by contributor Donna Shor
Photo credit: Patrick G. Ryan
Red Carpet DC: The Capital and the Cult of Celebrity evening lived up to its name, featuring television’s Arch Campbell and ace photographer Patrick Ryan and his shots of stars.
The 400 guests stepping onto the red carpet rolled out at the Embassy of the Czech Republic were first greeted by Miss DC 2012 Sarah Hillwar, Miss DC 2006 Kate Michael (of the K Street Kate blog) and Mary David, Miss Wyoming 2012.
Next, the tall and handsome Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovič welcomed the guests and introduced Patrick Ryan and Arch Campbell. Ever-entertaining Arch did his thing, archly, and Ryan exhibited his striking celebrity photographs of a score of famous faces in off-beat moments, including George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Nicholas Cage, Jessica Biel (in jeans, without makeup, atop a Harley-Davidson) Clint Eastwood and Al Pacino.
The invitation said “Dress for the Red Carpet” and the throng of good-looking women followed through on it. Guests wandered the ballroom or stepped into the garden while enjoying Atlantico Rum specialties and such Czech quaffs as Urquell Pilsner, a golden lager-style beer originally brewed in the old town of Pilsen and Becherovka-laced drinks made from the spiced herbal liqueur that serves as aperitif.
The evening was also a prelude to the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2012-Miloš Forman. During September and October the festival will celebrate Oscar-winning Czech director Forman’s 80th birthday and the accomplishments of the transatlantic film industry with films and events throughout Washington. A launch party opens the celebrations on September 8th when Czech artist Bořek Šipek presents his first U.S. solo exhibition of his stunning glass sculptures and designs.
Films are an important part of Czech culture and an international film festival is held in the spa town of Karlovy Vary, eighty miles from Prague, which draws ever more tourists each year. Forman was an important part of the ground-breaking Czech New Wave, making films exploring social and moral issues; but saw his work banned after the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia. He left for America and made several hit films including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest which won five Academy Awards and Amadeus which won nine Oscars, including a second one for Forman.
Arch Campbell has reported on films and entertainment since the 1970’s. For NBC/WRCTV his late-night Arch Campbell Show won more than a dozen EMMY Awards. He has another eight EMMY awards since for celebrity interviews and comedy specials. Now with ABC7/WJLA-TV, he hosts The Arch Campbell Show on News Channel 8 and appears Friday mornings on WASH FM. Arch has entertained Washingtonians for years, although in a move rather hard to forgive, he also inflicted on movie-goers the horror-show-spoofing film, The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes which deservedly, did not win any EMMY’s or Oscars. (It was more for the prestige of it than anything else, Arch would probably argue.)
Patrick Ryan, who grew up in Washington, is a busy photojournalist and photo editor often seen at events around town. He lectures on photographic topics, serves as a judge on competitions and shoots celebrities, celebrations, weddings, event openings, travel, portrait studies and any interesting individuals he comes across. His work appears in prestigious publications and examples can be seen at www.ryanphoto.com. He also records the local scene in his blog, whose name gives you a clue to his sense of humor: www.snarkinfested.com.
