Posts Tagged hollywood

• STOP PRESS: Change of Venue for Tranny Awards

  Posted on February 1st, 2012
  

  credit: josephs cafe | 2011 tranny awards moved to this location

  We’ve been forced to do a last minute change of venue for the Tranny Awards. I hope this is not inconvenient for you but I would like to
  explain why we’ve had to change it for the second time. After a few months of searching for venues, we narrowed it down to four choices in early November and set to work on those venues. We found that the venues either put too many time constraints in hosting us or wanted exorbitant bar guarantees, which were unjustified for a Sunday evening event, in February. It was plain to see that these venues weren’t too interested in accommodating our show which was surprising as they usually catered to a gay crowd.

  In December we arranged a contract with El Cid, a renowned Hollywood venue and started our plans for the event. Five weeks before the event, we contacted the owners to ask some questions and were told that they’d sold the venue and it was currently under renovation but that they had a larger and more upscale venue, in which they would honor the contract, Los Globos. As the show numbers had grown, this seemed to work. The warning signs were that it took multiple phone calls and three visits to get into the venue although when we did, it seemed ideal for our purposes.

  Last week, we were informed that we’d have to finish the event by 11pm (despite our original contract for El Cid going much later) as they have an after hours event going on which they were unwilling to change. Although they would allow us to stay at the club, my concerns were mainly based on the safety of our guests as well as putting on an exclusive event and with less than 3 weeks to the event date we had the task of choosing a new venue.

  The venue we have chosen is Joseph’s Cafe on N. Ivar in Hollywood, CA. This was the only place we could find that was centrally based, could accommodate the guests, where we would have the place exclusively, could get a red carpet entrance, and who have worked with us all week to ensure that this event would go well. I didn’t even realize until this morning that a t-girl event has been held there before – The Tranny Awards is not associated with that party night.

  Despite the last minute changes, I think the final venue will work our better than the previous ones. We have a great MC, Nicole Paige Brooks, a former contestant on Rupaul’s Drag Race. Our DJ, the talented Chelsea Malone is flying in from New York. We have a red carpet to be hosted by Domino Presley and we’re hoping also to live stream from the red carpet from another interviewer also (watch this space). We have a photobooth coming in, so you can have your fun photos taken and networked out right away, VIP areas for sponsors and nominees, two bars with plenty of bartenders on, Pornstar Tweet will be tweeting the night, and even some half-time entertainment. I have all the winners names and it’s going to nail biting until the end.

  My apologies for the last minute changes and the seemingly lack of professionalism, but even above creating a great event, the safety and respect of our guests are paramount.

  -Steven Grooby

• Support the TG Filmfest in Hollywood this Saturday!

  Posted on August 26th, 2010

  

  Hey guys, here’s your chance to attend something pretty awesome this weekend. I think this is a really cool opportunity to support the community, check out some TG films, and just expand your mind and have a good time! For more info, go to their official website here!

  The TG Film Fest was founded in 2009 as the Trans/Giving Film Festival by Trans/Giving organizer Kalil Cohen, with help from Trans/Giving co-organizers Ofelia del Corazon, Frankie Palacios, Kale Likover and Amy Daly, along with the donation of a theater by Farina Dary and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Alcohol and Drug Program Administration.

  Since 2003, Trans/Giving has created a space for trans, genderqueer, and intersex artists to connect with audiences in southern California. Festival Director Kalil Cohen founded the TG Film Fest in 2009 with help from the Trans/Giving arts collective.

  Below is a full schedule of the films:

  TG Film Fest
  August 28th 11:30am – 9 pm
  The Renberg Theater, 1125 N McCadden Pl, Hollywood

  DJ, live performances, art for sale
  $5-20 suggested donation, no one turned away
  
  11:30 am The Believers
  The Believers by Todd Holland 80 mins
  This documentary film chronicles the Transcendence Gospel Choir from their shaky beginnings learning to sing with transitioning voices to their 2004 Outmusic award.

  Plus short: Genderbusters by Sam Berliner 6 mins
  *This is a family friendly screening.*

  1:30 pm Queerly Drawn Lines
  These genre-blurring short films weave elements of documentary and narrative film to entertain and enlighten. Bulemic boyfriends, bathroom buddies, and strange sisters all have their place in this unique collection of short films.

  Lil Basenji by Gina Kamenski 2 mins  Door Prize by Zsa Zsa Gershick 8 mins
  Falling In Love…with Chris and Greg Episode 3: Food! by Chris Vargas and Greg Youmans 26 mins  The Next Gender Nation by Kalil Cohen 5 mins
  In These Words She Says to You by Daniel Flores 7 mins
  Lover Other by Barbara Hammer 55 mins
  *presented in collaboration with community sponsor JQ International Trans Inclusion Committee*

  4:30 pm Riot Acts
  Riot Acts by Madsen Minax of Actor Slash Model 72 mins
  A transfabulous rockumentary about the intersections between stage performance and gender performance.  Featuring Ryka Aoki, Coyote Grace, Katastrophe, and many more musicians.

  Plus shorts:  EZ Heeb by Athens Boys Choir 3 mins
  A Love in Three Genders by Pigs in the Parlour 3 mins
  House Bunny by Gina Kamentsky 2 mins
  Transgender Express by Laure Schwarz (Switzerland, subtitled) 11mins

  7:30 pm Transforming Vice
  These boundary-pushing short films are sweet, seductive, and subversive visions from the queerest part of the LGBT spectrum. No identities are safe here. These films will make your heart twinge, melt, race, and pound.  Enjoy the ride!

  The Bath by Lee Mi-rang (Korea, subtitled) 20 mins Damelo Todo by Wu Tsang 13 Transproofed by Calpernia Addams and Andrea James 14 mins Blink by Silas Howard 11 mins   Face For Sale: Bitch Bitch Bitch by Deb Simone 8 mins  Welfare Aids by ChiChi and Chonga 14 mins Fridas Informal Economy by M. Jackalinski  9 mins  Hustle by Shawna Virago 3 mins
  * adult content *