CHICAGO – In a year where shoots with perpetual photo fashionistas like Cindy Crawford and Sarah Jessica Parker still failed to crack the Top Ten list of biggest celebrity photo-ops, you know 2014 was a very good year for HollywoodChicago.com and myself, Joe Arce, as Senior Staff Photographer.
Narrowing down the 182 celebrity subjects that posed for my lens last year to a mere ten favorite portraits is not an easy task. Nonetheless, here are my Top Ten picks for biggest celebrity shoots of 2014. I based this on a combination of star power wattage of the subjects, the artistic results and the degree of difficulty in landing the quarry – for those iPhone carrying budding celebrity stalkers who may wish to play along at home.
10. Anjelica Huston
Not only an Oscar winner, but the daughter of Oscar-winning director John Huston and granddaughter of Oscar-winning actor Walter Huston, the actress-turned-director is the definition of Hollywood royalty. Her 2nd best selling memoir “Watch Me,” detailing her 17 year relationship with Jack Nicholson, had tongues wagging on both talk shows and news programs across the dial. Hearing her say “direct me”– immediately after shaking my hand – I was almost certain I had somehow stumbled like a mark into a scene from her film “The Grifters”.
9.Cassandra “Elvira” Peterson
While Cassandra Peterson might not be a household name, her character Elvira surely is. Peterson’s “Mistress of the Dark,” over the past 30 years, has become a cultural Halloween icon whose image has appeared on over 400 products – running the gamut from key chains to pinball machines. I had dreamed of photographing the stunning red headed actress – who bewitched both Elvis and Tom Jones – out of character for years, but she rarely does professional shoots sans costume. While in town appearing at Wizard World in August, she graciously granted my wish with this “spooktacular” portrait. How much can she get for my used soul on E-bay anyway?
8. John Cleese
The legendary Monty Python comedic genius only permitted half of his own face on the cover of his 2014 biography “So,Anyway.”.This perfectly sums up his current unwillingness to waste his golden years prancing around before silly twits pointing cameras. It practically took the Spanish Inquisition to get my portraits of him – but luckily for our readers as the famous Python catchphrase goes “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” Thankfully not even John Cleese himself.
7. Gene Simmons
Anyone who has worked with Gene Simmons will tell you he frequently lives up to his rock and roll moniker, “The God of Thunder,” and just like Zeus he doesn’t take direction well. Fair enough. While I’ve photographed him before – and fellow KISS founder Paul Stanley this year as well – having Simmons bless me with a trademark tongue portrait the same year KISS was enshrined into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had both KISS fans and our readers willing to “Lick it Up.”
6. Tardar Sauce AKA “Grumpy Cat”
Ironically, the cat was easier to work with than either John Cleese or Gene Simmons. The feline “Great White Nope,” who went from an internet meme to two New York Times best sellers, a Lifetime Channel Christmas movie and a reported 100 million plus in earnings. bestowed upon our readers a portrait that some said was simply “purrrrfect.” She remained completely underwhelmed.
5. Cameron Diaz
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com |
Starting off 2014 as Forbes Magazine’s highest paid actress over 40 – while her health and fitness guide “The Beauty Book” parked itself at number two on The New York Times best seller list – the A-list former model. and voice of Shrek’s Fiona. likewise turned me into a smitten believer, about 30 seconds after entering the room. Diaz would star in three films in 2014, “The Other Woman,” “Sex Tape” and “Annie.” Sure, she may have racked up a couple Razzie nominations for the effort, but that dubious distinction never hurt the careers of Halle Berry or Sandra Bullock. Just five days into 2015, and the confirmed bachelorette was making headlines again – this time for landing a husband, musician Benji Madden. With “Bad Teacher 2” set to go into production, it’s a good bet that 2015 will see Diaz remaining firmly at the head of her class.
4. Oliver Stone
Unlike the always media-friendly Michael Moore, who I also photographed again this year, the equally controversial Director Oliver Stone – by his own admission – has a strained and cantankerous relationship with the press. Capturing the cinematic legend smiling in a killer shot practically requires some stealthy positioning…perhaps best hidden away on some distant grassy knoll? I managed to nail the Oscar winning director of “JFK” on the third shot – literally – “back and to the left.” “Back and to the left,” indeed.
3. Robert Downey Jr.
The Oscar-winning comeback kid, and Ironman of revenue generating leading men, Robert Downey Jr. once again topped Forbes Magazine’s list of top earning actors in 2014. Is it a worthy portrait? You be “The Judge.”
2. Woody Allen
If you had told me that Woody Allen would be posing for a portrait before my lens in my hometown of Chicago early last summer, I would have thought I had a better chance of being handed a winning Powerball ticket by a leprechaun riding a unicorn. This was the legendary recluse that avoided the media like the plague, even during the best of times. Allen has made an infamous point of not showing up to accept even one of his four Academy Awards, or any other honors for that matter. 2014 brought Woody Allen the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes by Hollywood Foreign Press – which he naturally blew off as well.
What he could not so easily blow off was the non-stop media firestorm that surrounded him after the resurfacing of the 21-year-old allegations brought against him by adopted daughter Dylan Farrow. Perhaps escaping to the third coast to do press for his film “Magic in the Moonlight” brought him some much needed temporary distraction. What it brought to me was a once-in-a lifetime chance to capture a rare portrait of the iconic director, who I had practically worshiped since I was a kid. Seriously. who is a bigger get than Woody Allen, especially last year? No one, according to Amazon Prime, who just signed him to write and direct his first TV show. “The Untitled Woody Allen Project” is to premiere online this year.
Number One. Former President George W. Bush
Politics aside. the 43rd ex-leader of the free world – since leaving office – has reclusively shunned the limelight. preferring to spend his retirement painting and writing “41: A Portrait of My Father.” His book tour appearance at Anderson Bookshop had all the pomp and security of a still sitting president. Getting the media-weary “Dubya” to pose for a portrait, flanked by Secret service agents, put me at the risk of being water boarded if I held up his schedule further. Well, just call me a patriot, in my fearless attempt to reach across the aisle in pursuit of the “Great American” photographic dream.
One to Watch in 2015. Bob Odenkirk
Bob Odenkirk’s star is about to go supernova. His “Breaking Bad” character – the ethically challenged ambulance chasing attorney Saul Goodman – has spun off with his own series, that is led by “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan. Already green lighted for a second season by the AMC Network, “Better Call Saul” is premiering on February 8th, and is the most anticipated new series in years. If the successor to “Breaking Bad” lives up to the hype, Odenkirk is all but guaranteed to become the next big thing. I made sure to capture “Saul” backstage last year, during Odenkirk’s book tour appearance at the UP Comedy Club, before he gets the chance to change his number.
One that Got Away in 2014. Joan Rivers
Sadly, I never got the chance to photograph Joan Rivers, despite being a life huge fan. When the book tour for her last book “Diary of a Mad Diva” was announced, I immediately contacted her long time agent and publicist – and was given the green light to photograph her during her Chicago date. Unfortunately, I didn’t get clearance from the local venue, who had an iron clad no- press-cameras-allowed-on-their-premises policy. Joan River’s publicist assured me that her hands were tied, but promised me that next time Joan was in Chicago, she would gives us a full sit down interview, in addition to my portrait. 44 days later, Joan Rivers passed away. RIP.
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[2] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/anjelica-huston
[3] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/bob-odenkirk
[4] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/cameron-diaz
[5] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/cassandra-peterson
[6] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/celebrities
[7] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/elvira
[8] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/exclusive-photos
[9] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/film-feature
[10] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/gene-simmons
[11] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/george-w-bush
[12] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/hollywoodchicagodotcom-content
[13] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/joan-rivers
[14] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/joe-arce
[15] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/john-cleese
[16] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/kiss
[17] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/list
[18] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/oliver-stone
[19] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/patrick-mcdonald
[20] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/robert-downey-jr
[21] http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/woody-allen