Published: October 05, 2005

Sequoia Productions Swept Emmy(R) Week

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LA's Leading Special Events Company Dazzled With Four Emmy(R) Events

Sequoia Productions swept Emmy® week, producing four of the most prestigious Emmy® events this year, including the Nominees Reception on September 16, the Entertainment Weekly pre-Emmy® party on September 17, and for the eighth consecutive year, the Creative Arts Ball on September 11 and the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy® Governors Ball presented by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS), on September 18. "It is always an honor for Sequoia to produce these great Emmy® events and to work with the Academy and Television Arts and Sciences and Entertainment Weekly," says Cecchetto, founder and president of Sequoia Productions. "However, we could not have succeeded without the other members of our production team -- the combined talents of the chefs, musicians, lighting, sound, designers and Project Managers Dennis Lumpkin and Yunmi Park of Sequoia Productions who worked so long and hard to create these unique events," adds Cecchetto, who often times oversees as many as 2,000 people in her various productions.

The Nominees Reception for Emmy®-nominated performers was held at the legendary Spago in Beverly Hills. The Sequoia team worked closely with the Wolfgang Puck team, who prepared a gourmet dinner buffet for the 350 guests who then visited the "Dove Chocolate Oasis," which included a chocolate fountain, assorted cookies and mini ice cream bars. Other Dove Chocolate delights served that evening were Dove Tango Tortes made with Dove dark chocolate cake, Dove milk chocolate and praline mousse layers, and the Ginger Kissed Dove made with a Dove milk chocolate base topped with ginger cream and glazed with Dove chocolate ganache. Sherry Yard, renowned pastry chef at Spago and current author of her third cookbook, created these and several other Dove Chocolate desserts especially for this event. Everyone received star treatment as Sprint representatives snapped photos of guests and projected them onto plasma screens, later to be taken home as mementos of the event. One lucky guest won a pair of round-trip first-class tickets on United p.s., the airline's new "premium service" flight. Latin jazz band, Espino, spiced things up before guests headed home to rest up for the next evening's celebration. "We make it our mission to involve the guest in every way so that their participation becomes the event," as Cecchetto puts it.

Stars filled the sky at the Cabana Club the next night, where Gary Levitt, vice president of Sequoia Productions, spearheaded the Sequoia Team and created a more hip, casual vibe for the Entertainment Weekly pre-Emmy® party. Three DJs spun tunes on two dance floors and in the outdoor lounge, which was where most of the action took place because as Cecchetto explains, "People love to be outside, especially in a place like California where no other location competes with our weather." To create a summery, outdoor atmosphere we floated tropical arrangements in the reflective pools, utilized an array of palm trees and placed a Corazon Tequila ice bar as decor elements. To carry the "Fast Forward with Entertainment Weekly" theme, Sequoia's graphic design team, led by Olivia Yu, composed editorial photos from the pages of Entertainment Weekly throughout the venue and produced items branded Entertainment Weekly from the step and repeat banner on the red carpet to the staff uniforms and cappuccino sleeves. Video montages were projected on large screens and walls inside and outside the club highlighting primetime television's hottest stars. One of Sequoia Productions' trademarks is incorporating sponsors into the event in a unique, natural way. In the Diet Coke room, Sequoia's design team attached "plastic bubbles" from the chandeliers to represent the effervescent soft drink, which was featured in several of the evening's signature cocktails. Brightly colored lip-gloss tubes were also used to create eye-catching, modern light fixtures, which were the focal point of the Revlon lounge. Pillows resembling gigantic tubes of lipstick complimented the sleek banquettes. Revlon's Lipstick Girls, who are an updated version of the cigarette girls of old Hollywood, wove through the crowd offering gifts of lip-gloss.

Amidst all the festivities, there were still thoughts of others in need, as celebrities signed a framed Entertainment Weekly cover that will be auctioned off on eBay to benefit the Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina survivors. Drawing attention to the need to aid hurricane survivors was an important element in the Emmy® Awards ceremony. At the direction of the ATAS board, gift baskets were auctioned off to support the effort. "We all feel for the people who were affected by Katrina," Cecchetto explains. "I'm so glad that one of the most watched shows on TV could help us remember to do whatever we can. Nine out of ten times, donations on some level are made from all our events."

"As event producers, our job is to keep things going and to maintain some sense of respectfulness in light of all this," Cecchetto continues. As the Awards show was underway, Cecchetto was making sure that every detail of the Governors Ball was ready. "Most awards shows run a few minutes late, so we have to listen very closely to know precisely when to open the doors, plate the food and have the waiters in place," says Cecchetto, who thrives on managing details and responding to guests' and clients' moment-to-moment needs.

For the Primetime Emmy® Awards Governors Ball and the Creative Arts Ball, which took place a week earlier, Cecchetto and her team transformed the historic Shrine Auditorium into a "1930s ocean liner." The theme was inspired by Ball Chair, Dwight Jackson. They accented the stage and walls with massive Art Deco-style mirrors. They worked closely with lighting and set designers installing intelligent lights to illuminate the columns in the center of the room. Suspended from the ceiling between these columns was a great circle of zodiac disks. Lights twinkling like stars in a midnight blue ceiling created a romantic evening sky. Months prior to the event, the Sequoia team spent hours choosing just the right shimmery silver and indigo tablecloths and napkins to compliment the amber glow of each candlelit table. Sequoia Productions teamed up with Mark's Garden to coordinate florals; mirrored vases filled with calla lilies, roses and hydrangeas to suit the Art-Deco theme. Before the guests entered the ballroom, Cecchetto and her staff made sure all was perfectly placed, including the Dove Chocolate "passport books," which were at the top of each place setting. The "passports" included photos of past Emmy® winners, highlights of momentous events in television history and 12 miniature chocolates.

To instantly set the tone on the evening of the Governors Ball, the Art Deco Orchestra began playing the quintessential '30s song, "Putting on the Ritz," as guests entered the ballroom. The band, featuring Alec Millstein and Cassie Miller, also played authentic swing music and theme songs from many of TV's greatest shows. Adding to the majesty of the evening were the critically acclaimed, very attractive Ten Tenors, the popular musical group from Australia who regaled the crowd with songs that ranged from classic operatic arias to the unexpected "Rawhide," a Beach Boys medley and the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive," complete with John Travolta-inspired disco moves.

Although the Art Deco ocean liner theme was used for both the Governors Ball and the Creative Arts Ball, acclaimed chef Joachim Splichal of Patina Catering, created different menus for the two events. At the Creative Arts Ball, he and his staff served Smoked Salmon, Chateaubriand Bearnaise and an "Unflamed" Baked Alaska. For the Governors Ball, Splichal served Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Filet of Beef Wellington and Peach Melba. Beverages included Voss Water from Norway, wine from Beaulieu Vineyard, Laurent-Perrier Champagne and specialty Patron drinks, which were served at stunning ice bars.

The Governors Ball, though not the only party on Emmy® night, was still rocking late into the evening. "People were dancing even as we closed the doors," Cecchetto comments. "A sure sign that we did our job. Everyone had a good experience... and experience turns into memories. That's what it's all about -- creating memories."

For more information on Sequoia Productions, visit www.sequoiaprod.com or call 310-397-1477.