Adams (1954’s The Creature from the Black Lagoon)
·  Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad)
·  Zoe Bell (Grindhouse: Death Proof, Django Unchained)
·  Shane Black (director, Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)
·  Moon Bloodgood (Falling Skies)
·  Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cougar Town)
·  Wayne Brady (How I Met Your Mother, Let’s Make a Deal)
·  Israel Broussard (The Bling Ring)
·  Derek Connolly (writer, Safety Not Guaranteed, Jurassic Park 4)
·  Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
·  Brett Dalton (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
·  Keith David (Cloud Atlas, The Bible, The Thing)
·  Lexa Doig (Continuum)
·  William Friedkin* (director, The Exorcist, Killer Joe)
·  Vince Gilligan* (creator, Breaking Bad)
·  Ellen Greene (Little Shop of Horrors, Hannibal)
·  Clark Gregg (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
·  Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead)
·  Doug Jones (Falling Skies, Fantastic Four)
·  Sam J. Jones (Flash Gordon, Ted)
·  Eric Knudsen (Continuum)
·  Eric Kripke (writer/producer, Supernatural, Revolution)
·  Katie Leclerc (Switched at Birth)
·  Richard Matheson* (writer, The Twilight Zone, I Am Legend, Duel)
·  Lara Parker (Dark Shadows TV series)
·  Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf)
·  Lance Reddick (Saturn Awards Host, Fringe, White House Down)
·  J. August Richards (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
·  Drew Roy (Falling Skies)
·  John Savage (The Deer Hunter, Hair)
·  Kathryn Leigh Scott (Dark Shadows TV series)
·  Quentin Tarantino (director, Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds)
·  Colin Trevorrow (director, Safety Not Guaranteed, Jurassic Park 4)
·  Anna Torv (Fringe)
·  Lenny Von Dohlen (Twin Peaks, Electric Dreams)
·  Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
·  Joss Whedon (director, Marvel’s The Avengers, Much Ado About Nothing)
·  Noah Wyle (Falling Skies)
 

by Alicia Hollinger

Hollywood, CA (Pop Culture Today) 6/18/2013 -- It was an affair to remember at the Rockstar Mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two days and nights pre-E3, as Swedish luminaries and creatives mingled with Los Angelenos and E3 related talents and execs.

The infamous Rockstar Mansion boasts an incredible view that brings to mind the Bob Seger song Hollywood Nights-- "In those Hollywood hills, all those big city nights, in those high rolling hills, above all the lights" and the Swedish Affair brought a little much-needed glamor and glitz to those who attended as a pre-E3 event.

During the day there were speeches and a casual chic feel while the night brought the pretty party people ready to imbibe and have fun.

Swedish celebrities and notables included actor Dolph Lundgren, Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, Isabel Adrian, Swedish Housewife (the Swedish version of Housewives of Beverly Hills, New Jersey, etc...), wife of Steve Angelo of Swedish House Mafia, (a Swedish electronic dance music trio,) Ewa Björling, Swedish Minister for Trade, Anna Serner, CEO Swedish Film Institute, Anna Gissler, CEO Stockholm Business Region, Gabriella Augustsson, Public Affairs and Press Counselor at Embassy of Sweden Washington DC and Jonas Hafström, Swedish ambassador, at the Embassy of Sweden Washington DC. 

Also attending were representatives from big gaming studios Avalanche, DICE, and Ubisoft Massive.  And a LOT of L.A. party people...

"With this two-day event we want to deepen the love affair between creative Sweden and Los Angeles with smart people getting together, sharing knowledge and thoughts," says a representative of the Swedish Affair.  All in all a fun party atmosphere "made by creative Sweden to share and learn with like-minded in fashion, games, film and TV, and cool media tech and innovative new media and creative business. Transmedia crowd, creative industries people, techies, movers and shakers, nerds and celebrities will all be present while celebrating creativity and innovation, sharing experiences and building new relations. May it be a business affair, a creative partnership affair or a real love affair!"

The party began and then ended in the shuttle picked up at the Andaz Hotel on the Sunset Strip, which became a sort of party bus on its own during the trip going up and down those "high rolling" streets in those Hollywood Hills...

Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Today)10/25/12 — The L.A. Horror Fest makes its debut this weekend October 26 and 27th just in time for Halloween at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. The new entry in the expanding universe of film festivals was founded by two Chicagoans, James Groth and Thomas Schroeder, and will be part film festival and part convention.

Horror films will screen all day and evening, while attendees can also learn more about elements of the filmmaking process with panels of filmmakers, actors and makeup artists. Outside vendors will be selling their wares and memorabilia, street actors will entertain, and talent will sign autographs.

Attendees are encouraged to come in costume and compete for various awards and party down with a DJ and live music in the “Beer, Blood & Wine Garden.” The event will be broadcasting live throughout the day with interviews of the stars in front of the camera and the behind-the-scenes talent. Hosting will be horror writer/director Mark Vadik of “Cyrus, The Mind of a Serial Killer” fame and actress Sarah Agor, reality TV regular on “Scream Queens.”

The festival will mark the Los Angeles premiere of “Greystone Park,” the first feature film of director/writer/actor Sean Stone, son of Oliver Stone, prior to the closing night Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 27. Stone will also be featured in a Q&A panel along with other talent from the film.

For more info, the full schedule of events can be found at http://www.lahorrorfest.com

The festival is sponsored by Creative America, a grassroots organization uniting the entertainment community and others against content theft. Creative America brings together actors, directors, craft professionals, editors, cinematographers, small businesses that service the industry, studio employees and others who make a living in and care about film, television, and other creative industries and believe that creativity and innovation deserve to be protected. Visit www.creativeamerica.org to learn more.