Our young staff is super excited about the “Film Your Issue” Film Festival, now that the voting has begun online. Our own Director of Human Resources, Rick Spade, has his thoughts on some of the semi-finalists:

Aspiring to be American
Real portrayal of what others are aspiring for and it makes one realize that we take for granted what so many do not have.

Give Civil Liberties
No one should be denied what others are given. It’s 2008 and amazing to me that people are so judgmental and not living in today’s world.

The Struggle
People want to have a better life for themselves and their family. It’s sad to see how racial profiling effects our society and that the color of our skin automatically places you in a behavioral category.

- Rick

Thanks, Rick. Make sure to go to FYI’s website and view the films yourself. We’ll be posting more mini-reviews of the online shorts by our cast members here at the hotel, so check back soon.

This is Bruce, signing off.

We see a lot of stars here at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa, from music to movies. But if you watch television – and let’s be honest, why would you not? – chances are you have at some point wondered, “how can I meet with the creators and stars of my favorite shows?” Or as my mother so sweetly refers to as her “stories.”

Well, other than running into these people at your local Coffee Bean, the options are limited, unless of course you’re in Hollywood over the next week or so. The whole town is abuzz over the 25th annual Paley Festival, held from March 14th to the 27th, celebrating some of TV’s most popular shows by putting fans in the same room as the creators and stars.

This year, the festival will include a Buffy The Vampire Slayer Reunion (Browncoats, beware!), a 40th Anniversary Celebration of Elvis’ ’68 Comeback Special, and an Evening with Judd Apatow & Friends as well as the casts and creators of Chuck, Damages, Dancing with the Stars, Dirty Sexy Money, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, and Pushing Daisies. See a complete schedule here.

Most people, however, don’t have the spare time to travel to LA on a whim to see what Serena is doing on the next Gossip Girl but, fortunately, there is an easier way.

TV Guide has weeklong coverage of the whole event, with blogs, insider articles, and exclusive videos going up every day. Michael Ausiello, whose eponymous weekly vodcast The Ausiello Report premieres each Tuesday on TV Guide with the latest TV scoops and spoilers, will be on-hand for tons of red carpet coverage as well as answers to viewers’ most burning questions.

And where would the esteemed Ausiello Report and TV Guide be making its base camp for the festival coverage? A little place called the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Yes, that one. See The Ausiello Report, as well as his weekly wrap-up show covering the whole festival, here.

Ah, TV Guide. What would my mother do without you?

This is Bruce, signing off.

Occasionally, while daydreaming at work, I ponder life’s important questions, such as “what would my super-power be?” or “why are soaps so popular?” On the latter, I think daytime television’s popularity has something to do with the long, in-depth storylines that can take place over the years. We watch characters grow up, find themselves, then age, all on camera, at the same rate we do in real life. That’s a little bit of Hollywood magic for ya.

What’s shocking is that some of these shows have been on for decades. This April, The Young and the Restless is reaching its 35th anniversary. That’s staggering, I’m not even that old, not in Hollywood years at least. (We count differently here; however old you actually are, subtract enough to put your age between 25 and 30.) And like with any good anniversary, Y&R is celebrating!

Lucky for you, dear reader, you too can join them. Sony is working with Operation Mom to give away the ultimate experience in daytime television fantasy. All you have to do to enter to win is visit either www.opmom.com or www.sonypictures.com/win and submit some details of your favorite Y&R episode. The grand prize is a roundtrip for two to Los Angeles, a two-night stay in a luxury hotel (guess which one…), and an exclusive invitation to the Y&R 35th Anniversary Retrospective Event at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. As they say, you’ll have a chance to see and be seen with the stars of the show – a real hoot for true fans.

Once again, I wouldn’t normally just be plugging for a TV show, especially one that doesn’t shoot at our property, but as part of this giveaway, the lucky winners get put up in one of our luxury rooms here at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel (just in case you missed my monster hint). So go watch the show, sign up online, and see Y&R up close and personal!

And by the way, my super-power would be laser beams from my eyes. That’s right. Laser beams.

This is Bruce, signing off.

I would like to tell you about a special man in my life. He is a classic, very much desired and the work it takes to get him may take years! His name is Oscar, the golden man of the Academy Awards. This year all 50 stautees that will be awarded to the stars at the 80th Academy Awards can be found on display at Hollywood and Highland until February 23. Not only can you see Oscar but you can take a picture with him!This opportunity will only be here a few more days, so prepare your acceptance speech and see you on the red carpet! Admission:“Meet the Oscars” is free and open to the public. Hours:Friday & Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. (Saturday, February 23 from noon to 5 p.m.)Sunday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.Location:4th level of the Hollywood & Highland Center, located on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive.Hollywood & Highland Center6801 Hollywood Boulevard, 4th LevelHollywood, CA 90028

Yes, just like last year and the year before, Valentine’s Day sneaks up on us, hiding in the bushes, just waiting for us to relax from the hectic holiday months, and then it pounces! Caught off guard, we flounder, casting our nets wildly in hopes of collaring some vagrant boxes of chocolate or a dozen forgotten roses. But to no avail!

Does this sound remotely familiar? If not, go away; you’re clearly a robot. If yes, then maybe consider an easy alternative to the upcoming scramble this February 14th: a romantic evening at Twist, our hotel’s humble yet obviously fantastic top restaurant, with a special Valentine’s Day menu for you and that special someone.

Okay, enough with the foreplay. Start with a glass of champagne and a duo of appetizers – Seared Scallop with mango relish and lotus root chip, and Braised Boneless Shortrib Beef with potato puree and cocoa sauce – followed by a choice of entrees: Grilled Skin on Wild Salmon with a cocunut curry broth, a Petite Filet with mashed pancetta taro root, or a Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast with sundried tomato cous cous. And then something about a chocolate cake dessert – I hear it’s popular with the kids these days – Raspberry Chocolate Ganache Tart… Does sound good? Is it a good alternative to a broken heart? Histrionic or no, I say yes, yes, yes!

So, I hope to see you there, even if you plan ahead and already bought the flowers and chocolates. Heck, even robots need romance in their lives.

This is Bruce, signing off.