Caffeinated Clint
This is tragic, and speaking as someone who is reentering the world of film and talent publicity in January, a little frightening…
Breaking News from CNN, folks. Longtime Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen – who was handling the Oscar campaigns for “Alice in Wonderland” for Best Pic and Michael Douglas for Best Supporting Actor, I believe – was gunned down on Sunset Boulevard just after the premiere of the film “Burlesque” starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.
I’m at a loss for words, so I’m going to let the wires down the speaking…
Here’s the shocking, distasteful report from CNN :
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — Longtime Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was gunned down on Sunset Boulevard early Tuesday, just minutes after she left a star-studded party to celebrate the premiere of the movie “Burlesque,” police said.
“We were all on such a high,” songwriter Diane Warren said. “And then she left — I’m guessing about 10 minutes before I did. What on earth? What happened? Why?”
Chasen, 64, died when “multiple shots” were fired into her Mercedes seconds after she drove past the posh Beverly Hills Hotel on her way home, according to Beverly Hill Police Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino.
Police found her car crashed into a light pole after responding to a report of gunfire heard near the intersection of Sunset and Whittier Drive at 12:20 a.m. (3:20 a.m. ET), Police Sgt. Robert Maycott said.
Chasen died later at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, according to Lt. Fred Corral, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner.
Detectives searched Chasen’s West Los Angeles home and her public relations firm for clues Tuesday, but Hoshino called it “a wide open investigation.” They have no suspects or motive for the attack, he said.
Warren, who was Chasen’s celebrity client, called the killing senseless.
“They didn’t steal anything,” she said. “Her purse was still there.”
Chasen had been on the red carpet at Grauman’s Chinese Theater walking with Warren as she and “Burlesque” star Cher were interviewed about the music in the film.
Warren, who contributed a song to the movie’s soundtrack, said Chasen also went with her to the after-party at Hollywood’s W Hotel.
“I am devastated beyond belief,” Warren said. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this.”
Michael Levine, head of Levine Communications Office, called Chasen a “beloved, iconic figure.”
Levine, who said he has known Chasen for 25 years, has started a reward fund with a goal of raising $25,000 by next week.
“We must do everything possible to assist the Beverly Hills police in solving this horrific crime,” Levine said. “Ronni gave the utmost for her clients and this industry.”
Hollywood celebrity public relations is “like a small family,” said Edward Lozzi, who operates a small Beverly Hills firm.
Chasen was a “class act” and “the ultimate professional,” Lozzi said.
Chasen was “so good promoting great films,” and had special talent for creating pre-Oscar buzz for her acting clients, publicist Steve Jaffe said.
Deadline are also reporting on the story :
Here’s more intel about the 64-year-old’s last hours: The Oscar campaign and holiday movie season got fully underway at the start of this week. She was lobbying media to write positive articles promoting Academy Award nominations for Michael Douglas in the Supporting Actor category for Twentieth Century Fox’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and for Walt Disney Studios’ Alice In Wonderland 3D in the Best Picture category. Both were the subject of a combination business and social phone call from her office with Deadline editor-in-chief Nikki Finke from 5:30 PM through 6:30 PM. Then the Oscar publicist drove her late model black Mercedes Benz E350 to Sony Pictures Entertainment/Screen Gem’s premiere of the movie Burlesque at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Then she attended the after-party at Drai’s in the W Hotel. ““We were all together last night, and Ronni was having the best time doing what she enjoyed most,” recalls producer Donald De Line. “When we all said goodbye last night, little did we know it would be our last. I am in shock; that this could happen is incomprehensible. Only a few hours ago we were celebrating. I’m glad she was happy last night and that she was in all her glory.”
She left the party and drove down Sunset Blvd through West Hollywood and just at the start of Beverly Hills (most likely heading towards her home in Westwood) when she was shot and killed sometime around midnight. Chasen’s friends say she made a call to her office about 8 minutes before the gunfire to put a reminder on her office voicemail. “She was not feeling in danger,” a source said. Beverly Hills police at 12:28 AM received information regarding shots that were heard in the area of Sunset and Whittier. Shortly after, Ronni’s car was discovered in a collision with a lightpole in the same area and she was found inside with multiple gunshot wounds to her chest. Police sources say Ronni’s driver-side car window was broken but nothing was taken from her purse. She was transported from the scene by paramedics and pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This reaction just came in from Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures which hosted the Burlesque premiere that turned out to be Chasen’s last Hollywood event: “Ronni was a dear friend and cherished member of our community. She was at our premiere last night and so full of her trademark energy and love of life. We are heartbroken, shocked and completely devastated.”
