The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn News

on the fabulous auction

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:53:00 +0000

As I'd mentioned here a while ago, there's a huge auction coming soon in London that will sell quite a lot of Audrey's wardrobe. At the time information was fairly scarce, but thanks to people finally putting out press releases and Vogue picking up on the story, we finally have some information.

Kerry Taylor Auctions will be selling a good collection of Audrey's personal and film wardrobe, every piece authenticated, on December 7 and 8. This is big news not only because it's rare to find wardrobe that has been authenticated, it's even more rare to find such a large collection being auctioned all at once. More good news out of this: half of the proceeds go directly to the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund! What a nice surprise.

It was a surprise to learn that the clothes being auctioned off are currently part of a small touring exhibit that has or will hit New York and Paris before being displayed in London. I wish I would have known sooner! Not that I can just jet off at the drop of a hat, but so other people in the area could have advance notice. Bah. Anyway, collectors and designers are very excited about all of this and estimate that the auction could raise more than £100,000. Not too shabby! And if past auctions have been any indications, this will be a conservative lowball estimate.

So there's that! It'd be nice to have even more information come out soon, but we shall see. In the meantime, here's the article in Vogue, here's a press release via the Children's Fund site (PDF), and here's the auction page from Kerry Taylor's website with pictures and information on the lots, plus the tour dates for the exhibit. I'm afraid we've just missed New York, but if anyone is in Paris or will be December 1 and 2, you still have a chance!

P.S. For all you fashionistas out there, there looks to be quite a lot of vintage Chanel jewelry and couture up for sale as well. Absolutely gorgeous and definitely worth a look. And some Lanvin, Balenciaga, Dior, Schiaparelli, Mary Quant and, of course, Givenchy.

L.A. Loves Audrey

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Got some cool news for my fellow Angelinos last night! Sorry I waited until today to post it, but my Internet's been wonky and I don't trust posting here via my phone. Anyway, beginning tonight LACMA is hosting an Audrey Hepburn marathon entitled "Audrey Hepburn: Then, Now and Forever." It will run until November 13 and features some Hepburn films rarely shown on the big screen, along with special guest speakers.

Tonight, starting at 7:30 there will be a double feature of Roman Holiday and They All Laughed with an introduction by director Peter Bogdanovich (who directed Audrey in Laughed). Tomorrow, Saturday, is another double feature with Breakfast at Tiffany's and Two For the Road, with an introduction by William Daniels, a co-star from Road. And for the record, I'm really miffed I can't make this one because Two For the Road is maybe my favourite Audrey film and I haven't seen it on the big screen yet.

The double feature nights continue with Sabrina, Love in the Afternoon, Charade, Wait Until Dark, War and Peace (wow!) and My Fair Lady. To see the full list of upcoming screenings, along with film and guest speaker information and screen times, go here.

If you can make it to any of these screenings, please go! I can't tell you how much better it is to see your favourite films on the big screen as they were meant to be seen. You pick up on so much more and having an audience reacting around you just adds a new dimension to the film.

Thanks to Kendal for sharing the info!

Breakfast at Tiffany's: The Play (again)

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:52:00 +0000

I blame this on being out of the country and away from computers when the story was confirmed, but have you all heard about the stage production of Breakfast at Tiffany's now on in London? It previewed at the end of September and is now running at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until the end of January 2010. Interesting...

Does anyone have any inclination to see it? It stars Anna Friel of the terminally cute television show Pushing Daisies as Holly Golightly, and while Anna is on record as saying she wouldn't attempt to mimic Audrey's iconic portrayal of the callgirl with a heart of gold, the adverts certainly give another impression. Don't blame the girl, though, as the few onstage shots I've managed to find show Anna as a curly blonde more reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe (Capote's original choice for Holly) than Audrey Hepburn. I'm afraid that I can't really show you any of the pictures I've found because I try to keep this as family friendly as possible, and, well . . . Anna appears completely nude onstage. Yes, starkers.

The play is based off of Truman Capote's original novella and not the sweetened screenplay that George Axelrod adapted to film, and is set in 1943 as opposed to the then-current time of 1961 for the film. There is also a language warning on both the theatre's website and the production's official website, more in keeping with Capote's sometimes blue writing. If you are interested in catching the show tickets are still available and can be found on the theatre's website (link above), and seem to range from around £17 to £50. If you do go see, please share your thoughts with those of us who can't make it! We'd love to hear from you.

While doing some research on this I found that this actually wasn't the first time Breakfast had been put onstage. There had been rumors in the late 90s and early 2000s that someone somewhere was going to do an adaptation and Natalie Portman had been asked to take on Holly, but thanks to Google and an unauthorized biography you can now read more about one of the most notorious Broadway flops in history, Breakfast at Tiffany's the Musical. Can you imagine Mary Tyler Moore as a singing and dancing Holly? Or Richard Chamberlain as the sensitive, bookish Paul Varjak? A cast recording was made shortly before the play closed and is still available on CD, surprisingly enough. Don't waste your time on Amazon where third party sellers will try to gouge you at $50 or more. Barnes & Noble's website has the album selling at $26.39 with listening samples! I won't influence your minds, so if you're curious, go listen to the samples for yourself . . . and leave comments, of course. I love hearing your thoughts on anything, especially the more bizarre findings. :)

Audrey Auctions

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Now that I'm laid up in bed for a day, I have time to share some auction news with you! (Before I must finish some homework, that is.) First, Lyon & Turnbull on London just had a rather large Modern and Contemporary Art auction yesterday, and featured a few pictures of Audrey photographed by Bob Willoughby and a couple other photographers. From what I can tell, two of the five prints were sold, and went for £400 and £600, not a bad price! If you're curious to see which photographs were up on the block you can go here and scroll down to Lot 131. The entire auction was quite diverse, with everything from fashion prints to Picasso sketches.

The next auction in question will happen sometime in December through Kerry Taylor Auctions, and will feature quite a lot of Audrey's wardrobe, over 30 pieces. This alone is pretty exciting, but it also seems that most of the clothing in this auction is Givenchy, which is even better. There are a few film wardrobe pieces, including that divine black lace dress from How to Steal a Million (right) and a black dress worn for Paris When It Sizzles promo shots, and even some accessories and personal letters from the very early days of her career. It looks to be an exciting auction that will most likely drum up a fair amount of press, so keep an eye out on the newsstands for some neat articles and pictures. You can read more about the auction via the Telegraph (and thanks to Kendal for sending the link!), and keep checking Kerry Taylor's website for more information as the date gets closer. I'm sure the lot will be featured in the Passion For Fashion auction beginning December 8, and you can order a catalogue if you'd like through the site.

Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn? Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:05:00 +0000

I've just finished reading the script. In two hours! Needless to say, it was impossible to put down. Why, oh WHY hasn't this film been made? It's been tossed around for years, nearly made, somewhat cast, teased, but so many lesser movies have come to see the light of day and this one hasn't. Absolutely tragic.

I won't give anything away in the hopes that it will still be made -- and sooner, rather than later -- but let me just say it's a nice balance of romance, comedy, drama, and, of course, Audrey references galore. But never heavy-handed or stretching the plot to fit the references. Quite lovely. So if anyone out there knows who owns the rights to this screenplay, get on them! Let's get this movie made! With a good indie cast of lesser-known actors who are known for acting (not for their big heads or big names) and sticking to the original script, this would be a great film to release at any time of the year. Done right, it'll sell itself.

Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn?

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Thank you all for your ongoing patience here. I'm in the midst of moving (yes, again) and I start a whopping 16 units of school next week, so needless to say, I'm a bit crazy right now.

I hope you've been enjoying the pictures from the Timeless Audrey exhibit! Perhaps someday soon when I have a free day (hah!), I can maybe drop by the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund office and ask if they need help and maybe suss out some information, like where the exhibit will go next. You should all have the chance to see it in person! I shall try for you.

In the meantime, my brother-in-law unearthed the script for Why Can't I Be Audrey Hepburn? among his things and lent it to me. Not sure if it was for my screenwriting class that I'll be taking, or because I'm somewhat enamored of the lady, but after hearing about this script (and the rumors surrounding it) for ages, I can't wait to read it!

And the site will be back up before too long. I'd love to give it an overhaul and finally debut it as originally intended, in English, French and German, but je ne parle pas bien français -- until the end of the semester, that is. So for now my focus is getting it back up, and when I have the leisure time, revamping everything and finally getting the picture galleries sorted properly. I love pictures of Audrey more than anything, but those galleries are the bane of my existence.

I'll be back soon with a review of the script and whatever else I may unearth in the meantime. Stay beautiful!

Timeless Audrey in Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Oh, finally! I have just finished uploading my pictures from the Timeless Audrey exhibit in Berlin to Flickr for your enjoyment.

First I'd like to thank Daniel yet again for getting us in to the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award ceremony, and for being so very generous as to allow me to take all the pictures I wanted and share them with you. As such, I ask that you please not use (or abuse) these photos in any way. Pictures are not allowed in the exhibit on a normal basis but an exception was granted, and I'd like to show that not only I but all of us are appreciative of this exception and will follow the rules. So, like all beautiful things, look and admire but leave it as you found it. Thank you, and enjoy the view. :)

Edit: Oh shoot! I was sure I'd mentioned this in a previous post, but on looking back I realize I never gave thanks to the person who made this trip to Berlin possible. I'm such a heel. Anyway, if you're the sort of Audrey fan who hits all the cool websites then you know Richard from Audrey1. It was his idea for him, Kendal (whom you may also know) and I to see this exhibit while we could, made all the arrangements, everything to make sure we appeared at the door in one piece. So click the link and drop by the forums (if you don't already) or write a note saying, "You're cool!" Or be original and make up your own thing, just say thanks for having this idea and the drive to do it that gave us a good look at the usually mysterious exhibit we've all heard about but have never really seen before now. Thank you, Richard, and I'm very sorry I didn't in fact put up a thank you note earlier like my demented mind thought I had. Please forgive!

It's that time again . . .

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Time for summer film screenings in the park! I love this part of summer. This morning I went over to Facebook, the only way I know what's going on with any of my friends, and found an update from Cinespia, the group that does the film screenings in the Hollywood Forever cemetery. They just posted their June schedule, and it's always a good sign when they put a picture of Audrey next to their post. :)

So, all you fabulous L.A. and southern California fans, mark your calendars for Saturday June 13th. Gates open at 7:30, the film starts at 9, and it's a $10 mandatory "donation" to get in. Come early because parking is hideous and I'm sure the place will fill up fast. You're encouraged to bring low picnic chairs, blankets, food, anything to make you comfortable that won't block other people's line of vision, so make a fun night of it. It'll be great, I promise. I'll go as an early birthday present to myself (oh, like I need an excuse!), and having seen Funny Face before on the big screen in San Francisco, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it will be amazing. It's like seeing the film for the first time all over again. And if you haven't seen the film yet or have some friends who haven't, it's a great way to introduce yourself or them to Audrey on the big screen. Or, rather, the side of a mausoleum, if you want to get technical. Either way, she sings, she dances, she wears amazing Givenchy creations, she's completely in her element in this film. Go. GO! You can even sit with me if you can't find anyone else to bring along, just be sure to come out, it'll be great. Maybe we can get a sing-along going. ;)

And I'm still working on all my pictures from my trip, so once I'm done editing I was thinking I'd just post all of the Timeless Audrey exhibit pictures on Flickr for everyone to peruse at their leisure. There's quite a lot -- they take up pretty much my entire 1 GB memory card, and they're all huge, high quality pictures -- so rather than posting in batches and making the blog load slowly, I'll just post a link. And if you really like any you may comment. :)

website down

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that yes, I do know that the website is down right now and apparently has been for quite a while. I've been using GoDaddy for years and lately they've just been screwing up left and right, not contacting me when the site is down or they have a problem, so once I get back to the States and things get settled I'm going to get a new host company and be done with them forever.

So if you're ever considering getting your own website, don't ever use GoDaddy. I'll even pay you to not use them.*

Other than that, the trip has been fantastic. Just saw the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory today at the Louvre. :)

*Okay, maybe not, because I'm not rich. But don't use them. They're rubbish.

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 05 May 2009 08:27:00 +0000

I'm still in Germany right now, but somewhere in the world it's still May 4th and Audrey's birthday. So I'm not really late. :) Went to the Timeless Audrey exhibit, of course, and thanks to dear Daniel Acksteiner got to see the award ceremony for the 2009 Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award. I'm using other people's computers until I get back home and my cable to hookup the camera is in my hotel room, so I'm afraid there's no pictures yet. When I get back to Paris, promise. :) In the meantime, wish Audrey a happyy 80th birthday in your own special way, even if it's just watching your favourite movie of hers, and have a great rest of the day.

More later . . .

Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:24:00 +0000

As you may have read, the gallery exhibit opening/book signing for the new picture book Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina was last night. It was held in a pretty little Swedish furniture shop in Los Angeles near Hollywood, and there was quite a crowd packed in between the end tables and sleek armchairs! The photographer's son, David Shaw, was onhand to sign copies of the book and he was kind enough to field my questions for a few minutes about discovering what were thought to be long-lost negatives of his dad Mark Shaw's work with Audrey for Life Magazine.

Here's the story: Mark Shaw was assigned to photograph a new starlet, Audrey Hepburn, on set and around the Paramount Studios lot for a spread in Life Magazine. We all know the pictures now, including the shots of Audrey wearing a large man's dress shirt and little else, which thoroughly scandalized her mum. David said that while Life's records showed that the original film negatives had been returned to his father Mark, Life was notoriously bad at recordkeeping and it was supposed that the negatives had just been lost forever. David had begun to scan prints of his father's pictures when Mark's first wife died, and as the estate were going through her things, they stumbled across a box in her basement with all these wonderful film negatives in it. They scanned the negatives for beautiful, crisp pictures for the book, and printed a select few to be available as prints to purchase at the exhibit. While it was quite crowded and there was a lot going on, I do believe I overheard quite a few orders for prints, which made me very happy. And David said that he was under the impression that Audrey was still as popular as ever and would always be that way, which made me happy. In fact, he said that after going through all these photos: "It was impossible to take a bad picture of her. Even first thing in the morning, no makeup, hair a mess, she was great!"

Here's some pictures from around the shop:

Many, many thanks to the lovely Beth for letting me know about this fun event, for letting me show up, and for letting me take all the pictures I wanted. You're the best! Thanks as well go to David Shaw for putting this book together and listening to me ramble; Caroline Bloxsom, the director of licensing for Audrey's estate, for also listening to me ramble and answering my questions; and George Takei for being so lovely and talking to me. He and his husband are the sweetest people. :)

Okay then! If you can't wait, you just neeeeed this book, then your local retailer should have some copies. If they don't, then there's always good ol' Amazon to do the trick. Their price is really good, too! If you're feeling a bit broke and pinched right now but really wish you could have an Audrey fix to take your mean reds away, well then... I'll just have to give a copy or two away in a contest once I'm back from traveling, won't I? It's been so long since I've given something away, it seems only fair. In celebration of Audrey's upcoming 80th birthday and a beautiful new book, it only seems right. Stay tuned.

Be a part of Audrey

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:58:00 +0000

This time, my friends, there's good reason for my not updating regularly. I've been sitting on this as long as I can, but now I must share: I will be in Berlin for the Timeless Audrey exhibit on May 4, Audrey's birthday! I haven't found any details yet but I know that something special is happening on what would have been our fair lady's 80th birthday, so you shall know shortly after I do. :) I will, of course, be taking loads of pictures where I can (there's no photos allowed in the exhibit, but I'll see what I can do in the name of journalistic integrity) and bringing back as much information as possible for everyone that can't just jump out to Germany at the drop of a hat. (There's also rumors that the exhibit may be coming back to the US for a mini-tour, but nothing is confirmed.)

While perusing the exhibit's site, I found a link to some cool little thing that I swear wasn't there before. You can now submit a picture of yourself to be featured in a photo collage of Audrey for the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund! The catch is that it's about €10 to submit a picture of yourself -- or pay for a friend to upload their own picture -- but nearly all the proceeds go directly to the Children's Fund and their All Children In School program. You can find more information here, though be warned that it's entirely in German. I can give you translations if you want, or you can run it through Babelfish or some other online translator.

Lastly, the gallery exhibit/book signing event in L.A. is tonight and I will be there. Pictures are definitely allowed, so if you're in the neighborhood and can drop by, do so! There's supposed to be previously unseen pictures of Audrey up, plus, there's a picture book to thumb through. Who doesn't love Audrey themed picture books? :)

Svenska Mõbler
154 N. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
map
6-8 pm

And Saturday morning I will be flying out to Paris and from there to Berlin. I'll be back in Paris for two weeks and will try to hit every Audrey landmark in the city that I can to share with all of you, but I'm also there on "business" (researching a screenplay) and modeling, so I may be a bit loopy from jetlag and not sleeping. We'll see how it goes . . .

Something for the L.A. fans

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:17:00 +0000

Whew, it's been hectic around here lately! I think things may settle down around September or October, but until then, be prepared for more sporadic -- yet cool -- updates. :) Just a short while ago I received a letter about a new gallery exhibit opening at the end of the month in Los Angeles, and it coincides with a new book on Audrey. Double the goodies!

The book is called Charmed By Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina, and from what I can tell it's mainly a picture book featuring loads of snaps from photographer Mark Shaw. Have a gander at the cover of the book (left), I know you know his work.

Anyway, the grand opening is Tuesday April 28th from 6-8 PM, and Mark Shaw's son David will be onhand to sign copies of the book, which will be for sale. There will also be prints available on display, and if you can't make it to opening night, don't fret. The exhibit will stay on the walls until June 26th, and can be found at Svenska Mõbler, 154 N. La Brea Ave in Los Angeles.

I'm planning on being there, taking a bullet for all you fans scattered throughout the world who can't make it. I know, it's such a difficult job, but someone must do it. ;) If you can come, leave a comment and let me know! I'll keep an eye out for you.

P.S. You can see some prints online by clicking here, if you're impatient. There's also a lot of Jackie Kennedy, some early pre-Velvet Underground Nico and some amazing behind the scenes Balmain, for all you fashionistas.

P.P.S. There's also a great photo exhibit coming to London soon, but I'm waiting on some more information before I post about it. Stay tuned!

Update: if you can't make it to opening night and don't find the book in your local bookshop, it is available on Amazon. And thanks to the lovely Beth for all the info!

My Fair Lady on the big screen

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:25:00 +0000

This past Friday I was lucky enough to finally see My Fair Lady on the big screen. The Academy (you know, the ones who hand out the Oscars) was holding a special 70mm screening of the restored original print, and apparently the 70mm version hasn't been screened since the film was first released 45 years ago. After seeing it for myself, I have to say it's downright tragic. The colours were fantastic, especially the flower segments during the opening credits, and I could just see so much more than I ever have before. You could actually read the elocution cards tacked all over Eliza's bedroom walls, and the more subtle facial expressions were just divine. The mix of emotions that came over Rex Harrison's face in that final scene was incredible. It actually brought tears to my eyes.

I've said it before when I've caught other Audrey films being screened, but if you can ever catch any of her movies on the big screen, GO. Not only is it a totally different experience than watching at home, but the audience reaction and interaction is fabulous. The small theatre was packed, and many of the people there had never seen My Fair Lady before. Shocking, no? But it was great. They laughed hysterically at Henry's colourful insults and Eliza's childish antics, and groaned when Henry wondered why women couldn't be more like his perfect self. It was fantastic.

There was also a small costume and design sketch exhibit in the lobby:

Forgive the darkness and the glare, but the costumes were protected by thick glass and absolutely no flash photography was allowed.

And please forgive my raccoon eyes, but I'd come straight from an unusual photoshoot and my makeup wouldn't come off! I kept my Wayfarers on as long as possible. :)

Lastly, but most importantly, I'd like to give a very huge thank you to Ellen, who performed nothing short of magic to get us tickets to this sold out event. Whatever she wants I will gladly give her as a thank you for this great night!

Timeless Audrey is alive!

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Great news for all of the Audrey fans around the world who have been asking about the Timeless Audrey exhibit, the traveling display of Audrey Hepburn memorabilia. I got an email this morning from a fellow by the name of Daniel who tells me that the exhibit is currently in Berlin (Germany), and will stay there until May 10th. This is very exciting! After spending more than a year in Japan, where Audrey is still a very huge icon, the flats and displays needed to be refurbished after a lot of moving and general wear and tear, and no one at the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund was sure when the exhibit would be ready to travel again. Now we know. :)

Anyway, all proceeds from visitors to Timeless Audrey will directly benefit UNICEF's All Children In School, a project we know was very close to Audrey's heart. I'm putting up a copy of the flyer (in English, so I don't need to translate for you) below, and Daniel has also asked that I put up a link to a website put up expressly for Timeless Audrey's time in Germany, which I'm more than happy to do. The site can be found here. It's all in German, though, so brush up on your Deutsche before heading in. :)

That's the only information I have about the exhibit at this time, but I'll be sure to keep an eye out and see if I can't find out if it will be making other European stops. It'd be silly not to, right? And maybe someday it'll come back to the States and do a more extensive tour for us Americans that can't afford a trip right now. *sigh* Soon. The bad never lasts forever, even though it may feel like it, right?

Okay, that's all for now. If you haven't been around to visit lately, then you probably don't know that the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund website got quite a major overhaul and now matches the Audrey Bag site. Go look!

Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 23:55:00 +0000

I'm eating dinner right now (a bit early, but I'm hungry! I'll have dinner again in a few hours), and while I eat I like to surf the web. It beats TV. Anyway, after clicking around I found that Glamour magazine has done a 2009 American Legends series, where they take girls and women they think are going to be big this year and make them into American legends. There's athletes, musicians and entertainers, and I was just beginning to think, "Oh, they won't include Audrey, she wasn't American," when I hit page 5 and saw this:

Instantly recognizable as a scene from Funny Face, right? Or do I just know my Audrey movies too well? ;) There's a small blurb from Glamour and Miss Emma herself:

OK, she was born in Belgium, but Hepburn became one of the most beloved American movie stars. Her sharp, sensitive turn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s made the film a must-see for women of all ages, while the late actress’s elegant style continues to inspire women to this day.

“She was so simply beautiful. And she loved charity work, something even more beautiful about her.”—Emma Roberts, 18, of this month’s big-screen drama Lymelife, reenacting a scene from the 1957 musical Funny Face

Any thoughts? I know Emma doesn't look like Audrey (in fact, I think she's nearly the spitting image of her aunt Julia), and I don't know if she's a fan, but it's still nice to see Audrey represented as a women's icon, and especially nice to see a fresh face made up as her.

Being Audrey, in more than one way

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Hello all. Thanks for being so patient as I fell off the face of the Earth (yet again). Without going into too much detail, the economic crisis has mucked up my life and I'm afraid I must spend the majority of my time trying to make ends meet until things improve. So I'm sorry for the lack of updates, but thank you for being loyal and hovering about, waiting patiently for more news.

Just now I received a letter from a lady named Michelle, and she has some interesting information that New York Audrey fans will love to hear, I'm sure. I'll just copy and paste Michelle's words, since they say everything that needs to be said so well:

Being Audrey is the story of Claire Stark, the new York woman who has it all: a beautiful life, marital and social bliss, and a view of Tiffany's from her Fifth Avenue apartment. When calamity strikes and her fairytale world threatens to collapse, Claire seeks refuge in her imagination, where she embarks on a hilarious, romantic adventure inspired by the films of her heroine, Audrey Hepburn. As Hepburn's character in the classic films Roman Holiday, Funny Face, Love in the Afternoon, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, Claire's fantastical escape appears complete until she must confront the reality of what she stands to lose. Being Audrey celebrates the variety of life and the themes embodied by one of America's most beloved and enduring movie stars. Music and lyrics by Ellen Weiss. Book by James Hindman. Developed with and directed by Jack Cummings III.
Being Audrey will be performed at the Connelly Theatre at 220 E. 4th St. New York, NY. Tickets are $45 for reserved seats, $38 for general admission. Reservations can be made with our General Manager, Michael Coglan, at coglan@transportgroup.org or (212) 564-0333. Please visit our website for more information, www.transportgroup.org

Sounds interesting, no? Maybe it sounds a little like something we're all guilty of at some time or another? I'll admit to stopping at the Tiffany & Co. in San Francisco a few times and just peering in the windows when I still lived up there, and doing some other Audrey re-enactments to entertain myself. If you live in the New York area or will be in town between March 27th and April 26th, the show's run, then try and check it out! You can't visit New York and not take in any live theatre. That's just . . . wrong.

Speaking of having your own little Holly Golightly moment, someone else was caught having her own moment. Though while people like you and I do it quietly, maybe on the way to work or while wandering downtown, Jennifer Love Hewitt called the paparazzi to document her trip. Apparently this was her 30th birthday celebration, but so far I haven't read anything positive about it. Perhaps everyone's tired of her on and off Audrey fandom? Either way, here's a picture or two, you can make up your own mind:

I'll stay mum on this, but once and for all, I'd like to know what this girl has against Wayfarers! She didn't use them in The Audrey Hepburn Story and she's sporting Jackie O's here. Wayfarers are really hot right now, and personally, I love my pair. What's so wrong with them? They're classic! And very Audrey.

attention all L.A. area do-gooders!

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:19:00 +0000

Hey all you Los Angeles area Audrey fans, are you looking to do some good deeds but don't have a lot of time or money (or either)? UNICEF can still use you! I recently received this email and thought I'd share, in case anyone wanted to pitch in and channel their inner Audrey:

Dear Volunteer:

You are receiving this email because you are a registered volunteer in the greater Los Angeles area and we have a special opportunity in which we need your help!

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF will be hosting The Beverly Hills UNICEF Snowflake lighting! It’s a wonderful opportunity for Los Angeles residents to come together to do whatever it takes to save a child’s life and spread a little holiday cheer! We are looking for volunteers to help us pass out UNICEF fact cards, goodies and simply spread the message of UNICEF. We need approximately 20 volunteers to help us from 5 to 8 pm on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 2 Rodeo Drive, corner of Wilshire Blvd. So if you are interested and are at least 18-years-old come join us.

Volunteers will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested please email bmazin@unicefusa.org.

Regards,
Volunteer and Community Partnerships Department

P.S. For more information about the UNICEF Snowflake, please visit our website at unicefsnowflake.org

If you go to the Snowflake link just above, you can find more information about the snowflakes in LA and New York. I recently received another letter from UNICEF going into more detail about LA's ceremony, and it seems that Ambassador Joel Madden and Nicole Richie will be the ones lighting the snowflake. (I had no idea Joel was a UNICEF Ambassador!) There will also be performances by The 88 and Kreesha Turner, so even if you can't volunteer, you could stop by for some pretty lights and free entertainment.

update on the My Fair Lady remake

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:59:00 +0000

While I still haven't heard anything set in stone and announced officially, it seems to be a widely assumed fact that Keira Knightley is signed to play Eliza Doolittle in the upcoming film remake of My Fair Lady. Information is still scarce, and no other cast has been announced (though wildly speculated on), but now IMDb has a development page up for the film, with a release date of 2010. You have to have a Pro account to see any details, and I don't really feel like paying to get one piece of information, but Keira's page also has one developing project on it, which I'm betting is MFL.

While doing some wandering on the Internet, I found that Wikipedia has collected some more information. Supposedly, actress Emma Thompson will be writing the screenplay (longhand, with a fountain pen), and it's to be a somewhat updated version of the classic film and play. Even more startling is the persistent rumor that Brad Pitt and George Clooney were looking to produce the movie together, as they have worked together many times before, but had a huge falling out over the fact that they both wanted the plum Henry Higgins role. What's more, some are saying that Brad wanted partner Angelina Jolie as Eliza! I'd say to take all these rumors with a grain of salt or two, but it still makes for interesting news, no?

Hopefully we'll get some more concrete news before too long, and can then focus on the long wait 'til production photos, trailers, and the film itself. Has this new information made anyone feel better -- or worse -- about the remake? Also, what are your views on redoing this role so famously? Audrey herself wasn't immune to criticism when she was cast, despite the fact that Warner Bros. thought Julie Andrews was too unknown to star in the last great film musical, so how will Keira and her career hold up after trying to fill the shoes of two such memorable women and their versions of Eliza Doolittle?

Dangerous Curves

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Did anyone catch the Simpsons last night? I usually don't watch TV of my own accord, but I was over at my sister's when it was on, and I'm so glad. The whole episode was an homage to Two For the Road! One of my absolute favourite Audrey films, so beautiful. While they didn't get the rights to the film's music, the soundtrack on the show was very Mancini, and very true to the feel of the film. It was interesting to see the Simpson's family history worked into the TFTR story, and I like how they still kept some of the imagery from the film, especially the ending. If you missed it, or would like to see it again, you can view the full episode on Hulu (link goes straight to the episode). I'm not sure how long it will be up, since I'm fairly new to American websites sharing TV shows (I usually have to use these crazy Chinese sites), but if it goes off or you need to look it up elsewhere for any reason, the episode is called "Dangerous Curves."

Speaking of the film, though, when I was looking for a picture to post, since I'm lagging and haven't posted any of my own yet, I found an album called "Two For the Road" by the producer of Nouvelle Vague, a favourite of mine. The album has the same basic feel of the film, charting a couple's relationship emotionally and geographically, though with modern music. They made a video for the title track, and it's all footage from the 1967 film. So even if the style of music isn't your cup of tea, just enjoy the visuals.

Two for the Road

I really wish my copy wasn't in storage right now! I'd love to watch this again.

Audrey Hepburn: Legacy of Caring

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:41:00 +0000

The Children's Fund website links to this fairly new video about Audrey's former work with UNICEF, and it ties in nicely with what the fund and UNICEF are doing to help the children of the world. As Tuesday reminded all the world, not just the United States, what one country does affects us all, and the younger generations have as big a say in what happens to our world as any other generation. For too many years humanity has turned too far inward and cared only about themselves as individuals, and because of that far too many people are suffering. Now that we're beginning to wake up and look around, we need to not only dust ourselves off but pick up those who were tossed to the wayside and forgotten during our darker moments.

If the events of November 4, 2008 taught us anything, it's that change comes from the bottom up. Ordinary people like you and me are the harbingers of change: together we change the world, not the politicians. We can fix what's wrong with our world; it may take a while, a very long while, but it can be done. Audrey believed this with all her heart and worked 'til the end with this belief, and while it didn't happen in her lifetime, maybe it can happen in ours. We won't know unless we try. I have no specific agenda in sharing this with you, besides the hope that you will appreciate all that you do have, and know what power you have in this world.

"Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared." -President-Elect Barack Obama
"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." -Time-Tested Beauty Tips by Sam Levenson, read by Audrey to her childen on their last Christmas together

Audrey Hepburn, Boho icon?

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:20:00 +0000

Thanks to lovely reader Michelle, who wrote in to tell about a new magazine called Boho. It's apparently an eco-conscious fashion magazine -- or is it a fashion conscious eco magazine? -- dealing with the boho style while encouraging its fashionistas to go green, and features green and sustainable products. In the back of the magazine they also have a Stylish Girl section, and the first lady they feature? Audrey, of course! According to Michelle, it's a Breakfast at Tiffany's picture, and features Audrey's favourite poem, "Time-Tested Beauty Tips." Michelle has been a life-long fan of Audrey's since the very beginning, and says: "It's so nice to see her appeal still for young women. I work in a store that carries a lot of Audrey books, and they consistently fly off the shelves, How to Be Lovely being number one." That is nice to see, and to hear that a book on how to be a better, more gracious person is a best seller. The world needs more people like that. Thanks so much, Michelle! Keep an eye out for that magazine the next time you're out, folks.

Well, that's all for today. I volunteered on election night last night and I'm still knackered out. Everything went smooth as clockwork, but all that history in the making is really draining emotionally! I wouldn't have traded it for anything, though. :) Have a loverly day, everyone, and be sure to look for that magazine! Here's a link to their website (which features coupons, for some incentive).

catching up

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:36:00 +0000

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I apologize again and again, it's all my fault and my lack of a good regular Internet connection. Did everyone have a fun Halloween? Did you flood the streets with Holly Golightlys? :) It seems the costume guide from last year held up pretty well, and while I didn't receive any complaints, can you think of any way to expand or improve it? I'd love to eventually do a costume guide for a number of Audrey costumes, but since Holly Golightly is the most easily recognizable and easiest to shop for, I figured that was the safest bet.

Speaking of being easy to recognize in costume, I found myself without a costume the morning of Halloween, due to a fabric malfunction the night before. On short notice I ran out and got a black turtleneck and borrowed some loafers, and hit Hollywood as Jo Stockton (Funny Face). There were loads of people there, but through the whole night I only heard 10 people (not counting my two companions) realize it was an Audrey costume! I guess I should have tried that outfit the year that Gap commercial came out. Anyway, at a party later on in the night Holly Golightly, Eliza Doolittle and Jo met up:

It sounds like the setup to a joke, but no punchline comes to mind. (By the way, Eliza is played by Kendal, well known on our forums as well as the audrey1 forums.) Anyway, did anyone else dress up as Audrey and meet a twin?

Moving on, I've got some odds and ends to share. First, I've been slowly catching up with the site's email, and had a request that's really stumped me. Hopefully, someone out there can help! Tracey wrote in after seeing a gorgeous poster in a Flor catalogue, and the customer service people had no idea as to where it came from. I've never seen it before, but would sure like a copy! Here's the picture:

You can click on the picture for the full-sized version. Unfortunately, the chandelier obscures all the text, but I'm fairly sure that's French. Does anyone have any ideas as to where this came from? It may be a reprint of a vintage poster, though one I've never seen before. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

Next up, this year is the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The book, that is. The movie's birthday won't come up for another three years. The book is due to be released soon, with the vague publication date of November 2008, though I can't seem to find it on Amazon yet. Since B@T is short, a novella really, it's matched up with three other short stories under this stylish cover:

And lastly, speaking of reissues, curse Paramount Studios! Just as I'm starting to catch up on my Audrey DVDs, they have to go and re-release nearly all their Audrey films. *sigh* The worst part is that you know I'll buy them all. You probably will, too! Well, if you're trying to save on space and don't see the point of owning multiple versions of one film, you can always go the Audrey route and donate or give away your older versions. I like senior centers, myself, since they're always in need of entertainment and would definitely appreciate some Audrey Hepburn in their lives. Coming November 11th, just in time for the holidays, is Roman Holiday and Sabrina. Marketed under the Centennial Collection, both films feature all of the extras from previous DVD releases, plus some new featurettes and goodies that will hopefully make it worth your while. Just after the holidays, due out January 13th, comes Funny Face
and Breakfast At Tiffany's -- yes, again. Both just celebrated anniversaries and had special editions come out, but now it comes in more dramatic packaging, also under the Centennial Collection. There's no additional information on these, so I don't know if there's anything new, but there'd darn well better be. People are starting to think I'm crazy, with three copies of every movie on my shelves!

What are you doing tonight?

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:32:00 +0000

I know it's short notice, but for all you Southern California Audrey fans, tonight in Pasadena there will be a free screening of Roman Holiday at 8:30 pm. It's at One Colorado Courtyard, Hugus Alley as part of the Old Pasadena Film Festival. Sounds fun! I'm sorry for the late notice, but I couldn't get on here any sooner to give you warning (stoopid Internet). And if you can make it, be sure to thank the lovely Libby for being thoughtful enough to share this with all of us. :D Parking is a flat rate of $6 in the nearby parking structure (more info here), and there are plenty of restaurants around you if you need a little nibble before or after the show. Oh, and you may want to get there early, because there are a lot more Audrey fans out here than you think! Enjoy if you can go, but if you live too far away or just can't make it, don't fret; just pop in the movie at home, make some popcorn, and curl up on your own comfy couch. Besides, you can pause if you need a bathroom break. ;)

A little Audrey inspiration for you

noreply@blogger.com (The Fabulous Audrey Hepburn) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:24:00 +0000

I've been catching up with the guestbook entries, and there are so many sweet and lovely entries! I'm so glad the site makes so many people happy, helps them remember a wonderful woman, and helps newer generations discover her for themselves. While us girls may sigh once in a while, wishing we could look more like Audrey, someone by the name of Just Me has a perfect way of saying "Stay you":

Is there anyone who can compare? Angelina Jolie seems to be walking in her footsteps don’t you think? But there can never be another with the character and gentleness that is reflected in that beautiful face ... "the look" can be as she says ... "attainable" .... but not the person and not the beautiful soul within .... from suffering and pain true beauty is born .. but the really beautiful thing is to keep the faith and hope when it so much easier to just give up on people and the world in general. For the person who created this website .. thank you. For all the young ones who are inspired by her graciousness and beauty ... you are yourself beautiful.

What a divine phrase! "For all the young ones who are inspired by her graciousness and beauty ... you are yourself beautiful." By bringing a little beauty yourself into the world, you in turn become beautiful. I just thought I'd share that, since it made me so happy.

Have a loverly day!