Hollywood Mom Blog

Hollywood Mom Blog Attends “Pirates of the Caribbean 4″ World Premiere With 3 Special Young Guests, Benefitting Boys & Girls Club of America!

Posted on 16. May, 2011 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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You're Cordially Invited!

As HMB’s editor, my daughter Jordan and I were thrilled to be invited to walk the red carpet and attend the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” last weekend at the Magic Kingdom: Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. Hollywood Mom Blog was able to bring along some of our favorite child stars as personal guests, including: Brandon Tyler Russell (Smitty), Noah Ringer (The Last Airbender) and Landry Bender (The Sitter). Also hanging with our group was actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Soul Surfer) who honored his inner-child by dressing in full pirate regalia. It wasn’t until much later that I realized Brandon Tyler Russell and Kevin Sorbo look an awful lot alike, and who knows? There might be father-son movie roles in their futures!

Brandon Tyler Russell talks to TMZ on the Red Carpet.

In short the red carpet was unlike any I’ve ever seen, much less that I’ve walked. It was as wide as a city street, black (in honor of the pirate theme) and several city blocks long. We, along with the celebs like Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Steven Tyler, Emma Roberts, Teri Hatcher, Geoffrey Rush, Jody Foster, Ava Longoria, Jake T. Austin, Ashley Tisdale, Ian McShane, Martin Short, Kirstie Alley, Keith Richards, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Eric McCormack, Chelsea Kane, and Lisa Rinna, literally walked from the entrance at Downtown Disney all the way to New Orleans on the carpet. Screaming fans, at least 6 people deep, lined the carpet on both sides. I was told some fans had actually been camping out along side the carpet all day to get the best seats for celeb sightings.

Disney-style theatrics started even before the film did. The theater was outdoors, with stadium style seating jutting out into the park’s pirate harbor. A tremendous movie screen perched right next to the docked pirate ship. The cast (Depp, Cruz, Rush, McShane) slowly came out and took their bows to thunderous applause – Keith Richards eliciting most of that thunder by the way. When it began to drizzle, I started to wonder if Disney had somehow magically made the precipitation appear to add to the overall highseas effect. Looking around the audience I couldn’t believe the star power seated beside us on all sides. It was so star-studded in fact, that is seemed more akin to an awards ceremony audience than a premiere. The film itself was wonderful – but I’ll let you see for yourself when it opens this Friday.

Special Note: All purchased tickets benefitted the Boys and Girls Club of America and we were so pleased to see many of the Boys & Girls Club kids sitting in the theater with us that evening. [Update: the ON STRANGER TIDES premiere raised over $1 million for the Boys & Girls’ Clubs and that the special edition of the Pirate’s Booty snack we munched on during the premiere is donating to them as well.]

Special Thanks to Desiree Russell, Stacy Ringer and Jamie Malone for photos and for being fabulous!

Noah Ringer on the Red Carpet of Pirates 4

See “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” in Disney Digital 3D™ and RealD™ 3D, May 20th through June 22 at The El Capitan Theatre. This theater enhances the movie-going experience with a fantastic display of items actually used in the making of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Among the items are ornate props, elaborate costumes worn by the cast, and set pieces from the film itself. The El Capitan will also commemorate the opening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” by offering each guest, while supplies last, a soft drawstring bag containing two “Pieces of Eight” tribute coins sponsored by Goldline International. These collectible alloy coins, designed exclusively by Disney for the El Capitan showings, have a look reminiscent of coins common to the period depicted in the film. www.elcapitantickets.com

Landry Bender Meets Mickey on the Red Carpet of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Jordan Bobbitt, Brandon Russell Tyler, Savanna Sterling on the red carpet of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Jordan Bobbitt, Brandon Tyler Russell & Savanna Sterling enjoy the world premiere party of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland

Pirate Performers lined the Red Carpet of the Pirates Premiere

Rock God Steven Tyler on the Red Carpet of Pirates 4

Kevin Sorbo on the Red Carpet doing his best pirate imitation

Brandon Tyler Russell walksthe red carpet in style

Chiquita & trainer visit with her many fans

Swashbuckling Jugglers entertain the crowds

Landry Bender Befriends a Skeleton Pirate

The one and only, Johnny Depp

Penelope Cruz

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Former Child Star Mary Kate Olsen Recalls Childhood as that of “Little Monkey Performer”

Posted on 04. Aug, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Mary-Kate Olsen, 24, rose to unexpected fame with her twin sister Ashley, playing the youngest Tanner sister on the hit television series Full House, and somehow graduated from the dreaded title “former child star” to the enviable moniker of “fashion icon” with relative ease in her late teens. Today, she and her sister have an astounding estimated net worth of $100 million.

After years of silence, MK is now speaking about her experiences for the first time in Marie Claire magazine. She told the publication that she and her sister were nothing shy of ‘little monkey performers’ as children. “I look at old photos of me, and I don’t feel connected to them at all,’ she said. ‘I would never wish my upbringing on anyone… but I wouldn’t take it back for the world.” The former child star said rather than envy the twins lives, her friends “feel sorry for us… because it’s kind of bittersweet.”

While twin sister Ashley has been relatively trouble-free, Mary-Kate’s problems: party-girl reputation, numerous romantic liaisons, public battle and hospitalization with anorexia and questionable involvement in the scandalous aftermath of Heath Ledger’s untimely death.

Mary Kate explained how her experiences taught her that avoiding issues can only make the problem worse. “I think it’s really important to be able to talk when something’s wrong,” she says. “I learned at a really young age that if you don’t talk about it, it can drive you insane.”

Ashley is Mary Kate’s biggest supporter. “Sometimes Ash and I have to bring each other back, or push each other more. It’s really helpful to have another half; we’re constantly checking in with each other.”

Today Mary-Kate has moved on from the past and devotes her time to the various fashion lines she and Ashley run. Together they’ve founded and designed clothing ranges at every price point – from the critically acclaimed The Row, named after London’s Savile Row, and mid-priced Elizabeth and James, to the cut-price Olsenboye collection for JC Penney. And she’s not rushing in to the design process. “It took us a year-and-a-half to make the first T-shirt,” she shares.

Though she hasn’t abandoned her first profession entirely (she has a role opposite Vanessa Hudgens in upcoming horror film, Beastly), fashion is now her primary focus. “I still read scripts, and if something great comes along, that’s great… but this is my day job. The Row is where I go every day. It’s kind of like a mask to hide behind,” she admits.

Source: Marie Claire

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Leonardo di Caprio’s Career Advice to Zac Efron, “Don’t Do Heroin.”

Posted on 21. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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Zac Efron, 22, soon to be seen in Charlie St. Cloud, apparently learns from the mistakes of his celebrity peers. Efron may have also learned a few things about the perils of “over-exposure” from girlfriend and High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens (pictured left), who received a wave of bad press for nude photos she took of herself which subsequently leaked to the internet.

Unlike his love interest, Zac takes precautions to be known solely for his acting career. He regularly studies how other young stars are perceived in the media and changes his own behavior as a result. Efron states, “Every time something does happen [in the media] – and I notice when those things happen – people go through those things and experience that kind of stuff. I take note of it, a mental note, ‘Wow, that didn’t work’, so from that point on I sort of look out for that. I kind of adapt.”

The former teen star admits his own film idol is himself a former teen heart throb – film star and activist, Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception, 2010). “He’s super-talented, grounded and focused and that’s everything I want to be in the future,” states Efron, “He’s experienced the good times, the bad times, the scary times and the amazing times and [he's] still escalating. It gives me some hope. It inspires me to keep going.”

Zac Efron, who is regularly seated next to Di Caprio at the Lakers games says that the Titanic star isn’t spilling any great industry secrets and that their conversations are “nothing out of the ordinary.”

Efron tells MTV News that Di Caprio is a “normal guy” and that while they don’t regularly discuss business, there are times when DiCaprio helps Efron out with his career. “He’s a cool guy and he is helpful,” Efron said. “I ask him questions every once in a while, and he gives advice to the best of his abilities, but he’s not like a life coach.”

In the May issue of GQ, Efron shared that DiCaprio told him to avoid heroin at all costs. “I thought I was gonna ask him questions,” Efron said. “He ended up asking me questions, and in that, he told me a lot. He said, ‘There’s one way that you can really f— this all up. Just do heroin. If you steer clear of that — the other obstacles you’ll be able to navigate.’”

Efron also defends that he was never “programmed by Disney” to behave properly in public. “It’s common sense” he says,”If you’re gonna be drunk with your friends, don’t get wasted at the Chateau Marmont and hook up with some famous chick. It’s not rocket science. I don’t want to be famous [as a] personality.”

In regards to his private life Efron wisely states, ” I keep that under wraps.”

Sources: MTV News, GQ Magazine,

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Video: Acting Advice from “Band Slam” Stars, Ally Michalka & Vanessa Hudgens

Posted on 19. Aug, 2009 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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In this MySpace video interview with “Band Slam” co-star Vanessa Hudgens, Alyson Michalka (of Ally & AJ fame) tells aspiring child performers: “Only get in the business if you’re really passionate about it and you want to do it because you love music or acting not because you want to famous or have money or be known all over the world. It’s really important to be doing because you love it because this business is way too hard to be doing it for any other reason.” Great advice Ally! Band Slam is rated PG and in theaters now.

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Video: Dane Cook Scolds Hudgens for Nude Camera Phone Pics at Teen Choice Awards

Posted on 11. Aug, 2009 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.

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In a bold and controversially received move at the Teen Choice Awards, comedian Dane Cook publicly called out Vanessa Hudgens for her inappropriate camera phone usage, ie. continually photographing herself in the nude and then letting said nude pictures make their way to the internet for all to see. Only the future will tell whether she will continue to make poor choices. What do you think?

The footage has been removed from the telecast version of the event.

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TMI: Starla Efron fills Son Zac’s Stocking

Posted on 09. Mar, 2009 by Hollywood Mom.

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Momager Starla Efron is in the news. In what can be categorized as ‘Too Much Information,” the LA Times, People Magazine and every other media outlet are reporting on the contents of Zac Efron’s Christmas stocking: an economy package of condoms, which is apparently the gift you need when you’re dating Vanessa Hudgens. Or at least that’s what Starla Efron surmized after seeing a picture of her son and Vanessa in what appeared to be a sex shop. While it’s commendable that Starla and Zac have such an open mother/son relationship, the “openess” is unfortunate news for Vanessa’s recovery PR campaign and for all of the children of the world who now know as well.

My TMI moment? Having the information blurb blasted over the car radio this morning with my 10 year old in the back seat, soaking in every word. I know Zac and Vanessa didn’t literally sign on to be role models, but that’s what being a Disney Star amounts to. Children as young as 4 and 5 look-up to the cast members of HSM. What do you think? Should they keep their more revealing and personal information to themselves for the sake of their young fans? Or should they enter adulthood with the world watching?

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