By Adrienne Papp

Many stars came out to support the 40^th Anniversary Presentation of The Vision Awards™ in an elegant black tie setting in the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills that is famous for its high profile guests and events. The 2010 Awards recognized a number of pioneering visionaries across the fields of film, television, music, research, technology, sports, and leadership. The evening was produced by Helen Harris, founder of both The Vision Awards™ and Retinitis Pigmentosa International, the presenting organization behind The Vision Awards™

The 2010 Awards were given to legendary TV news journalist Dan Rather; renowned music producer Quincy Jones; Apollo 11 Moon walking astronaut,Buzz Aldrin; humanitarian/businessman Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong; longtime entertainment industry figures Stanley Jaffe (producer of Kramer Vs. Kramer and Fatal Attraction);  George Schlatter (creator of Laugh-In); Steve Jobs & Apple, Inc.; Precious director Lee Daniels; The Blind Side producer Molly Smith; Showtime executive Melinda Benedek;  World renowned inventor Ray Kurzweil; comedian Norm Crosby; U.S. Gold Medal winning athlete Steve Holcomb; and Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, the Beverly Hills-based doctor who had restored Holcomb’s vision from near blindness.

Will.i.am, Quinton Aaron, Vision Awards Founder Helen Harris, Patrick Soon-Shiong, Jolene & George Schlatter, Sherry Lansing, Lily Tomlin

Celebrity Presenters for the 2010 Vision Awards™ included Billy Bob Thornton; Lily Tomlin; actor John Cho;  director/producer Jerry Zucker; Sherry Lansing, former CEO of Paramount Pictures; writer/producer Clyde Phillips; director Luke Greenfield; Sideways director Alexander Payne; athlete Tristan Gale; and Extreme Makeover dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman, among others.

Mrs. Harris, being blind herself, launched both RP International and The Vision Awards™ in 1970 as high profile vehicles by which to raise awareness of the millions of people who fight against the gradual loss of their vision from both RP and Macular Degeneration. The Vision Awards™ also raise funds for medical research.

Past recipients of The Vision Awards™ include Bob Hope, Aaron Spelling, Bill Cosby, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Robert Zemeckis, Joel Schumacher, Oliver Stone, Richard and Lauren Shuler-Donner, Lawrence Bender, William Friedkin, Tim Burton, John Frankenheimer, Roone Arledge, Sherry Lansing, Robert Towne, Tom Cruise, Bill Mechanic, Phil Collins, and Jon Landau, among many others.

Helen Harris has been a tireless advocate on behalf of people with visual impairments for the past 40 years. Herself a victim and legally blind for more than three decades (the disease attacked her when she was a young mother, and two of her three sons, ages 2 and 5, were also afflicted by the disease,) Mrs. Harris personally knows all too well the helpless and hopeless feeling of having a disease that is hardly known at all. She established both organizations for the “preservation and restoration of sight.”

Harris is also an author of the book, How to Survive Losing Vision, as well as a poet, a painter, and a member of the Producers Guild of America. She has testified before Congress about major issues facing the blind, and has also enlisted the aid of hundreds of major Hollywood directors, producers, and stars — as well as that of former President George H. W. Bush — in the creation of TheatreVision™ presentations, in which blind audiences can experience a major motion picture in a theatre that offers them a special audio soundtrack.

From its modest beginnings 40 years ago, RPI (Retinitis Pigmentosa International) has grown into a global organization and with the support of dedicated volunteers of all walks of life has raised over $ 5-million to date for eye research and education.

Steve Holcomb, Lois & Buzz Aldrin, Tristan Gale

In addition, RPI has also enlisted other donors into contributing more than THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS directly to medical research for eye health.

What was impossible just to imagine five years ago will almost certainly become a reality within the next decade due to the contribution of Helen Harris, who is one of those people who walk the walk by making a difference in the World, and not just talking the talk.  Due to her dedication to a serious cause new technologies and medical techniques have brought us to the threshold of hope, and to the day when Retinitis Pigmentosa or Macular Degeneration will no longer carry a lifetime of darkness.

About the Author of This Article:  Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist who has written for many publications including Savoir, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Sun, The Beverly Hills Times, Brentwood News, Bel-Air View, Celebrity Society, Celeb Staff, It Magazine, Chic Today, LA2DAY, West Side Today among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles / New York-based publicity company, Atlantic Publicity and publishing house, Atlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities, world leaders, inventors, philanthropists and entrepreneurs. She also owns Atlantic United Films that produces and finances true stories made for theatrical release or the silver screen. Spotlight News Magazine is owned by Atlantic United, Inc with Adrienne Papp being the majority shareholder.

Share This Article:

Kristen Stewart MTV Awards

By Adrienne Papp

The MTV Awards are always the biggest highlights of the awards season.  Without all the pomp and glamour that comes with the other major award shows, MTV makes sure things stay lively by offering a show that’s a little low brow but with plenty of high jinks, some surprise stage pranks, outrageous fashion choices, and an unexpected surprise or two. From Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson’s stage kiss, to Tom Cruise’s funny opening dance sketch reprising his ‘Tropic Thunder‘ character Les Grossman, there was plenty of entertainment, a few f-bombs, and of course, a full slate of winners from the year’s most popular movies.

While much of the actual award ceremony is a forgone conclusion, with films like Twilight New Moon winning numerous categories through the huge vote from its online fan base, there was plenty of good television and at least two major stars used the occasion to refurbish their images.

Tom Cruise at the MTV Awards

Cruise opened the show in his sleezy Les Grossman guise from Tropic Thunder and his fly dance moves went a long way to recast his public image from uptight Scientology pretty boy to a life-of-the-party greaseball.  It was a Tom Cruise character who looked like he was having a lot of fun, and it kicked things off in great style.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock was presented the Generation Award,  at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and marking her first televised appearance since the March 7 Oscars and the domestic drama that followed. During her presentation Bullock shed even more baggage than Cruise. Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper and Betty White introduced Bullock, with the very mention of her name receiving a standing ovation, followed by prolonged applause – all as Bullock was sitting in the audience. White said of Bullock, “You are grace defined, and I adore you madly.” Then, in keeping with the irreverent nature of the MTV Awards, White made fun of Bullock’s movies, twisting all their plots shamelessly (At the Jan. 23 Screen Actors Guild Awards it was Bullock who presented the Life Achievement Award to White).  Scarlett Johansson, the wife of her absentee Proposal leading man Ryan Reynolds was there to help hand over Bullock’s award, and hinted she wanted to plant a kiss on Bullock, who awkwardly obliged.  What would the VMAs be without an outrageous kiss or two?

Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at the MTV Awards

In the awards categories, The Twilight Saga almost ran the table for the second straight year. New Moon picked up trophies for Best Movie Kiss, Best Female Performance for Kristen Stewart and Best Male Performance and Global Superstar for Robert Pattinson.

Other winners selected by online votes included Obsessed co-stars Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter for best fight, Jennifer’s Body star Amanda Seyfried for “Scared-As-S–t moment,” Ninja Assassin star Rain for “Biggest Badass Star,” The Hangover star Zach Galifianakis for Comedic Performance and Up in the Air co-star Anna Kendrick for Breakout Star.

About the Author: Adrienne Papp is a recognized journalist who has written for many publications including Savoir, Beverly Hills 90210, Malibu Beach, Santa Monica Sun, The Beverly Hills Times, Brentwood News, Bel-Air View, Celebrity Society, Celeb Staff, It Magazine, Chic Today, LA2DAY, among many others. She is the President and CEO of Los Angeles / New York-based publicity companies, Atlantic Publicity andAtlantic Publisher. Adrienne writes about world trends, Quantum Physics, entertainment and interviews celebrities and world leaders. She also owns Spotlight News Magazine.

Share This Article: