Lights, Camera, Murder!

As the Oscars ends, the celebrities’ night has just begun!
Find out who has a golden ticket to the hottest event….

Vanity Affair—Millionaire. While Vanity’s wealth can’t buy them starpower, it can fund the most elaborate post-Oscar bash around. As the center of attention for the party, they will not let anyone steal the show.

Dana Darling—Hollywood diva. As a matriarch on the Hollywood scene, her award filled career does not include an Academy Award, even after 15 nominations. Will this be the year she changes that?

Angel Wood—Aspiring actress. This talented actress will do anything to get what she wants—whether it is an award, a leading role in a movie or the affection of a handsome actor.

Steffi Wood—Actress. As the little sister to Angel, Steffi has lived in her shadow far too long and is certain that she will make a name for herself before the night is through!

Jada Broken—Actress. A top-notch actress who often gets second-rate treatment, Jada’s engagement was disrupted by Angel Wood and now her acting career may be as well.

Barbie Doll—Pop star and aspiring actress. Barbie’s looks and her agent have gotten this aspiring actress far in life, but can they take her any further in Hollywood?

Natasha Gibson—Young actress. A favorite with the teen crowds, this young adult is serious about pursuing more mature acting roles…that is if nothing comes in her way.

Lola Talent—Latin diva. Best known for her singing career, Lola extended her celebrity career to include acting, perfumes and a clothing line. Now, with her husband aspiring to gain the same recognition, she is 100% behind him… or is she?

Mario Talent—Aspiring actor. As the husband of a diva, Mario has always done as he was told. Now that Mario is looking out for himself, his intentions may change.

Hobart Hughes—Director. Known as the brightest director of all time, everyone is desperate to be cast in his upcoming movie, A Fallen Angel. But his decisions may depend on a lot more than an actor’s talent.

Bobby Calling—Casting director. Frustrated by Hobart’s demands, Bobby is looking to cast the upcoming film, A Fallen Angel, as they see fit.

Penelope Hughes—Director’s wife. It is no secret that Penelope loves her husband’s money more than the man himself. After many years of marriage, Penelope knows how to use her power in Hollywood to get what she wants.

Princess Pop—Pop star. With Princess’ career on the verge of destruction, she is looking to reconstruct it any way she can.

Brady Comeback—Pop star. With a reunion tour set to take place, this star is on the cusp of a comeback… or the last chapter of his career.

Hunter Starr—Pop star and aspiring actor. Since the Man 2 Man hiatus, Hunter has experienced much solo success in both his personal and professional life. While his band may want to relive the glory days, he is currently experiencing new heights on his own.

Avery Scout—Talent representative. The “yes” person of Hollywood, Avery is responsible for launching some careers and sinking others.

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Hollywood is the center of America’s movie industry. It is part of the city of Los Angeles, in the western state of California.

In eighteen-eighty-seven, a man named Harvey Wilcox decided to sell some farmland he owned near Los Angeles. He hoped builders would put up houses there. Harvey’s wife thought the name Hollywood would be nice for the new housing development. She liked the sound of the word, although no holly trees grow in California.

At first, Hollywood was just a little town surrounded by orange trees and farms. But new technology would change it forever.

Inventors in the United States and Europe had become interested in the idea of making pictures that moved. Thomas Edison’s company showed the first moving picture machine in eighteen-ninety-three. Two years later, the Lumiere brothers of France showed the first simple moving picture in Paris.

American businessmen and artists hurried to explore the possibilities of the new technology. No one, however, suspected that movies would become the most popular kind of art in history.

Soon, theaters around the United States began showing short movies. In nineteen-oh-nine, some of the largest American movie-making companies joined together. They legally stopped other companies from using the new technology. So, independent movie producers moved away from the Atlantic coast, the center of movie-making at that time.

Independent movie producers wanted to go where eastern lawyers would not make trouble for them. They also wanted to go where there was warm weather and sunshine throughout the year. Hollywood was perfect.

The Nestor Company built the first movie studio in Hollywood in nineteen-eleven. Two years later, Cecil B. Demille produced the first long, serious movie in Hollywood. It was called “The Squaw Man.”

Director D. W. Griffith also arrived in Hollywood in those early years. He created new ways of using a camera to tell a story through moving pictures.

Soon, the quiet community of farms and orange trees had changed. By the nineteen-twenties, Hollywood had become the movie capital of the world.

When the Academy Awards began, it announced the winners 3 months in advance the first year. After the anti-climactic show, the academy would announce the results at the show, only releasing the winners to the media to have them printed the night of the awards show at 11 p.m. This tradition continued for over a decade until the Los Angeles Times printed the winners ahead of time, thus ruining the surprise in 1940.

Since 1941, the winners have been known to only the Academy and are printed in a sealed envelope until it is opened onstage.

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WHERE TO FIND (OR MAKE) THAT PERFECT RED CARPET OUTFIT:

• Use (or borrow a friend’s) old bridesmaid’s dress

• Scour the second hand shops and garage sales

• Try the clearance racks in a department store right after a high school dance

• Dress up any outfit or gown by adding beading, cording, fancy fabrics, fringe, etc.

• Not the right color? Take a can of spray paint to the dress.

• Accentuate any shirt by adding a costumed bow tie to it.

Click below for steps on how to create your perfect hairstyle for your perfect pageant hair!

French Twist 
Chignon 
Loose Waves 
Star Fire Pony
Braid Bun

FOR MORE IDEAS on the perfect hair, see this link.

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THE ENTRANCE:

• Create the famed “HOLLYWOOD” sign in your yard.

• Have a red carpet walkway to the entrance of your party! You can order a red carpet online here.

• Go all out and rope off your red carpet with a velvet rope stanchion set (found here).

• Create a “Walk of Fame” by printing your guest’s names (or character names) on gold vinyl, trim and adhering to a walkway. (Design included with the packet. Gold vinyl can be found at local craft store or online.)

• You can also order stick on stars here (pictured below).

• Mark the entrance using signs indicating “V.I.P. Entrance” and “Stars Only” (included in packet).

• Set up a strobe light by the entrance to simulate the paparazzi taking pictures! Or enlist a few friends to be the paparazzi for the night. Ask them to snap photos as guests enter the front door.

• If hosting a party at night, consider a few spotlights on your home (found inexpensively at a local hardware store).

• Consider a balloon arch to have your stars walkthrough on the way to the red carpet and/or the party!

• Have a friend (potentially MC Award or Vanity Affair) interview your guests as they walk in and ask them about their character, what designer they are wearing, etc. etc.

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THE PARTY SPACE

• Oscars, Oscars, everywhere! Lifesize or not.

• Create a Hollywood whodunnit board filled with tabloids and some suspects of your own!

• Hang “Fallen Angel” movie posters and an “M2M Reunion Tour” poster around your party space (designs included in packet).

• Use the signs, included in the packet, to label rooms and areas such as Cocktail Bar, Backstage, Dressing Room. You can create your own names for areas of your party space and enter them into the signs. (Signs included with the mystery packet.)
Mark the bathroom as the “Dressing Room” – special sign included in the packet.

• Use life-sized cutouts or 8×10 photos of Hollywood legends around your party rooms to make guests feel they are truly in Tinsel Town.

• Use the star template in the packet to create personalized stars and hang around party space.

• Cut out stars of various sizes and spray paint them gold and silver and hang from the ceiling with fishing line or clear thread.

• Adorn the party with gold and silver balloons.

• Have classic movies and/or Oscar-winning movies playing silently on t.v. or projected on a wall.

Hang old movie posters (in particular, of Oscar winners) around the party space. You can find a list of the “best Pictures” from over the years here.

• Download the current Oscar posters here.

Use scene setters (inexpensive rolls of printed vinyl) to create the perfect background for your party. You can find them in many designs that would match your theme here.

• Be creative with props like the director’s chair, cameras, and lights.
Create your own clapboard with instructions and designs included in the packet.

• Sprinkle stars in all sizes over everything: entryways, tables, ceilings, walls, or tucked inside invitations.

• Label a few well-chosen items from around your house like famous film props on display.

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Creating a Photo Spot

Give your guests an unforgettable souvenir by setting up a photo area where they can capture a picture of themselves in character.

A few suggestions:

• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• The most popular backdrop for this mystery has GOT to be the red carpet!

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make a difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Use props like a red carpet, tiaras, boas, lavish chairs, anything you can think of, to create a staged area for pictures.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone into the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
— Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
— These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.

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YOUR OSCAR FOOD

• Dress up your food and drinks with bowties.

• Find a tuxedo strawberry recipe here.

• Garnish your drinks with starfruit.

• Create your own cookie awards. Recipe and directions here.

• Rent a popcorn machine and generate movie-theatre aromas and buckets full of buttery popped popcorn.

• Use place cards to highlight the food. Consider naming your food with a “Hollywood title”s to add to the theme. (Designs included with mystery.)

MOVIE FOOD

You may want to consider some traditional fare spiced up with a few twists!

Popcorn: you can add flavor to microwave popcorn by making a spice mixture such as this one.

Pretzels: Buy frozen pretzels from the grocery store and serve with elegant sauces: plum, honey-mustard, gourmet cheese, etc.

Hot dogs: serve sausages of a higher variety.

Pizza: make it gourmet with vegetable toppings and some oil and vinegar on the top.

SERVE YOURSELF OPTIONS

Always a good idea when hosting!

Have a buffet of elegant hors d’oevres by creating or asking everyone to bring an Oscar-worthy appetizer.

Consider a “Popcorn Bar” where your guests add their own toppings to their popcorn.

Set up a “Candy Bar” for dessert. Have a number of your favorite movie candies from licorice to milk duds to Mike & Ikes. A fun and easy way to “treat” your guests and keep within your theme!

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DRINKS:

Upon arrival, offer champagne or other bubbly drinks for your guests to toast to their accolades.
– You can find a champagne fountain online rather inexpensively.
– Coat the rim of your glasses with red-dyed corn syrup and let it dry ahead of time, to give it a dripping blood effect.

Create your own cocktails with movie titles in the names. Here is a link with 19 movie-named drink recipe options for you.

Make wine charms for your guest’s champagne/wine glasses. Template included with the packet.

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MUSIC

Play a compilation of songs from famous movie soundtracks. Check this list for “best movie soundtracks.”

Stream music from the internet — If you want current music, but don’t want to pay for it, set up to stream music from the internet for your party. You can do so by utilizing the radio function or podcasts in iTunes! If you don’t have iTunes already on your computer, you can download it here.

For Free Music– Visit your local library for a number of compilations.

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With this mystery theme, you have a unique opportunity to send specially themed invitations to help create even more excitement for your party! Along with the mystery, we have included templated, an editable design that allows you to enter in your guest’s name and addresses and print out on cardstock (gold suggested) and send through the mail. This is one way to be certain your guests are excited for what’s inside… and for what’s to come at the party!

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For even more party planning ideas, check out our Lights! Camera! MURDER! Pinterest Board here.

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Creating a Photo Spot

Give your guests an unforgettable souvenir by setting up a photo area where they can capture a picture of themselves in character.

A few suggestions:

• Pick a place where there will be good lighting.

• The most popular backdrop for this mystery has GOT to be the red carpet!

• You can make it as elaborate or simple as you want.

• Accessories and decorations can make a difference. Have some extra props on hand that your guests can pose with.

• An easy way to create a background is to use a “scene setter.” These affordable rolls of images transform your room instantly and make for a good backdrop to your picture.

• Use props like a red carpet, tiaras, boas, lavish chairs, anything you can think of, to create a staged area for pictures.

• Make sure there is enough room to fit everyone into the frame.

• For individual shots of guests, designate someone to be in charge of pictures as your guests arrive.
— Consider your character list and which character would fit the role of taking the picture. Ie, if you want mug shots, perhaps ask the investigator to be in charge of taking the pictures.

• For a group picture, take one just before the introduction is read or right after the solution is read (before people may start heading out).
— These are two times when you can count on everyone being around and attentive.

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Utilize All of the Extras!!!

Once you order, in your mystery packet you will receive directions and/or printables to make unique and original decorations specific to your party!

Included will be:

• HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CLAPBOARD!
• MOVIE POSTER AND CONCERT TOUR POSTERS
• EDITABLE INVITATION DESIGNS
• EDITABLE FOOD TABLE TENTS
• SIGNS (6 designs)
• HOLLYWOOD STARS
• SPECIAL SOLUTIONS PAGE
• WINE CHARMS
• CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE LABEL AWARDS

AND MORE!!!

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Win a Free Party!

Each month we highlight one of our customers who has posted on our blog and award them a FREE party!

To get your $5 coupon AND be entered in the Party Of the Month contest for a chance to win a FREE party, please email nompartyofthemonth@gmail.com

Don’t forget to add all the important details and party highlights that made your party one to remember! We love to hear about all of the hard work you, as host, put into your party. From the decor to the food, costumes, whatever. As well as how you and your guests acted (and reacted!) throughout the night! Everything that made your party one your guests will never forget — tell us about it! And be sure to attach some pictures!!!

Upon submitting, we will email you back a coupon to use for $5 off your next party AND enter you in our “Party of the Month” contest, where you could win a FREE party! Once submitted, you will not have to resubmit, but will be entered EVERY MONTH until your party wins!

Check out some of our past winners here! Night of Mystery POM Blogs

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