Reality show aids landslide victims

Suzie Harrison

It was lights, cameras and action as the cast of MTV’s “Laguna Beach:

The Real Orange County” rallied at their Fight the Slide benefit for

the Bluebird Canyon landslide victims last Thursday night at Seven

Degrees.

The event was taped for a future broadcast of the reality drama.

Three hundred eighty-eight people attended the sold-out event,

which raised more than $23,000, according to Mayor Elizabeth

Pearson-Schneider.

MTV’s cameras, crew and executives were everywhere, as they

followed the cast filming for an upcoming episode of the show.

Going behind the scenes, having access to the cast and executives,

and being part of the show was a treat for me, thanks to MTV’s

Vanessa Reyes.

Stephen Colletti was exuberant as he greeted his guests with hugs

and welcomed them to the live-action event.

“This is hard; it’s such a sensitive subject, but we’re trying to

turn it into something good by helping the victims,” Colletti said.

“Hopefully everyone will walk out with a smile. We’re stoked we can

use our connections. Many people will be donating money that will

help everyone who is a landslide victim.”

Young girls swarmed around lead cast member Kristin Cavalleri,

clamoring for an autograph.

Cavalleri admitted she was a little nervous for the fashion show

that would come later in the evening.

“I think it’s going to be really, really good and will go really

well; I’m excited about it,” Cavalleri said. “I’m glad we’re doing

something for people who lost so much. I’m so happy to be a part of

it.”

Cavalleri said Trey Phillips had the idea to have the benefit with

a fashion show. He formed the group Active Young Americans, and also

has his own line of hats.

“I think it just shows how close the community is to put away our

differences and do something amazing for this cause,” Cavalleri said.

Before the fashion show, coordinators Lauren Conrad and Phillips

were diligently working together.

The two stopped what they were doing to talk. Midway through our

interview, the cameras rolled in and MTV shot part of the interview.

“Mostly Trey came up with the concept -- he was the first person

to ask who was raising money; he wanted to do something, and it just

went from there,” Conrad said.

Items for the silent and live auctions, the raffle, the fashion

show and the venue were all donated.

“I’m ecstatic; it feels good; it’s just flowing,” Phillips said as

the venue began to fill up with people. “There will always be kinks,

but it will be a good show all the way through.”

The Bluebird Canyon disaster was personal for the cast.

Cast members Stephen Colletti and Dieter Schmitz were right in the

midst of the tragedy, since their families both live in the area.

“They got evacuated and came to my house,” Conrad said.

During the event, Schmitz, Colletti and Phillips showed a

documentary they had made of the landslide aftermath. Poignant

interviews with the families and footage of the ravaging damage

brought tears to everyone’s eyes.

Landslide victims were invited to the event at no charge.

After the documentary, Pearson-Schneider asked the families to

come up on stage.

“Fight the Slide concept is not a one time issue; it’s not going

to make everything better,” Phillips said. “We need to continue to

fight this together.”

Adam DiVello, development executive and co-executive producer for

the show, flew in from New York City for the event. He said he wishes

he lived in Laguna Beach.

DiVello said it was the cast’s idea to have a benefit for the

landslide victims.

“The kids came to us -- Stephen, Dieter and Trey; they were

affected by this immensely,” DiVello said. “It’s rare that a group of

kids this young would get so involved and take on something like

this. I feel fortunate I got to know these kids.”

DiVello said helping the landslide victims needs to continue; he

hopes the MTV benefit serves as an motivator.

“I hope the community continues to keep them in mind,” DiVello

said.

Fellow co-executive producer Kathryn Takis was equally impressed

by the cast’s efforts.

“The kids’ heart and soul are in this community; as soon as the

landslide happened, they wanted to do something,” Takis said.

“They’re devoted to the community.... This is their doing; we just

guided them. All of them should feel so proud.”

She said Laguna Beach is synonymous with community.

“All of us walk away with Laguna Beach’s sense of community, how

generous everyone is -- and the kids are a reflection of that,” Takis

said. “I feel really honored to work with them; it’s really a joy.

That’s a lot to say about 14- to 18-year-olds.”

Cast members Alex Murrel’s and Talan Torriero’s bands were part of

the entertainment, along with Just Jinger, the Jamie Paxton Band and

Listen Band.

Pearson-Schneider was also an integral part of the event, giving a

moving speech and even participating in the fashion show, which was a

huge hit and the highlight of the evening.

“Four thousand five hundred dollars will go to the Laguna Relief

and Resource Center and the rest will go to the Adopt a Landslide

Family campaign,” Pearson-Schneider said.

Pearson-Schneider thinks that MTV airing a segment of the benefit

is invaluable to the landslide cause.

“The cast is going to be creating a pitch to the viewers to send

money to the Adopt a Landslide Family campaign at the end of the

show,” the mayor said. “It’s a huge opportunity -- they will be able

to raise a lot of money.”

MTV is also adding information on the show’s website for

donations.

The show will likely air in September, according to MTV.