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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, October 14, 2015 - Page 17
West Hollywood
Who will you meet in WeHo? ■ Hi everybody and welcome to this week's news from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites in West Hollywood.
How do you get a visa?
Earth, Wind and Fire ■ When you are out having lunch you never know who could be at the next table. \ Two celebrity hot spots are Craig's on Beverly and the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. On this occasion we were having lunch at the Chateau Marmont and sitting at the next table was a musical living legend. The original member of Earth, Wind and Fire, Verdine White, the energetic bass player and singer of the band was having lunch and talking about the band's upcoming tour. Verdine is the younger brother of the bands originator Maurice White who is the original lead singer. Pictured at lunch at the Chateau Marmont is fan Paul Birchall with Verdine White from Earth, Wind abd Fire, and Ramada MD Alan Johnson.
● Paul Birchall with Verdine White from Earth, Wind abd Fire, and Ramada MD Alan Johnson.
Taylor Swift tops Kim
GavinWood
● Taylor Swift ■ "Thanks so much guys. I'm pretty sure this is just because I have cute cats though," the singer tells her fans. Taylor Swift, who arrives in Melbourne early December, proved she is really is the princess of social media by reaching the impressive milestone of 50 million Instagram followers, topping both Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. In fact, the number of people following Swift's whimsical musings and fluffy cat photos is now larger than the population of many countries, including Canada, Australia and Spain. "50 million followers! Thanks so much guys. I'm pretty sure this is just because I have cute cats though," Swift told her fans. Kardashian is next in line with 48.4 million followers, while Beyonce Knowles rocks in with 47.5 million, partially due to her adorable family photos with Jay Z and Blue Ivy. Having won the summer with her sell-out 1989 tour and taking down Apple with a biting letter, the Bad Blood singer is now set to dominate the onset of winter by appearing on her first GQ cover. Swift shared the smoldering photo on Instagram and by that evening had already earned 1.1 million likes for it. "If you don't take Swift seriously, you don't take contemporary music seriously," writer Chuck Klosterman says in the accompanying article. "There's simply no antecedent for this kind of career: a cross-genre, youth-oriented, critically acclaimed colossus based entirely on the intuitive songwriting merits of a single female artist."
Good luck with the visa ■ If you are considering a move to Los Angeles, (good luck with the visa application) or just coming over for a holiday then I have got a special deal for you. We would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. I have secured a terrific holiday deal for readers of the Melbourne Observer. Please mention Melbourne Observer when you book and you will receive the 'Special Rate of the Day'. Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com Happy Holidays, Gavin Wood
From my Suite at the Ramada Plaza Complex on Santa Monica Blvd
Big award for Reese
● Reese Witherspoon ■ Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey will present his Mud co-star Reese Witherspoon with the American Cinematheque Award. Country music star Kenny Chesney will provide musical entertainment during the award show, which will also honour Jeffrey Katzenberg with the first annual Sid Grauman Award, acknowledging his achievements in the motion picture industry. Witherspoon was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Board of Directors selection committee, for her work both as actor and producer under her Pacific Standard production banner. McConaughey himself won the award on 2014, joining a distinguished group that includes Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams and Denzel Washington. Since 1986, the organisation has annually honored a filmmaker who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture. Funds raised benefit the year-round programming of the non-profit cultural organization, the American Cinematheque. The executive producers of the show are Paul Flattery, Barbara Smith. Irene Crinita is serving as producer, while Corrinne Mann is the event producer. The presentation will take place October 30 at 7 pm at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
www.gavinwood.us
■ I get asked this on a daily basis. Here is a clear and concise way to start getting your application in shape. LA based attorney Fuji Whittenburg explains the hurdles foreigners must clear to work on US productions Many of our favourite filmmakers and artists are from abroad - from Argentina to Australia. And many American filmmakers go abroad to create, promote and sell their films. This cross-border fluidity has been mutually beneficial for all sides - from artists and studios to the fans and consumers. The globalisation of Hollywood is a good thing, enhancing international cultural exchange and deepening our appreciation of films worldwide. After your last movie experience, when you stayed in your seat to watch the credits, did you stop to think about the names rolling down the screen at the end of the film (that is. Cinematographer, Director of Photography, etc.), who they are and how they got there? Probably not, but it was probably not very easy. Not only have these individuals built strong enough careers worthy of landing work in a blockbuster film, but beyond that, they very likely had to undergo a rigorous visa application process to land themselves the illustrious O-1 visa to be able to actually work in the US. In motion pictures and television, the O-1B visa is the most common visa category for artists of "extraordinary achievement" like actors, writers and VFX artists. What does it take to land an O-1 visa these days? Well, quite frankly, a lot. Not an unjustifiable amount, but more than you may think. Because it is so case specific, I cannot give you the exact formula for putting together a viable O-1 visa application, but for the sake of illustration, I will try. ■ Each O-1 petition must have a US sponsor or petititioner. This can be an agent/manager/representative, employer, studio, label, production company, etc. You need to submit a contract confirming the terms of the representation or employment. Self-sponsorship is not permitted. ■ You have to prove that you have work lined up. You cannot apply for an O-1 to come to the US for the sole purpose of auditioning or making pitches. ■ You should include an itinerary detailing your future work in the US. ■ For each event/project, you should include the name of the production, anticipated start/end dates, and work location. ■ If publicity and/or appearances are related to your work, you should mention this to your attorney - include all related activities. ■ Corroborate your itinerary with deal memos. US Citizenship and Immigration Services will look to your itinerary when determining the length of your visa so the more the better. ■ The maximum length of a visa is three years, but USCIS may limit your approval to the duration of your projects. Your visa should be renewable indefinitely. ■ You need to provide objective, primary documentation of "extraordinary achievement". The exact amount of evidence will vary based on your particular field, but you have to meet at least 3 of the 6 criteria. Types of evidence include, but are not limited to: ■ Credits (IMDB printouts for yourself and your films/projects) ■ Lead roles in distinguished productions for distinguished organisations (past and future), with letters from directors and press about the event/production. ■ National/international awards and nominations, with information about the award/organization/festival as well as past nominees/winners. ■ Reference letters from experts in the industry, detailing specific accomplishments. General fluff letters will not carry as much weight. ■ High salary compared to others in your field (top 20 percent), with pay stubs, tax returns, reports, etc. ■ Evidence of commercial success in terms of ratings, box office figures, chart listings, financial figures and social media popularity. ■ Published material by or about you, including reviews, interviews, and "Chat With an Expert" columns - with English translations. ■ Proof of service as a judge at an industry festival or competition. Appearance of your work at festivals or other well-known industry events also helps with your application. Each O-1 petition to the USCIS must include an advisory opinion from the relevant management organisation (usually the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers) and labour union. It typically takes three to five days, with a fee varying from $250-$500. ■ Generally, the O-1 process has two stages: filing the petition and supporting documents, and then attending a visa interview and obtaining a visa at a U.S. consular post abroad. USCIS takes about 2-6 weeks to adjudicate the petition. Regular government filing fee is $325. For an additional filing fee of $1225, USCIS will adjudicate your petition within 15 calendar days - approve, deny, or, issue a request for evidence. To conclude, you need to make it as easy as possible for the officer to approve your case. Be thorough and stay organized. Approval will ultimately rely on the strength and credibility of your evidence combined with a dash of good luck, but armed with the right tools, this list should give you a very decent shot. For newcomers, start building your portfolio of credits, keep record of all press and honors, and accept all invitations from the media. For more established professionals, you should now have a better understanding of the O-1 process so you can start organizing your visa. And as always, consult an experienced immigration attorney for a more thorough analysis of your eligibility. You thought it was easy to come over here to America and work. There are so many steps to climb and so much paperwork to compile it's no wonder many give up. I hope that gives you some help. It is tough to become a star. I wish you all the luck in the world.