Rebecca Wang Featured in Exclusive Interview in the Recent Edition of Hollywood Weekly 11 Feb 2014

Rebecca Wang Featured in Exclusive Interview in the Recent Edition of Hollywood Weekly

Rebecca Wang was the star of a new six page interview that focused on the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. Her work as an entrepreneur, film producer and psychotherapist have given her a unique insight and appreciation for the arts, which created a captivating dialogue for the interview.

​In the recent Hollywood Weekly edition published in the week preceding the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, executive producer, entrepreneur and former psychotherapist Rebecca Wang provides another stimulating and thought provoking six page interview, giving a special personal insight into this organization for the visual arts and her keen support for health and humanitarian projects.

Rebecca Wang, cover of Hollywood Weekly February 2014

As someone devoted to all forms of artistic expression, and with personal experience in the film industry,  Rebecca Wang  describes how it has been a natural step for her to support BAFTA, and why it is close to her heart. She gives an account of how the annual British Academy Film Awards has evolved over recent years into a ceremony of highly respected and influential international ranking on the world film circuit. She also discusses the sheer range of projects and programs BAFTA offers all year round, and most importantly, how the work it is involved with among talented youngsters is ensuring a bright future for UK film, television and video games production.

​Sharing her own wealth of knowledge and practice in cinema, Rebecca Wang gives her definition of what constitutes a great film, and gives her assessment for trophy possibilities for the highly acclaimed UK film, 12 Years a Slave. In keeping with her multi-faceted love of and approach to life, readers also learn more about the other arts organizations in the UK which she supports. She enthusiastically describes the pleasure she derives from her connection to these organizations, and readers are permitted a highly personal interpretation of fashion, music and photography.

Rebecca Wang, Hollywood Weekly Interview February 2014

Wang goes on to explain the qualities and values which are intrinsic to her approach to life and her own personal goals. She tells about how working in accordance with these values has helped her in her many achievements, be they academic study, the practice of psychotherapy, or in creating a Hollywood film with award winning actors.

​Her respect for good health as the bedrock of human existence translates into careful daily physical and spiritual practice for her own wellbeing, and then into the realm of health and humanitarian issues which she keenly advocates. For her, the AIDS charities EJAF (the Elton John AIDS Foundation), and amfAR (the American Foundation for AIDS research) are of note, and enthuse her not only because of the remarkable work that they do, but also for their ability to infuse their renowned and stellar international fundraising events with breathtaking artistic creativity.

​For Rebecca Wang, any notion of being a role model is of little interest. Of primary importance is the dedication towards her own goals and achievements in life, and for keeping a clear and positive attitude. Also, she enforces her belief that an individual’s vision should never bring harm to others. Her words imply that if everyone took these steps, the effect would be a better world for everyone. She states, “The role of celebrity is a responsibility requiring a moral undertaking, given that via social media, those in the limelight are so avidly and slavishly followed and copied by the young. These people wield such a strong influence over that audience, and it should be used wisely. Celebrities have a chance to lead by example by participating in a healthy lifestyle, and positive behaviors towards others.”

​The interview ends with Wang describing that by practicing discipline and persistence in whatever one does, dreams can be fulfilled. “Ultimately,” she tells her readers, “it is you who will make your dreams happen. Nobody else can do that for you.”

Rebecca Wang Featured in Exclusive Interview in the Recent Edition of Hollywood Weekly by Ariella Vaystukh 10 Feb 2014

Rebecca Wang Featured in Exclusive Interview in the Recent Edition of Hollywood Weekly

Rebecca Wang is an entrepreneur, executive film producer, and former psychotherapist currently based in London, England, where she is the CEO of her own production company, Rebecca Wang Entertainment. With a vigorous passion for the arts and philanthropy, Rebecca continuously contributes to making the world a better place by supporting leading charities worldwide, such as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the American Foundation for AIDS Research, (amFAR), and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF). In addition, Rebecca advocates all forms of artistic expression throughout the world with strong interests in film, music, photography, and fashion. Her numerous achievements on a grand scale have created a path of inspiration for many who are drawn to her genuine and humble nature. A lifestyle based on integrity, discipline, and a balance of inner and outer harmony helps illustrate the captivating aura of an outstanding individual such as herself. Rebecca opens up and shares her wealth of knowledge and experience in the world of cinema, by elaborating on her personal definition of what constitutes a great film. She goes into great detail about the 2014 BAFTA Awards in London and also gives her assessment for trophy possibilities for the highly acclaimed UK film, 12 Years a Slave. Rebecca comments on her views on the importance of philanthropy and the key role that celebrities play in setting examples for the people who admire them. The following is an exclusive interview between Hollywood Weekly and Ms. Wang:

HW: Tell us more about BAFTA — why you support it, the full range of projects run by BAFTA, and the new initiative that it launched in November “Give Something Back”. How has being a part of this organization (you are a member for the Academy Circle for BAFTA)enabled you to further support the arts?

RW: Supporting the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is a natural choice for me because of my love for and experience of cinema. This leading UK charity celebrates and encourages art forms of the moving image, and enables the best creative work in films, television and video games to be accessed and appreciated by all. Most recently in November, BAFTA’s President HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge has launched the Give Something Back Campaign. This major scheme will support talented youngsters from all backgrounds via mentoring, guest lectures, scholarships, and summer work placements, helping them to develop and use their creative skills and thus advance their careers and realize their dreams. As a member of the Academy Circle, through supporting the scholarship programme, I am very excited to be part of helping develop the skill of these technicians, actors, producers and games designers in waiting, and in so doing to play a small part in building and expanding these art forms for the future.

HW: How do you account for the increased recognition and truly international standards of excellence that have developed in the BAFTA Awards over the recent years?

RW: First I would say that the choice of nominations for the Awards has become increasingly broad and world encompassing, and within each category the range and representation of talent more inclusive and diverse – for example in 2013, after a lifetime of outstanding performances on the French screen, Emmanuelle Riva at 85 took the Leading Actress Award for her role in Amour, which also won the Best Film not in the English Language. Actor Ben Affleck changed his known role and took the Best Director Award for Argo. This year Wadjda, the first full length film ever shot in Saudi Arabia , and the only feature length film made in Saudi Arabia by a female director, is nominated for Best Film not in the English language, and the five Rising Star nominees hail from the UK, USA, France and Kenya. All this is hopeful and points to increasing world participation in this great art form.

HW: This year’s BAFTA Awards will be announced next week. Based on your love and experience of cinema and your work as an executive producer in Hollywood, what would you say were the key ingredients or components that go towards an award winning film?

RW: I believe anybody wanting to make a great film looks for the same things. Beyond funding, a unique story or subject matter, that is not just relevant and with universal appeal, but that will allow an outstanding human condition or life experience to be shown. The quality of the producer’s and more crucially the director’s vision: how he or she is going to turn that story or theme into wonderful cinema. You will want actors of the highest calibre, who have the capacity to bring out the best of the character they are playing, and whose parts will stretch their skills to the maximum. Outstanding expertise for cinematography, production design, costume design, makeup and hair styling, and all the many technical skills that contribute to the originality of the musical score, sound and special visual effects. The capacity of the direction for the film, the creative spark; how the vision is sculpted and woven together through the editing, and finally the overall message to its audience and how effectively it is transmitted. An outstanding film may inspire, uplift, challenge, and or provoke thought, questions and possibly action. Beyond that, and considering the stunning quality of entries over recent years, it will finally be down to luck and how the judges vote!

HW: The British film 12 Years a Slave has had ecstatic reviews, already won a Golden Globe and is hotly tipped for the Oscars. How do you rate its chances at the BAFTA ceremony in the UK next week?

RW: Twelve Years a Slave has received 10 BAFTA nominations overall, collected 9 overall nominations for the Oscars, and recently won Best Film at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, which is a fair indication of the quality of the film. Director Steve McQueen, already awarded an OBE and a CBE for his services to visual arts, was the first British director ever to win the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 2008 for his first feature film Hunger, which also gained numerous awards at festivals in a large number of countries worldwide. The acting team is strong, and its cinematography, production design, editing and music are all included in the nomination categories, so I think the chances are good, especially in the home country. As Chiwetel Ejiofor the principal actor says: “It’s so much a film about human respect and human dignity and it’s so powerful and relevant. It’s never too early or too late to discuss these kinds of topics.”

HW: What other similar organizations do you support and why are they important to you?

RW: I admire both the amfAR and EJAF for their highly creative and effective fundraising. The state of the art events they hold are huge attractions in their own right. amfAR’s annual Inspiration Galas across cities worldwide demonstrate how creativity can be moulded to serve philanthropy. Celebrating men’s fashion and style through catwalk shows with contributions from leading designers, these events also recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the cause. I have joined others to sponsor the 2012 Paris Gala and in 2013 with others was a chair for both the New York and Los Angeles Inspiration Galas. Over two consecutive years I was a benefactor for the EJAF annual Awards Viewing Ceremony in Hollywood where guests enjoy simultaneous streaming of the Awards event. I am honoured to be supporting the Awards Viewing Ceremony again this year, this time in the capacity of patron, a role I also took for their 2013 “Enduring Vision” evening in New York, where Hilary Clinton and Elton John were both honoured with awards.

HW: It is evident that you value and practice discipline, integrity and honesty among many other honorable qualities. This is a truly rare thing to come by in today’s world, and especially in regards to someone of your standing. How have these values helped you to accomplish what you desire in life?

RW: For me, practice of discipline on a daily basis helps me to develop the quality of persistence, which I believe to be vital in order to overcome obstacles and to accomplish all I set out to do. I also feel it essential to hold a clear vision and intention, and be sure that you are honest with your own intention in order to act with integrity: any action you make in pursuit of your own goal should not be at anybody else’s expense. Practicing persistence on a daily basis has enabled me to graduate from the University of California Berkeley with a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology, and subsequently to practice effectively as a psychotherapist. In the same way this attitude and practice helped me to overcome the daily challenges when I entered the film industry with no previous experience, and produced my first Hollywood feature film Passion Play, working with two Academy Award nominees and one BAFTA winner.

HW: I understand that your fields of work include, but are not limited to: music, fashion and photography. How are these various areas of expression an extension of you as an individual?

RW: All the fields mentioned are different art forms which each express different facets of me. For myself, I believe that fashion represents how we express ourselves and reflects our inner emotions for that moment in time. Since we consciously choose the designs, concepts, colours, fabrics and workmanship in any outfit, it is a total vehicle for self-expression, a means to project our own self image. What you portray to the world is who you are and this gives people a visual expression of you. My experience of music is that it can act on another vibrational level for all of us. Melody boosts creative reasoning, while rhythm raises the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin which will transmit nerve impulses to help us to connect with our internal selves and find peace. Photography for me is that silent art form which catches an instant in time and immortalizes it. It is the only way you can hold on to any precious moment with all that it may personally evoke.

HW: You possess a captivating and natural glow in your appearance. Is there anything about your physical or spiritual regimen that contributes to radiating presence and natural beauty?

RW: I exercise regularly for my own health and physical well-being. I prefer natural forms of exercise such as swimming and yoga. Equally important for me is inner or spiritual exercise. I practice meditation daily: I feel it is important for us to make time for ourselves to retreat into our own space and connect with our inner self in order to have time to reflect and to make better decisions.

HW: Despite your long list of remarkable achievements, you continue to strive to accomplish more, and work diligently to develop yourself. Is it important to you to be a role model and inspiration to people around the world?

RW: Being a role model or inspiration to people is not and has never been a motivation for me. Striving to accomplish more and working to improve myself is important for my own life purpose. If, by being a better person who is clear and happy in my intentions and actions, I have a positive effect through how I am and what I do, then that is all to the good, and if each of us can do that the effect will be highly significant.

HW: Helping others who are less fortunate or in need of guidance has been a recurring theme of your life: this is shown not only through your continuous patronage of the arts, but also through the organizations that you advocate, one of which is the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).Why is addressing health and humanitarian issues so important for you?

RW: Health, or rather good health is the most vital and important foundation in our own lives, respecting and building that should be our first concern and aim. So for me it is natural to do everything possible to encourage and raise the level of awareness of health world-wide, most especially in areas of un-health where for whatever reasons, urgent intervention, education and prevention are needed. The AIDS epidemic has been one of the biggest health crises of the last few decades-a crisis as much of ignorance and prejudice as of physical illness. I have been proud to support both amfAR and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) for some years now, as their dynamic global commitment and work over the past twenty years have achieved groundbreaking advances in treatment, prevention and attitude for the disease.

HW: Could you explain to us some of the ways in which you have supported these two admirable organizations?

RW: I admire both the EJAF and amfAR for their highly creative and effective fundraising. The state of the art events they hold are huge attractions in their own right. amfAR annual Inspiration Galas across cities worldwide demonstrate how creativity can be molded to serve philanthropy. Celebrating men’s fashion and style through catwalk shows with contributions from leading designers, these events also recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to the cause. I have joined others to sponsor the 2012 Paris Gala and in 2013 with others was a chair for both the New York and Los Angeles Inspiration Galas. Over two consecutive years I was a benefactor for the EJAF annual Awards Viewing Ceremony in Hollywood where guests enjoy simultaneous streaming of the Awards event. I am honored to be resuming my support for the Viewing Awards Ceremony this year, this time in the capacity of patron, a role I also took for their 2013 “Enduring Vision” evening in New York, where Hilary Clinton and Elton John were both honored with awards.

HW: In recent years there has been a growth in younger celebrities seeking to make the world a better place. You, in addition to other celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have made philanthropy a significant and active part of your career. Why do you think it is important for younger celebrities to raise awareness of social issues and advocate positive change in the world?

RW: In present media coverage a celebrity can and does easily represent an example or role model for hundreds of thousands of young people who will know, watch and follow every action, and are influenced by what their hero or heroine wears, says and does. This is a huge responsibility and I believe that it is crucial to have a morality in such a position. As someone generally in the spotlight, a celebrity can use their own power and influence by being linked to an issue that is beneficial to the young such as healthy living or positive behavior towards others. The celebrity can, like a family member, seem a mentor or guide towards good living and behavior via their own example.

HW: Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for our readers pertaining to achieving one’s goals and pursuing self-actualization and personal fulfillment?

RW: Be honest with yourself about your intentions, and that these are in alignment with your beliefs and your value system. You will know if they are in harmony by how you feel. Practice discipline and above all persistence in all you do to reach your goal; continue to work at all obstacles that present themselves. Your vision will not happen by itself, use these skills to develop the determination to reach it.

Rebecca Wang Chairs amfAR’s 2013 Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles 16 Dec 2013

Rebecca Wang Chairs amfAR’s 2013 Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles

Rebecca Wang joined Goldie Hawn, Aileen Getty, Kenneth Cole, Elizabeth Murdoch, Grace Jones and Chelsea Handler for a gathering at arts media centre on December 12th at The Milk Studios in Los Angeles to support amfAR for its 2013 Inspiration Gala Los Angeles

This month’s gala saw Aileen Getty, Goldie Hawn, and the Hugo Boss Group honored for their outstanding humanitarian work and dedication in the fight against AIDS.

Rebecca Wang & Marc Jacobs, former Louis Vuitton creative director.

Aileen Getty decided over twenty years ago to state publicly that she was HIV positive and diagnosed with AIDS, admitting that her condition was the result of unprotected sex in an extramarital affair. Her conviction that “HIV was something that required a woman to stand up and tell the truth” put an end to her eight year marriage but also led to her dedicating her life to eliminating the public’s fear of AIDS and those who have it. She has since channeled her philanthropy towards some of the most disenfranchised in and around Hollywood, funding projects such as Dallas House - a shelter for women with AIDS - and actively taking a daily part in these projects as part of her own healing programme.

Goldie Hawn the award winning actor, has been a tireless campaigner for AIDS education and research for thirty years, and regularly endorses amfAR events, recently taking Honorary Chair at the inaugural Rio Inspiration Gala.

The Hugo Boss Group has been a committed supporter of amFAR and has taken a strong stance in its public responsibility towards men’s health.

Chairs for the gala included Rebecca Wang, executive film producer and entrepreneur who is a devoted patron of the arts and a committed supporter to a number of significant charities; John Demsey, Group President of Estee Lauder; David Bohnett, philanthropist, technology entrepreneur and social activist; and Tim Hanlon, CEO of the Vetere Group.

Honorary Chairs included amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, Naomi Campbell, amfAR’s Chair for Global Fundraising Sharon Stone, Janet Jackson and Elizabeth Murdoch.

Chelsea Handler presented the programme for the Inspiration black tie event, which began with a cocktail reception before dinner. Following this was one of the highlights of the gala: a high energy set from legendary performer Grace Jones. After Ms. Jones’ performance, the evening proceeded to a live auction.

amfAR Inspiration events have the dual aim of celebrating men’s fashion and style and simultaneously raising funds for continuing work and research into AIDS. The evenings are held annually in 6 cities world-wide: New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Toronto, Miami, and Rio de Janeiro. They are renowned as much for the stunning standard of their entertainment as for the immense amount of goodwill and participation generated by their fundraising initiatives.

Sponsors for the evening included M.A.C Viva Glam, Microsoft, and international banking and financial services company Wells Fargo. Josh Wood Productions resumed their regular expert role in producing the evening.

Rebecca Wang supports the 12th Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit 11 Oct 2013

Rebecca Wang supports the 12th Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit

Executive producer and philanthropist Rebecca Wang is honored to be a patron to the 12th Annual benefit “An Enduring Vision” for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), which will be held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Tuesday 15th October 2013. She has previously been benefactor over two consecutive years for the charity’s annual Academy Awards viewing party. 

The Elton John AIDS foundation, headquartered in New York, was founded in 1992 by Sir Elton John, and a UK section of the organisation opened in London in 1993. The organisation is dedicated to putting an end to AIDS and HIV infection-related deaths worldwide and over the years it has become one of the world’s leading non-profits in the field, raising over $300 million to date, with the help of its many supporters.

Funding for the EJAF arrives via contributions from corporations and foundations, and individuals such as Rebecca Wang, whose keen concern for health and humanitarian issues has meant continual support from her for charities working in the fields of research, intervention and prevention of AIDS. In addition to EJAF, Rebecca Wang has also acted as sponsor and chair to amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, at some of their renowned Inspiration Galas held across the world.

Other contributions for EJAF come from cause-related marketing projects and special events, of which An Enduring Vision is one of several held during the year. When An Enduring Vision takes place later this month, it promises to reflect the high status of the organisation. Among those sponsoring the evening are American Airlines, Wells Fargo, The Lauder Foundation, M*A*C Viva Glam, and Caesar’s Palace. Award winning CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper is to host of the event, while Ann and Nancy Wilson and their legendary band Heart will be welcomed as special musical guests.

An Enduring Vision Awards will be presented by Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish to celebrity chef Sandra Lee, business mogul Ronald O. Perelman, and Howard Rose, one of the organizations’ founding members. The former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton will this year be presented with the Founder’s Award, in recognition of her courageous planning for an AIDS free generation and for her groundbreaking quote “gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights”. Sir Elton John himself will receive the Harvard School of Public Health Initiative Leadership Award. 

Sir Elton John and Rebecca Wang

The Virtuoso Life of Rebecca Wang 29 Aug 2013

The Virtuoso Life of Rebecca Wang

In a six page interview given in the latest issue of Hollywood Weekly magazine, Rebecca Wang provides the most insightful account of herself to date, creating a kaleidoscopic portrait which covers the early formative influences and interests in her life, her passions, values and belief systems, sources of motivation and the broadest definitions of her aims, and by no means inconsiderable achievements.

Rebecca Wang, cover of Hollywood Weekly August 2013

Whether describing her work life route from academic success at a prestigious US university, through personal development and learning as a practicing psychotherapist, on to her first cinematic creation as an executive Hollywood producer working with a cast of A-list Oscar nominees and BAFTA winner, or sharing a modest insight for her inimitable star quality appearance and bearing, or in showing the dedication which she brings to her philanthropic work, Rebecca reveals herself to be a multifaceted very special person of many talents, who brings a highly intelligent and hands on approach along with an appreciative, compassionate and respectful attitude, to both mankind and  life, and all that they bring.

Her early years were spent in Asia, but later living in the US and Europe along with yearly family international travel when young provided “a whole new set of experiences”, which she found “not only exciting but very rewarding”, and which have left her with an enduring love of travel, and also a practice of behaving open-mindedly and compassionately to all people, no matter where they are from.

Her life has been and is a continuous journey, both personally and professionally. In the interview she acknowledges the different ingredients that have formed her: how the practice of sport, ballet and piano when young honed the qualities of focus, discipline and patience; how, always trusting her intuition to take her to the right path, she chose to study clinical psychology at the University of California at Berkeley,  practicing psychotherapy in leading institutions.

Her recognition of the healing role of the arts in therapy was the stepping stone to move towards the active role of creation in the film industry. She acknowledges that this move, which may seem for many to have been a seismic shift, was a huge challenge, describing it as:  ”an achievement and also a major learning curve”, chief personal mastery among which for her personally was to break through her own fears and limitations.

Her primary driving force and what motivates her the most remains the ability to create, “to see and to watch an idea grow and develop from nothing into a finished entity”, along with the privilege of being “able to experience and develop or learn from that complete process”.

Rebecca Wang interviewed by Hollywood Weekly August 2013

Rebecca lives her life fully: a huge desire for and love of the arts translates into active support for the film and TV charity BAFTA, and world class museums and art galleries in London. Beyond the arts, her philanthropy, which she views as a universal human attribute -she feels that each and every one of us can make a difference, is directed towards the realm of health and humanitarian issues, most notably the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR) where she has acted as sponsor and chair to some of their renowned Inspiration Galas held world-wide.

With a reputation of always appearing elegant, calm and composed when at special events, Rebecca credits her own regular practice of meditation or yoga before any such occasion as possibly contributing to the serene aura around her in any of the accompanying photos.

She shows no hint of complacency: when asked about her accomplishments she explains that she never feels as if she is atop a mountain of impressive achievements, since there is always a natural human urge to strive further. Asked to define the greatest obstacles she had to overcome when making the film, she is pragmatic in her response, saying that, much the same as in any other work, this centered on the ability to overcome each obstacle as it occurred on a daily basis.

Crucial in her approach to living are the values she judges as important: honesty, integrity, respect and loyalty. The choice of lotus flower as her company’s logo with its symbolism of growing through difficulties towards the light underlines the morality she incorporates into all that she does.

With this life position, it more than probable that whatever new possibilities are next likely to present, Rebecca will render them as brilliant as everything else she has touched to date through the working of her own unique alchemy.

View Rebecca Wang’s full Hollywood Weekly Interview here.

Rebecca Wang joins Mick Jagger and L’Wren Scott at Hyde Park Serpentine Summer Party 01 Jul 2013

Rebecca Wang joins Mick Jagger and L’Wren Scott at Hyde Park Serpentine Summer Party

Mick Jagger, girlfriend L’Wren Scott, Kate Moss, Rebecca Wang and Daphne Guinness were among the A-List names who turned out for the Hyde Park Serpentine Summer Party, a gala leading up to the Wimbledon fortnight that raises funds for the Serpentine Gallery.

Among other patrons attending the event were writer and critic Bonnie Greer, actress Sarah Jessica Parker and husband and fellow actor Matthew Broderick.

​The party, held yesterday (June 26th) at Kensington Gardens, is on par with the Chelsea Flower Show and Ascot as one of London’s quintessential outdoor summer society events.

Rebecca Wang joins Mick Jagger and L’Wren Scott at Hyde Park Serpentine Summer Party 01 Jul 2013

The annual fundraiser supports the Serpentine Gallery and its programs. Gallery Director Julia Peyton-Jones and Co-Director Hans Ulrich Obrist were co-hosts of this years gala, along with the chairman of party organizing committee Tim Jefferies. Scott, a stylist and fashion designer also held the honor.

​Greer, recently elected Chancellor for Kingston University, has also served as deputy chair at the British Museum, as well as on the boards of the Royal Opera House and the London Film School.

​Wang is a patron to the Tate Modern, the National Gallery and The Serpentine. She is also a member of both the Academy Circle for BAFTA, and the Director Circle for the Victoria and Albert Museum.

​The gallery is one of London’s best-known and loved art venues. Housed in a tea house pavilion in the center of Hyde Park and close to the lake from which it takes its name, the gallery enjoys an international reputation. It attracts up to 800,000 visitors a year.

Rebecca Wang Chairs amFAR New York Inspiration Gala 17 Jun 2013

Rebecca Wang Chairs amFAR New York Inspiration Gala 2013

Hot on the heels of AIDS research foundation amfAR’s recent Cinema against AIDS party, the Inspiration Gala New York 2013 was held on the evening of Thursday, June 13th at the landmark luxury Plaza Hotel on Fifth Avenue.

Those serving as Chairs for amfAR’s events have always tended to be inspirational in their experience, success, creativity and vision, and this year’s line-up is no exception. Among those taking the role of Chair this year were Rebecca Wang, Maria Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli and Thakoon.

Rebecca Wang Chairs amFAR New York Inspiration Gala 17 Jun 2013

Rebecca Wang is a Hollywood executive film producer who is a devoted patron of the arts and a committed supporter to a number of significant charities. In 2012, Rebecca Wang Entertainment acted as a sponsor for the successful amfAR Paris Inspiration Gala. Wang is a member of the Academy Circle for BAFTA, the Directors Circle for the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a patron to Tate Modern, Serpentine and National galleries in London. Maria Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli are joint creative directors at the fashion house of Valentino since the founder’s retirement in 2008. The aforementioned joined upcoming young Thai-US designer Thakoon whose creations have found huge success, most notably with the ultimate endorsement from Michelle Obama. amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, widely known for his use of fashion as a medium to promote social conscience, and John Demsey, Group president of Estee Lauder, Chairman of M.A.C Funds, and renowned for having his finger on the pulse of the most contemporary trends also chaired the event.

Three awards were given during the evening. Designer Valentino received the Award of Inspiration to commend his lifetime contribution to the world of fashion as well as for the work done by his association L.I.F.E for the support of AIDS related patients. The Humanitarian Award was presented to actress and singer Jennifer Lopez who has supported a range of causes, including charitable activities post September 11, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the American Red Cross. Scottish actor, writer, producer and director Alan Cumming OBE added the amfAR Award of Courage to his many professional awards. Cumming was recognised for his promotion of LGBT and AIDS issues as well as for his longstanding support for Human Rights Campaign, amfAR and Broadway Cares/Equity fights AIDS.

amfAR holds a fierce reputation for creating spectacular events that brim with first-class entertainment and fun activities that support and raise funds for its aims and programs. The annual Cinema against AIDS party was held during the Cannes International Film Festival at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Cap d'Antibes in May. Sharon Stone hosted the evening that saw guests including Kylie Minogue, Goldie Hawn, Jessica Chastain and Roberto Cavalli treated to the Ultimate Gold Collection Fashion Show, which was presented by Carine Roitfeld and paraded by forty international top models. The show was followed by an auction which raised a staggering $25 million and saw one individual make a successful bid of $1.2million to take a space trip with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Rebecca Wang Joins A list Celebrities Front-Row at Elie Saab Fashion Show 07 Mar 2013

Rebecca Wang Joins A list Celebrities Front-Row at Elie Saab Fashion Show

Elie Saab Reveals His Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection at Paris Fashion Week

Espace Ephemere at the Jardins des Tuileries, one of the best loved locations in Paris for introducing new creations, was chosen as backdrop for Elie Saab’s A/W Collection on March, 6 during Paris Fashion Week.

Among the attendees were Producer Rebecca Wang, French Actress Vahina Giocante and Spanish model and actress Ines Sastre. ​

The collection included elegant day dresses; either sculpted to the body and sporting back zips from neck down to hemline, or with a structured bodice and square, scalloped, or occasionally plunging necklines. Models wore full skirts ending just above the knee. A mixed use of solid colours -dark blues, teal, mustard, and a hint of aubergine along with black and white, kept the overall message international, chic and powerful through elegant simplicity. A use of long fluid panels in luxurious evening dresses and gowns which were slashed and overlaid with ornate lace bodywork flowed along the catwalk.

Overall the collection endorses Saab’s general reputation for a styling that is continuous and steady, but it is one that greatly pays tribute both to his talents and to Lebanon. 

Rebecca Wang & Elie Saab, fashion designer

Saab, a self taught designer, launched his label in 1992 at the age of 18, in his home town of Beirut with a team of just sixteen employees. Initially specialising in wedding dresses using rich fabric, lace, detailed embroidery, pearls, crystals and silk threads, his designs soon expanded to cater for the high society women who had begun to wear his clothes. Saab is the first non-Italian designer to be made a member of the Camera Nazionale de la Moda in Rome and he has also been invited to membership of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris. While his main atelier remains in Lebanon, he now also has workshops in Milan and Paris, which is now his permanent ready to wear launch pad. Elie Saab has sixty retail outlets across the world and his designs are sold in 22 countries.

Saab’s style is seen as a fusion of Western and Eastern cultures and it is characterised by his use of noble materials such as taffeta, organza and satin with fabrics that are lighter and more fluid. The designer enjoys a large and loyal following in Arab countries and his work is also popular with royalties and international celebrities attending key global events. Saab’s patrons include Queen Rania of Jordan, whom he dressed for her coronation and Halle Berry who wore a burgundy gown by him in 2002, making Saab the first Lebanese designer to dress an Oscar winner. Among his fans can also be counted Princess Beatrice of York, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Emma Watson and Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden.

Rebecca Wang Joins Karl Lagerfeld front-row to Celebrate 100 years of Chanel at Paris Fashion Week 06 Mar 2013

Rebecca Wang joins Karl Lagerfeld to celebrate 100 years of Chanel

Chanel’s Autumn/Winter collection for 2013/2014 under the stewardship of its chief designer Karl Lagerfeld unrolled at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday 5th March. The date coincided with the label’s 100th anniversary and the German born designer was joined by a crowd of celebrities honouring the occasion.

The highly anticipated event took place at the statement location of the Grand Palais, avenue de Winston Churchill during Paris Fashion Week. Among those attending were Jessica Chastain, Rebecca Wang , Vanessa Paradis, Milla Jovovich, Ines de la Fressange, Mario Testino and Princess Caroline of Monaco. 

Rebecca Wang Joins Karl Lagerfeld front-row to Celebrate 100 years of Chanel at Paris Fashion Week 06 Mar 2013

The circular catwalk was set under the glass roof of the iconic Grand Palais and models walked in front of a giant rotating globe; symbolic of the global status of the brand. The collection embraced dark colours which are typical of Chanel. Classic tweed coats, knitwear and short wool suits in black, grey or monochrome colours were teamed up with thigh high over the knee boots creating an uplifting and elegant look. Hints of metallic shades and baby pink were mixed with blacks adding a modern touch to the designs that still strongly reflect Coco Chanel’s classic look for the brand.

“I visited a minerals and crystals museum in France- I love the shapes,” Lagerfeld told reporters, “and then a Czech cubism exhibition in Prague -they are like modern buildings with similar shapes”. He also commented “I work by instinct, -99% goes to the garbage can, the rest is what survives. What has survived is more than enough”.

Originally the flourishing mark of its original creator, Gabrielle “Coco” Bonheur Chanel, the brand is now a global leader whose outlets have spread way beyond the original small shop in Paris, where her outstanding role in fashion began in 1909. After moving through millinery and designing sports clothes for women for sale at outlets in the then fashionable seaside resorts of Deauville and Biarritz in the years leading up to 1915, Chanel’s strength and contribution was to create innovative clothes and revolutionise fashion at a time when it was most needed. The First World War along with the socio-economic mobilisation of women, who were replacing men in the factories and fields, brought a need for practical and protective garments that would allow women the freedom to do this work. Chanel’s use of jersey fabric produced clothes that were comfortable and affordable, and by replacing structured silhouette based on the corset and the bodice with garments that were flattering to a woman’s figure, she was completely in tune with the changes of the time. By the end of the war, her designs were known throughout France, the high quality design, construction and finish of the clothes had established the reputation of Coco Chanel as a meticulous couturiere.

Chanel is currently owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, both grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, an early business partner of Coco Chanel. The brand’s boutiques and popularity stretch across the continents, and have most recently included a 220m2 boutique in Hong Kong, and a 50million USD building in Grinza, Tokyo. Chief among its timeless and exclusive signature products are the Chanel suit, the “little black dress” and its perfume Chanel No 5. Its creations have been personified by well known women including Catherine Deneuve, Vanessa Paradis, Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley and Marilyn Monroe, all of whom epitomise the independent confident Chanel girl. More recently, Chanel has again led the way not just with accessory products such as watches, sunglasses, travel collections and skin care, but also in setting up Paraffection, a subsidiary company originally established in 1997 to support and preserve artisanal manufacturing for the fashion world.

Lagerfeld has stayed as a helmsman for the brand over the last thirty years after being persuaded to come over from Chloe. While incorporating the signature fabrics and detailing such as tweed, gold accents and chains; Lagerfeld has also helped to bring the brand into today’s modern day fashion world. In later collections he has chosen to break away from the ladylike look of Chanel and experiment with different styles. Coco Mademoiselle and In Between Wear, targeting younger women, have been launched in the last decade.

Rebecca Wang at Giambattista Valli A/W Collection Show 05 Mar 2013

Rebecca Wang at Giambattista Valli A/W Collection Show

Giambattista Valli Autumn -Winter 2013/2014 Ready-to-Wear collection show was held at Place Vendôme in Paris on March 4, 2013.

The collection displayed a line of luxury that was both chic and easy. The ice themed show featured ladylike silhouettes, unexpected use of fur and plenty of linear layering. Models wore high necks with Grecian metallic skirts or slick cigarette trousers. Streamlined car coats and parkas featured chiffon layered with fur and structured fabrics creating a contrast between heavy and light. The colour palette included snow queen whites interspersed with an explosion of vivid colours and floral and animal prints.

The Italian born designer grew up in Rome but is now based in Paris where he shows his Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear collections. Valli knew from the age of eight that fashion was his main calling and he has named watercolours by YSL, Grau’s illustrations for Dior and Cocteau’s drawings as his early influences while studying at Rome’s Art College, Accademia di Belle Arti. After joining the European Institute of Designers, and following an illustration course at Central St Martin in London, Valli’s first fashion work was with Cecilia Fanfani, who involved him in the planning of couture shows in Rome. He then joined Roberto Cappucci’s atelier as an assistant, a time he credits for learning the relationship between the atelier and master and the fundamental aspects of colour and volume.

Two years later came the role of overseeing the new Fendissimi line as senior designer. From there he moved to Krizia and in 1997 Valli was appointed art director of fashion for Emanuel Ungaro’s ready to wear collection. 2001 saw him promoted to art director for the rtw, along with the younger Ungaro Fever lines, accessories and licenses. In 2005 Valli introduced an uninhibited collection after starting his own line with licensee Gilmar. His own line launched in 2005 with an aim to create a style based on a line and silhouette. This style was in contrast to the focus on decoration at Ungaro.

While working at Ungaro, Giambattista Valli begun to dress his celebrity friends which had a positive impact on his reputation. Fans of his work include Penelope Cruz, Natalia Vodianova, Jessica Biel (who asked him to design the gown for her wedding in Puglia to Justin Timberlake), Sarah Jessica Parker, Julianne Moore, and Queen Rania of Jordan. Valli credits early deliveries, reliable quality and a disciplined regard for consumer needs, for the growth of his own brand. 

Rebecca Wang At Giambattista Valli A/W Collection Show 05 Mar 2013