Palisadians Go Hollywood At Oscar Night Festivities

Pacific Palisadians were prominent in the Kodak Theater Sunday as Hollywood celebrated its biggest night. Composer Thomas Newman was nominated for an Oscar in two categories for his work on ‘Wall-E,’ while producer Brian Grazer received a nod for Best Picture contender ‘Frost/Nixon.’ Cameras caught actor Judd Apatow in the audience. Former Pacific Palisades honorary mayor Jerry Lewis received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while another former mayor, Anthony Hopkins, introduced Best Actor nominee Brad Pitt, and Steven Spielberg announced Best Picture winner, ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ Palisadians also collected accolades on Sunday evening at Children Uniting Nations’ (CUN) 10th Annual Awards Celebration and Viewing Party, a Beverly Hilton banquet fundraiser to support CUN’s work with foster children.   The Palisadian-Post was present when artist David Russo arrived”with wife Elisabeth Leitz and daughters Taylor, 14, and Logan, 13”from their Palisades home. Russo created the colorful 20′ x 8′ mural in the lobby which greeted guests, who posed for photos in front of it. The crown jewel of the night’s silent auction, ‘The Mentor’ was listed with a $10,000 opening bid and $2,500 increments. (Organizers said that they will continue to take bids on the mural for several weeks.) Also available, at $500 a pop, were 16′ x 40′ prints from a limited edition of 120 signed by Russo. ‘It’s an amazing mural,’ said CUN president Lola Levoy, who attended last November’s Day of the Child event where Russo collaborated on the painting with dozens of foster kids. At the Oscar function, CUN founder Daphna Ziman singled out Black Eyed Peas (whose leader, will.i.am., attended Palisades High School). Band member Taboo accepted an award on behalf of his hip-hop group with a thank-you that included rap verses, rhyming ‘Joe Biden’ with ‘catching Osama bin Laden,’ who is still ‘hidin’.’ Recalling charities the Peas have performed for, Taboo told attendees, ‘Our hearts are always at the forefront of helping kids. We’re all about positivity. We’ve always made it a priority to give back.’