Redford, Clooney on Film Commission wish list

In Hollywood, there is a saying, "Have your people call my people."

It's apparently the only way anything ever gets organized, from Emmy Award red carpet interviews to star-studded celebrity parties.

Colusa County might not have as glamorous a hot spot as the Nokia Theatre in Los Angles, the location of Sunday's 62 annual Primetime Emmy Awards, but it's not stopping the Colusa County Film Commission from rolling out the red carpet.

The Film Commission met at Colusa's Riverside Lanes on Monday to begin planning a red-carpet gala in downtown Colusa in March or April — an event that will mix charity with fun, food and celebrities.

Calls are going out to megastars such as George Clooney, Robert Redford and Carol Burnette, and other well-recognizable stars like television's Tim Conway.

"We're turning Gino's into the Brown Derby and rolling out red carpet to the Colusa Theater," said Marilyn Kennedy, chairwoman of the commission.

The Brown Derby referred to, of course, was the second and more famous of several Los Angeles restaurants by the same name, which opened in 1929 on Hollywood's North Vine Street.

On account of its proximity to nearby movie studios, it became the place to be seen and where producers made deals.

It is said that Clark Gable proposed to Carole Lombard there, but the cafe received even greater fame from the misadventures of Lucille Ball in the Hollywood episodes of "I Love Lucy."

The red carpet event will be held as the Film Commission's first major fundraiser.

Commission members, which include writer and film producer Steve Totman, Colusa Councilwoman Kay Hosmer, Colusa Theater owners Mike Wilkinson and Chris Middleton and writer Michael Williams, are raising money to help offset the cost of a a Colusa County portfolio that can be presented to movie and television site locators.

The purpose, said Kennedy, is to bring film crews to the area for short periods of time, where they will use local goods and services.

The gala event will include a viewing at the theater of the short movie, "I Am Not Vietnamese," which was filmed in Colusa in August, and possibly another movie from Colusa's heyday with the film industry.

The Film Commission also may include other downtown restaurants in the event, and may consider an alternative venue should the Colusa Theater close its doors permanently.