BDx13
|
|
how does this make you feel about your paycheck?
From holidays to yoga pants: luxury freebies for Oscars stars
by Rob Woollard Thu Feb 22, 12:45 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The US tax man has helped put a stop to the 100,000-dollar goodie bags, but celebrities will still be showered with an eye-popping
array of lavish gifts at this year's Oscars.
Luxurious holidays, state-of-the-art electronic gadgets and a lifetime supply of yoga pants are just some of the freebies that will be on offer to
stars this week, despite a clampdown by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced last August that it would no longer offer its famously elaborate gift baskets crammed with
high-end luxury products valued at around 100,000 dollars.
"It seemed a little inappropriate to offer a gesture of thanks that then carried with it a tax obligation," Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger said when
explaining the decision.
But even though the Oscars has put an end to free swag, companies big and small are still queuing up to try to get their products into the hands of a
celebrity, which can translate into big bucks.
Lash Fary, the founder and president of Distinctive Assets, a Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing and gifting company, said tighter tax rules
had little or no effect for super-rich movie stars.
For the past five years, Fary's company has put together an unofficial "consolation gift basket" which is sent to Oscars nominees the day after the
awards show.
This year's edition is valued at 71,000 dollars and is stuffed with dozens of items ranging from a 26,000-dollar all-inclusive trip
to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas to a humble box of sweets.
"Nothing has really changed, except for a little piece of paper that I have to put in the gift basket, stating the fair market value of what is
included," Fary told AFP when asked about the tax clampdown.
"We haven't noticed any disruption at all in our business. And there's more interest than ever in getting quote-unquote 'free stuff.' Celebrities
accept it as a perk -- a taxable perk, nonetheless.
"For a celebrity, it just becomes another piece of paper for them to give to their tax attorneys. Most of them are fortunate enough to live their
lives without having to make decisions based on what the tax consequences are."
Fary's company normally works in partnership with awards show organizers, running gift suites and lounges backstage for events such as the Grammys,
where stars can peruse luxury goods at their leisure.
He hit upon the idea of providing unofficial gift baskets to Oscars nominees after deciding that no one deserved to finish Oscars night without
something to show for it.
"I'd heard Bette Midler once complaining after the Emmys that she'd gotten dressed up and came away with nothing, so I thought it would be cool to
make sure that none of these amazing actors walk away empty-handed," Fary said.
"I believe that it doesn't matter how rich and famous you are, you're still bummed out when you don't win something like an Oscar.
"So we wanted to soften that blow, and we've found that most people are grateful to receive a little distraction the day afterwards.
"Hopefully, with 71,000 dollars' worth of distractions, you're going to be a little bit less bummed out."
What goes into the gift baskets is carefully thought through.
Ten-year-old "Little Miss Sunshine" star Abigail Breslin, for example, will not be given the bottle of Snow Queen Kazakhstan vodka that will be
distributed in the adult nominee gift baskets. "We're getting her a selection of amazing teas instead," said Fary.
"We try to find products that are one of two things: either they're super useful, like toothpaste, or they're really amazing, like the Caesar's Palace
package," Fary said.
Lorena Bendinskas, co-founder of Silver Spoon Entertainment Marketing, said her company steers clear of large-scale luxury items, preferring to offer
services such as beauty and spa treatments instead.
"We are unofficial -- we're more into treatments, services and creating a party atmosphere at our events," said Bendinskas.
Silver Spoon is currently hosting a two-day Oscars Penthouse at the famous Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where stars can drop by to pick out casual
wear or indulge in a spot of pampering.
Bendinskas is unimpressed by the IRS's moves to clamp down on the gift-giving.
"I've never had to declare a birthday present, so I find it a little silly," she told AFP. "If it's something of great value, you expect to pay tax on
it. But if it's a present...
"It's kind of no-win situation for celebrities. If you see everything they have to deal with on an everyday basis, as we do, with the paparazzi and
stuff, they are constantly getting hated on.
"This is just a thanks for making great movies. These are the people who help put a smile on our faces -- so why not give them something to smile
about? Give them a break," she said.
If I fail math, there goes my chance at a good job and a happy life full of hard work.
|
|
|
defstarsteve
Posting Freak
Posts: 3505
Registered: 11-19-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
burn hollywood burn
|
|
|
jonnynewbreed
Posting Freak
Posts: 1091
Registered: 4-4-2003
Location: Dartmouth, nova scotia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Quite nice actually.
|
|
I love the sopranos episode where they try to start stealing the bags.
|
|
|
clevohardcore
* Kick\'n ass on the wild side *
Posts: 12937
Registered: 9-19-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sick Of It All, Youth Of Today
|
|
angry.
dare i say rage against the machine.
Each aspect of the soul has it's own part to play, but the ideal is harmonious agreement with reason and control.
|
|
|
Voodoobillyman
The Artist Formerly Known As...
Posts: 4247
Registered: 8-12-2005
Location: Eastern Seaboard of the United States
Member Is Offline
Mood: my daughters beautiful curiousity
|
|
Whose fuckin fault do you think this is? try the American people, as long as we keep coming back for more, they will keep living this way. It will
never end until the human race ends.
|
|
|
thedog
Posting Freak
Posts: 1572
Registered: 5-14-2004
Location: Jersey
Member Is Offline
Mood: Deals Gone Bad
|
|
\"thank you very little\"
|
|
|
tireironsaint
* BANNED *
Posts: 4299
Registered: 5-14-2003
Location: Colorado
Member Is Offline
Mood: Beltones
|
|
There's a certain amount of truth to saying that it's the fault of the general population that shit like this goes on, but at the same time, I don't
think I know anyone who is ok with this. Obviously there is a large percentage of people who reject the idea of this idolatry, but there are a lot of
people with power and money who want to keep the population sedate. If we're too absorbed worshipping the latest celebrities and everything they're
involved with, we won't start trouble. That may sound like the layout for a conspiracy theory, but I think it's true.
Veritas odium parit
|
|
|
upyerbum
Posting Freak
Posts: 3226
Registered: 10-14-2005
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Condemned 84
|
|
It is.
Well, its this place where nobody works, and the pigs don\'t give you any shit. Everyone smokes weed and gets drunk all day. Its a place where
cunts like me and you can truly take it easy and relax. Know what I mean?
|
|
|
|
![[*]](images/thorp/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
