HOW TO EXECUTE THE PERFECT FILM PREMIER AFTER PARTY
Film premiere's are a chance to see the finished film before anyone else and a chance for the people involved to see the fruits of their labour. However for most its the after party that everyone is most excited about. For most people the after party is where the fun really starts.
Dick Diver, the hero of Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the night, takes a rather perverse view of the ideal after-party, " I want to give a really bad party, I want to give a party where there's a brawl and seductions and people going home with their feelings hurt and woman passed out in the cabiner de toilette." Our protagonist deliberately invites difficult guests to spice things up a bit but in reality, there are certain Do's and Don’ts we should all be aware of. The After-party, I firmly believe, should always be better then the main event, no matter the event..even if the film is AVATAR!
1. Drinks, I suggest always suggest a Champagne reception and creating themed cocktails.
2. Premier after parties shouldn't have VIP areas. Everyone is a VIP or should be made to feel like one. If there has to be one, designate some one from the clients "camp" to manage this as who better then the person in the know to get the rewards and brunt of this difficult job.
3. Dress the room, create a link between the film and the after party, you have so many options with this so you can transform most venues beyond recognition with props from the film. As guests arrive they can be greeted by Vampires as we did for Lesbian Vampire Killers, we wanted to use real lesbians but there were harder to find then Vampires.
4. Do plan wisely on amounts. A hors d'oeuvre party should have 10-15 appetizers per person. Forget Walter Gropius and less is More, thinks LJS and remember when it comes to film folk, " More really is More!". At a dinner party, have 3-5 appetizers per person. I find when using canapé’s 5 per person is great.
5. Do have a party plan/event run schedule ready with times and tasks clearly spaced out chronologically and stick to it.
6. Don't let your day get the best of you, plan time in your schedule to prepare the space and look at every possible angle with the client and it doesn't resemble a pregnant Kelly Brook and only look good at certain angles.
7. When planning the menu, don't try and please every person with every dish. Just because the lead actress is a vegan doesn't mean you can't introduce meat in your menu.
8. Don't spend the entire after party serving guests, your the host not the waiter.
9. Don't hide in the kitchen or on the fly, get someone for that. You are the storyteller, the director of this opus. You need to be watching and listening making sure everyone is moving to your beat. To your cues.
10. If possible, tray service is so much better then sit down as its not formal and guests can appreciate being able to choose their own food from a selection.
11. Do play music, set the mood or better yet get a good DJ, they are a great ingredient and one that is often forgotten.
12. Do create a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere with soft lightning. Dim the lights and use candles if you can, as we did for the eclipse ( part of the Twighlight films) after party. Special lighting can really create a mood.
13. Don't overreact if someone spills food, drops a drink or brakes a glass. So what ? Get one of the staff to do a quick wipe up and get back on schedule.
Well there are some " Lordy" suggestions for you. I have to go and start prep on my next premier after party but I do hope that I have given you some insight to the ingredients I use and always welcome your thoughts and suggestions on what you would like to learn more about or how you do it differently.
