David O. Russell, ‘American Hustle’ feted by Vanity Fair, Chrysler

The event: Vanity Fair, in conjunction with Chrysler, saluted writer/director David O. Russell and the cast of his film “American Hustle” on Thursday at Ago Restaurant in West Hollywood. The event was part of the magazine’s Campaign Hollywood, a weeklong celebration leading up to Sunday’s Academy Awards.

The crowd: Up for 10 Academy Awards, “American Hustle” was well-represented by actors Amy Adams, Robert De Niro, Paul Herman and Elisabeth Rohm, writer Eric Warren Singer and producers Matthew Budman, Megan Ellison, Jonathan Gordon, Charles Roven and Richard Suckle.

Also packing the restaurant and patio were actors Adrian Grenier, Nia Vardalos, Kathleen Robertson, Eli Roth and Darren Le Gallo, model Helena Christensen, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair Amy Pascal, Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad, producers Adam Shankman and Christina Steinberg, Vanity Fair’s publisher Edward Menicheschi and senior West Coast editor Krista Smith, among other Hollywood VIPs.

The cause: The evening supported the Ghetto Film School, one of Russell’s favorite charities, which educates, develops and celebrates future American storytellers.

Quotes of note: Menicheschi said Thursday’s party for Russell had been scheduled long before the film’s enormous success. “We love him and his work,” said Menischeschi. “When the nominations [for ‘American Hustle’] started rolling in, we couldn’t have been happier.”

“It’s a blessing to participate,” said Russell, who has been nominated for Oscars five times, including this year in both the writing and directing categories. He said he had no plans to write an acceptance speech. “If you prepare a speech, you don’t win,” he said.

Ellen Olivier is founder of Society News LA.

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