THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Across Sonoma County on Sunday night, party-goers uncorked wine, popped champagne or simply crowded into a friend’s living room to absorb the spectacle of the 81st annual Academy Awards.
In Guerneville, gays gathered at the Rainbow Cattle Co. to cheer “Milk,” a film about slain gay activist and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk.
In Santa Rosa, a small gathering of Indian expatriates cheered for “Slumdog Millionaire,” a Bollywood-like film that made it in big in America.
“I watched a lot of Bollywood movies as a kid,” said Vipul Sheth, who had a few friends over to his house. “It’s incredible to see an Indian-themed movie make it big here.”
But perhaps no local party managed to replicate the Hollywood glam better than the annual Oscar bash in Sonoma, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Sonoma International Film Society.
The event’s near 200 attendees made their entrance on a red carpet, sashaying among the flashing strobes of high-priced cameras. Waiters moved by carrying champagne and tartlets on trays held head-high.
And, of course, Sonoma County wine flowed lavishly at the event held at the Estate restaurant.
“Sonoma is a stylish place, everybody here loves to get dressed up,” said Kevin McNeely, chairman of the society’s 12th annual film festival.
Had actor Bruce Willis, who is the honored guest at the upcoming Sonoma film festival in April, found himself among the Wine Country throng Sunday night, he might have been temporarily beguiled into believing he was with his Hollywood peers at a post-Oscar party in Los Angeles.
Even students from Sonoma Valley High School donned elegant dresses or button-up shirts for the Sonoma event, a fact that made their instructor, Peter Hansen, proud. His students are the beneficiaries of donations made at Sonoma’s Oscar party, which raises $25,000 annually for his media program.
His class, which focuses on TV and film production, recently began live broadcasts ranging from high school football game coverage to newscasts.
“Through the film society fund-raiser, our program exists and flourishes,” he said.
Like the Hollywood stars getting grilled on the red carpet leading into the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Hansen’s students know the pressure of live TV.
Hilary Campbell, an 18-year-old student, is an anchor for one of the shows that is broadcast live on community TV.
“It is a little scary,” she said, empathizing with the stars who deal with it daily. “You have to know how to act on the spot, and know what to say.”
As the night wore on, more people settled into chairs to watch who would win. Sonoma resident John Lasseter, who was executive producer for the animated movie “WALL-E,” received a loud cheer when that movie won an Oscar.
Over at Sheth’s house, a cheer erupted as “Slumdog Millionaire” won its first of eight Oscars, including Best Picture.
“It’s a proud moment for a lot of people here who are of Indian descent,” he said.
