Dianna Perales Harris and Earnest Harris of Marlo Entertainment Hit The Red Carpet For Academy Award Party

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The husband and wife producing and directing team were on hand to salute four of Hollywood’s top Black directors, Robert Townsend, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tim Story and Melvin Van Peebles.

Marlo Entertainment heads Dianna Perales Harris and Earnest Harris joined a Who’s Who list of celebrities on hand as part of Oscar Week in Los Angeles to celebrate four leading African-American directors who have made significant contributions in film. The honorees at the red carpet event, were Robert Townsend, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tim Story and Melvin Peebles, who got the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The event was packed and considering the directors honored, was not surprisingly filled with stars. On hand were such notable actors as Loretta Devine, Gabrielle Union, Damon Wayons, Sidney Poitier, Robin Givens, Mario Van Peebles, Marla Gibbs, Kimberly Elise, Kevin Hart and many others from film and television. U.S. Representative Maxine Waters also mixed in with party attendees.

“It was by far one of the best events I have attended since I have been here in Los Angeles,” Earnest Harris said. “The honorees were all people who I know have had a significant impact on our culture and society and who continue to inspire me to do what I do. So to be on hand to honor them and see so many others who I admire and look forward to working with, was just a great thing to be a part of.”

Dianna Perales Harris also felt the evening was one of her most memorable. “For me, this evening gave me even more energy than I already had to produce great movies. Watching the videos on these guys and hearing them tell stories of what they went through to make the films they did, films that launched so many careers, was truly inspirational. It reminded me that films change lives and have a huge impact. That’s why I am in this business. So it was nice to be a part of saluting these directors.”

The event, “Eye On Black: A Salute To Black Directors,” was held at the beautiful California African American Museum and also featured live performances by recording artists, Tank, Laila Hathaway and Melody Thornton formerly of the Pussycat Dolls.

Perales Harris said the event was great fuel for this stretch run towards the production of their next film, “Wanda’s Place,” which shoots this summer in Los Angeles and which features several of the stars on hand at the event.