About the Book:
Red-hot Hollywood director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Rush Hour II, Red Dragon, and an upcoming mega blockbuster soon to be announced), lives in Ingrid Bergman’s old manse, Hilhaven Lodge. In this house, Ratner has an old-fashion, black-and-white photo booth, and into this photo booth Ratner has enticed a cornucopia of white-hot celebrities, outsized personalities, and rare public legends, all of whom voluntarily vogued, posed, and made silly faces without makeup, wardrobe, or lighting, for four quick shots. The result is a hilarious and revealing look at generally famous people being silly and, well, normal.
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Hilhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures is comprised of wacky and outrageous picture strips of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Colin Farrell, Heath Ledger, Heidi Klum, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Tucker, Kim Cattrall, Jackie Chan, Dino De Laurentiis, Clive Davis, Aaliyah, Edward Norton, Salma Hayek, Quincy Jones, Ralph Fiennes, Rod Stewart, Val Kilmer, Liv Tyler, Harvey Keitel, Jay-Z, John C. Reilly, Russell Simmons, Nicolas Cage, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Jack Osbourne, Paris Hilton, Tommy Hilfiger, Tony Shafrazi, Mariah Carey, Matthew McConaughey, Chelsea Clinton, Rebecca Gayheart, Norman Lear, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., and many, many more!
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About the Event:
On May 30, 2003, powerHouse Books hosted a star-studded soiree in honor of blockbuster film director Brett Ratner, author of Hilhaven Lodge: The Photo Booth Pictures, and our entire publishing programme to celebrate Book Expo America at the stunning Beverly Hills estate of legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans. Photographed exclusively by society photographer and celebrity himself Patrick McMullan, author of so8os: A Photographic Diary of a Decade, the soiree was a success from the moment it began on that splendid spring evening.
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“Robert Evans’ gardens were exquisite,” reminisced Linda Troeller, author of Spa Journeys. “The flora and fountains created an atmosphere similar to the great courts of Europe where royalty patronized artists and introduced their concepts.” And indeed, it was just like being among royalty, when the King of Pop—Michael Jackson—made a surprise appearance with the guest of honor.
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“For me the highlight of the evening was when, shortly after arriving, while still light out, the usually indefatigable Miss Sara Rosen, publicity director of powerHouse Books, comes pouring out of the foyer, nearly killing herself on the steps, rushes over to where publishers Daniel Power and Craig Cohen are standing, and starts hyperventilating madly,” recalls photographer and best-selling author Charles Peterson, author of Touch Me I’m Sick. “’Where’s Patrick?!! Michael Jackson’s here!!! No really, Michael Jackson!! Where’s Patrick??’ As she’s blurting this all out, I look over my shoulder and lo and behold, there’s Michael Jackson coming around poolside arm and arm with Brett Ratner. It was surreal and unique. And Mr. Jackson turned out to be quite charming. I’ll party with him any day.”
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Jackson, who is not a regular on the Hollywood party circuit told Los Angeles Times reporter Scott Timberg, “[Brett Ratner] is the nicest person I’ve ever met. He’s so sweet it makes me cry.” Jackson’s unannounced appearance sent waves through the party, leaving both celebrities and book publishing people alike in awe. “I shook his hand, no glove, and mumbled something about ‘an honor’,” recalled Sean Halpert, buyer at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. “And you know, he either seemed normal, or I had entered a twilight zone of A-list hoi poloi.”
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That A-list included hip-hop renaissance man Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, It-Boy actor Ashton Kutcher, sexy socialites Paris and Nicky Hilton, Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, songwriter Diane Warren, composer Danny Elfman, artist Kenny Scharf, Mullholland Drive actress Laura Elena Harring, Smallville actor Tom Welling, hot models Shakara and Irina Pantaeva, ‘80s teen star Corey Haim, and gallery director David Fahey, original Details nightcrawler Stephen Saban, and saucy sex columnist Anka Radakovich. Celebrated powerHouse Books authors Jeff Bridges, Joel Grey, and Phil Stern were also in attendance.
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“The party was a beautiful Hollywood splash into the publishing world,” said celebrity photographer Veronique Vial. “A great host and guests, an inviting pool, charming women lightly dressed, good looking bodyguards, great food, an immediate reward in the photo booth, and the best publishing company team—nothing else was needed that night.”
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Allure executive editor Susan Kittenplan summed it up saying, “Your BEA party became the nexus of Hollywood throughout time. I mean, Michael Jackson, with the Hilton sisters, at Robert Evans’ house, celebrating a book by Brett Ratner? The evening was a testament to the coolness of powerHouse Books.”
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Miss Rosen’s Contribution to the Project:
Event Planning and Publicity
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Photographs ©Jim Jocoy
Cover courtesy of powerHouse Books