Where else could you find grown men going nuts over winning plush toys from games of skill and chance? At The Asylum’s 15th anniversary party, when it took over Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier for one special night that just happened to be unseasonably warm and thus perfect for revelry by the surf.
Many of the several hundred invited guests were already in the area for AFM. Others made the trek from Hollywood where the AFI Fest is set up for the week.
Just like the movies that The Asylum has produced – 100 in its 15-year history – there was a tagline aimed at the various cast and crew members that have worked on them: “It’s your fault we’re still here.”
In case you’re not familiar, The Asylum has produced mostly straight to DVD titles that capitalize on productions by major studios, using film titles and scripts very similar to those of current blockbusters, perhaps luring some unsuspecting customers. They are often dubbed mockbusters. A recent example, “Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies” – a spinoff of the summer box office dud “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.”
Among the several hundred celebrants were Jim Belushi, Lorenzo Lamas, Nick Tuturro, Danica McKellar, Barry Bostwick, Bruce Davison, Vic Chao, Claudia Christian, Christopher Judge, Mary Lambert, Andy Lauer, Paul Logan, Lindsey McKeon, Renee O’Connor, Johnny Pacar, Brittany Petros, Bobby Ray Shafer, Ralph Reikerman, Bo Svenson, Scott Valentine and Randy Wayne.
Guests were given free reign of the rides at Pacific Park, including an aerial trip on the iconic Ferris wheel with its 360° views of the Southern California coastline, the roller coaster and the spinning teacups.
Those in the mood for churros, funnel cakes, frozen dots or ice cream in waffle cones were in luck as they were in full supply, but those looking for something more savory like the Taco Bell were a little disappointed to see that it was closed. But all was made good by two open bars serving up a nice variety of beer, wine and premium liquor cocktails.
In addition to the makeshift VIP lounge set up looking south towards Venice and Marina Del Rey – where everyone was welcome – the big action was at the game stands. You know the kind we’re talking about: whack a mole, burst balloons with the beanbag – our personal favorite, where we won some nice plush toys – break plates with beanbags, or toss rings onto bottles, which always seem to bounce off.
When everything shut down around midnight, it was the rare guest who left without a plush souvenir of the evening, large or small.
