Last week, a group of Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) students had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the 82nd Golden Globes, participating and learning about the creation, production and execution of the esteemed award show. Made possible through a partnership with Dick Clark Productions, Kodai Consulting Group, Penske Media Group and the city of Beverly Hills, students selected for the immersive three-day program had unparalleled access to the high-profile event. From seeing firsthand how the Beverly Hilton Hotel installs set designs to talking with professionals who produce the event and conducting interviews with celebrities on the red carpet, the first Golden Globes x BHHS 2025 program was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students.
“While many participants came from career technical education pathways such as fashion, journalism, TV production and audio media production, others applied because they were eager to explore areas they may not typically have access to,” said Rebecca Starkins, Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives for the Beverly Hills Unified School District.
“I didn’t realize prior to this day that there was a great amount of work done behind the scenes to create a polished and seemingly effortless show day,” said Aunaleah Ellis, a 12th-grade student at BHHS. “The Beverly Hilton was a beautiful hotel, and it was amazing how it was transformed for the ‘Hollywood’s Party of the Year,’ the 2025 Golden Globes. I loved seeing the different roles in the production and the individuals focused on their work. It was inspiring to see the production staff work together to create this beautiful event.”
With support from Golden Globes executives, city personnel, crew and celebrities, students developed their talents and gained invaluable insight into journalism, event production, fashion design, marketing, and public relations.
On the first day of the program, 22 students were selected to participate in the ‘Golden Globes Insider’ portion and tour the Beverly Hilton Hotel as it was being transformed. The group had the chance to see how the red carpet was constructed, tour interview booths and media trailers, and learn the technical elements of producing a globally broadcast event. According to the Golden Globes, the 82nd annual awards show ratings surpassed 10 million viewers and had 40 million social media interactions.
On the second day of the program, nine BHHS students had the chance to interview key behind-the-scenes players, including Rick Pizante, Senior Vice President of Dick Clark Productions, Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes President, and Sam Kim, Hotel Manager of the Beverly Hilton. Additional interviewees included Golden Globes Executive Producer and Showrunner Glenn Weiss, Golden Globes Head Engineer David Crivelli, Golden Globes Art Director and Red-Carpet Designer Zeya Maurer and more.
The program culminated on the day of the Golden Globes, where six BHHS students, dressed in black tie, were strategically placed on the red carpet to attract the attention of celebrities and conduct interviews on the scene. Students spoke with over 30 Hollywood stars, including Kerry Washington, Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler, Glenn Close and Jennifer Coolidge.
“She was so open and genuine,” BHHS student Nora Nikfarjam said regarding her interview with Glenn Close. “She talked about the importance of perseverance in a creative career, and I’ll never forget her saying that failure is just another step toward success.”
