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Ryan Bingham at Art of Film Geoff Hawkes at Art of Film Film BY BILLY FONG, JANE ROZELLE. PHOTOGRAPHERS, LINDSAY JONES, HOLT HAYNSWORTH, CARTER ROSE Remembering Jackie N ovember was a poignant month in the Big D as history buffs and tourists flocked to the city to commemorate the infamous day in history when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Film enthusiasts packed The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House for an evening honoring the beloved widow of the 35th president, where director Bill Couturié presented his empowering documentary Letters to Jackie: Remember President Kennedy. The film, a compilation of letters written to Jackie Kennedy following JFK's assassination, offers personal insight of his presidential term as well as his legacy, and has an all-star voice-over cast that includes Academy Award winners Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Frances McDormand, Chis Cooper and Melissa Leo. Before the film, hosts Lisa Arpey and Lynn McBee provided the Hollywood treatment at a VIP reception with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres by Wolfgang Puck. KERA host Lee Cullum hosted a Q&A with two of the letter writers in attendance, as well as Ellen Fitzpatrick, author of Letters to Jackie: Condolences from a Grieving Nation, upon which the film is based. Cinephiles: Diane and Hal Brierley, Kimberly Casey, Lee Papert, and Don Winspear. Society Inside the Activist's Studio I f you are a Bravo junkie like me (I'm Andy Cohen's target demographic), you probably watch Inside the Actor's Studio. Who doesn't love it when legendary actors such as Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro are posed the question: What is your favorite curse word? On the dais this evening, Elvis Mitchell played the role of James Lipton, leading a discussion with 2013 Art of Film honoree Lee Daniels. Daniels' films have often pushed the boundaries on race and sex, jump-starting conversations on these once-taboo topics. On a lighter note, guests enjoyed Daniels' anecdote of working with the legendary Oprah Winfrey. In one scene from Lee Daniels' The Butler, the mega-watt star had to do laundry. Apparently, acting out that banal chore threw Ms. Winfrey for a loop as she whispered to her director, "I haven't done laundry in 30 years." Mitchell, without skipping a beat, chimed-in, "I feel sooo bad for Oprah." Guests in the glorious Hall of State's Art Deco cavernous spaces included Dallas Film Society advocates Jennifer and Doug Houser, Linda and Steve Ivy, Arthur Benjamin, Hayley and Gary Cogill, Kacy and Carter Tolleson, State Representative Helen Giddings, Stacy Girard and Jerry Rasansky, Gwen and Leldon Echols, and Lindy and Brad Berkley. Troy Aikman at Letters to Jackie Mike Rawlings at Letters to Jackie Pedro Gonzalez at Letters to Jackie Stephen Gilhooly at Letters to Jackie Matt Nordgren at Letters to Jackie Hayley Cogill at Art of Film Gary Cogill at Art of Film Sheri Deterling at Art of Film Anna Bingham at Art of Film King Hollis at Art of Film Lee Daniels at Art of Film Melina McKinnon Cain at Art of Film Michael Cain at Art of Film Janis Hirsch at Letters to Jackie Lee Cullum at Letters to Jackie Bill Couturié at Letters to Jackie Ellen Fitzpatrick at Letters to Jackie Kerri Briggs at Letters to Jackie James Faust at Letters to Jackie Jenny West at Letters to Jackie Jason West at Letters to Jackie Lynn Gibson at Letters to Jackie Tom West at Letters to Jackie Lisa Arpey at Letters to Jackie Beth Reynolds at Letters to Jackie Rising to the Occasion F ashionable fêters descended on the Dallas Market Center Grand Pavilion for the Fashion & Lifestyle Awards Night of Stars, benefitting Fashion Group International of Dallas. Co-chairs Chuck Steelman and Katy Messersmith-Mattox and host Courtney Kerr greeted guests at the awards gala, which included The Fashion Police presentation (compliments of Stanley Korshak) followed by dinner and the awards presentation: Lifetime Achievement honors went to Kay Unger, Career Achievement to Billy Reid, and Rising Stars included Elizabeth Anyaa, Mei-Chun Jau, and Dera Enochson, and the Shelly Musselman Design Award winner Holly Hmielewski. Simply stylish: Rachel Roberts, Cynthia Smoot, Crystal Wilson-Herrera, Scott Finer, Jennifer de Socarraz-Fleming, and Tre Wilcox. Jane Rozelle Fashionable NOTES MARCH | PAGE 19 | 2014 Night of Stars, First Sight & Night For the First Time F irst Sight and First Night marked the opening of the opera season. "The overwhelming public interest in the fashion element of First Night prompted us to expand our vision to First Sight," said chair Lynn Mock. During the inaugural event, guests were dazzled by Dallas-based designers Elizabeth Anyaa, Michael Faircloth, Abi Ferrin, Nha Khanh, and Nicolas Villalba, who presented their work in a stunning fashion show. Show producer (and First Sight co-chair) Rhonda Sargent Chambers orchestrated the catwalk where models rocked the runway. And the following night that was really First Night (got that?) was a red carpet and receiving line of the fashionable frocks from the day prior, leading to a magical tent adjacent to the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, where patrons dined before taking their seats for the debut of Carmen. Hitting the high notes: Susan Sanders, Enika Schulze, Delilah Boyd, Joe Pacetti, Tonya Roberts, and Anne and Steve Stodghill. Jane Rozelle Allan McBee at First Night Fraser Marcus at First Night Meredith Musselman at FGI Brian Bolke at FGI Thomas Glendenning at First Night Honoree Susie Straubmueller at FGI David Baker at FGI Honoree Elizabeth Anyaa at FGI Jamie Baker at FGI Chuck Steelman at FGI Courtney Kerr at FGI LeeAnne Locken at FGI Jan Strimple at FGI Heidi Dillon at FGI Billy Reid at FGI Abi Ferrin at FGI Hamilton A. Sneed at FGI Kit Chambers at FGI Rhonda Sargent Chambers at FGI Michael Fjordbak at FGI Brittany Glendenning at First Night Carol Glendenning at First Night Don Glendenning at First Night Rhonda Marcus at First Night Emmanuel Villaume at First Night Keith Cerny at First Night Nicole Dabbert at First Night Lynn McBee at First Night Katy Messersmith at FGI