April | 2012 | Alex Woo Jewelry

Us Weekly – The US Buzzzz-O-Meter

In UsWeekly, Mariska Hargitay goes bananas for the charms honoring Disneynature’s doc.

The very talented actress, best known for her role as New York City sex crimes Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC television drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has earned her multiple awards and nominations, including an Emmy and Golden Globe.

She has previously worn Alex Woo’s Sienna earrings in Gotham.

Wall Street Journal – A Chimp Family Stars in Nature Film From Disney

By Alexandra Cheney

If you think actors locking themselves in a trailer is bad, imagine having to film them on the run. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield had to chase their camera-shy stars through West African forests.

Their film, Disneynature’s “Chimpanzee,” shot over four years, follows a baby chimp named Oscar and his family as they live, hunt and defend their lands in Ivory Coast’s Taï National Park. It is slated to open on about 1,500 screens nationwide Friday, in time for Earth Day on Sunday. Disneynature, a unit of Walt Disney Co., will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute for each moviegoer who sees the film during opening week.

Messrs. Fothergill and Linfield first pitched “Chimpanzee” to the studio as a 70-page “infinitely engaging animal comedy drama,” said Mr. Linfield. Chimpanzees share 98% of their genetic makeup with humans, their closest living relatives. Mr. Linfield believes that closeness will help engage families, Disneynature’s core audience. “Every mother is going to relate to having a baby; every kid is going to relate to being playful and adventurous,” he said.

Before making the picture, the pair created a wish list of shots and collaborated with the Franco-Swiss evolutionary biologist Christophe Boesch, who has been studying Oscar’s family for 36 years, to ensure direct and continuous access to the chimps.

“Chimpanzee,” narrated by Tim Allen, is the fourth film released under the Disneynature label. The first three releases, “Earth,” which Messrs. Fothergill and Linfield co-directed, “Oceans,” and “African Cats” are among the top 10 highest-grossing documentary films, earning $32 million, $19 million and $15 million, respectively.

“The word documentary has baggage with it, people don’t feel like paying money to get preached to,” said Don Hahn, an executive producer on all four Disneynature titles, adding, “This is entertainment.”

Messrs. Fothergill and Linfield, who are also executive producers of the new movie, consider “Chimpanzee” a nature film, avoiding the documentary label. “Cinema is now artifice with computers and [computer-generated imagery],” said Mr. Fothergill. “Our film is real—it’s about the natural world, pure and precious.”

In part to limit the number of scientific facts and figures cited in the film, the executive producers chose to do a coffee-table book about the making of “Chimpanzee,” as well as five other books targeted at kids of all ages. The books were printed by Disney Press and Disney Editions. There also is a free downloadable educator’s guide, in which teachers can find supplemental materials.

“The movie exists beyond the screen, and we wanted to make sure people could take something home,” said Mr. Hahn.

New York-based jewelry designer Alex Woo has designed two pendants inspired by “Chimpanzee,” both available in 14-carat gold or sterling silver, and ranging from $158 to $1,098, a part of which will be donated to charity.

“I appeal to a different audience than the traditional Disney audience,” said Ms. Woo, who is currently designing the Carrie Bradshaw necklace for the coming television series “The Carrie Diaries,” a prequel to “Sex and the City.”

Ms. Woo collaborated with Disneynature in 2011 to design similar-style pendants for “African Cats.” She said she has raised more than $5,000 for charity from that line.

Ms. Woo’s designs for “Chimpanzee” have been posted on the movie’s Facebook page and film website.

A version of this article appeared April 16, 2012, on page B6 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: A Chimp Family Just Being Itself Stars in Nature Film From Disney.

Instyle – What’s Right Now! Why Freida Pinto Wears a Chimpanzee Necklace

Freida Pinto knows how to work “statement” jewelry! The actress stopped by Nylon’s 13th anniversary party this week, where she accessorized her Prada shift with a delicate gold chimpanzee pendant by Alex Woo, the sales of which benefit the Jane Goodall Institute. “It’s the kind of necklace that doesn’t need to be worn with anything special,” Pinto said of the piece, which Woo designed in honor of Disney’s Chimpanzee movie, out April 20th. “When you’re wearing something to support a good cause, the rest doesn’t matter. Prada just helps it.” Shop the necklace in eco-friendly recycled sterling silver and 14-karat gold.

The Insider – Details on the ‘Carrie Diaries’ Wardrobe!

Given the fact that costume designer Patricia Field’s outrageous but brilliant Carrie Bradshaw outfits on Sex and the City are legendary, it’s safe to say that expectations are pretty high for the wardrobe a young Carrie (played by AnnaSophia Robb) Bradshaw will sport in the 80s-set Carrie Diaries.

Luckily, experienced costume desiger Eric Daman (who’s responsible for all the gorgeous Gossip Girl looks) is taking the reigns, and is dishing on all the awesome looks to come!

“Well the show takes place in the 80′s so Stephanie Savage [the show's creator] and I decided to create a sense of ‘aspirational authenticity’ because the 80’s were really decadent and as for as clothing goes, you want to make it very modern — we wanted to inject freshness,” he tells Fashionista.com.

And fans will be happy to know that the new show will definitely include a nod to the infamous “Carrie necklace.”

“We are doing a little ‘C’ necklace; it’s by Alex Woo,” he reveals.

But although everything seems to be going swimmingly for the highly anticipated prequel, Daman does acknowledge the enormous weight on the shoulders of AnnaSophia to carry on the fashionable role.

“I think the team in charge of casting the Carrie role did a really great job. AnnaSophia is a delight, she’s a free spirit, a quirky little girl,” he says, before adding, “She has a very big Manolo to fill!”

In Touch – Stars Go Wild For Chimpanzee!

Could Oscar the chimp win an Oscar? Fashion icon Freida Pinto wears designer Alex Woo’s Oscar pendant. Proceeds from sale will help save chimps’ lives.

INDESIGN – So What’s the Story?

So, what’s the story? Well, INDESIGN has the latest scoop with a pendant that says it all – the Little Signs Dragon in 14kt Yellow Gold. Don’t just tell your story; show it – that is the golden rule to crafting a good story.

This enchanting creature is most known for its appearance onthe Chinese calendar. But that shouldn’t be the only reason you wear this fire spitting pendant – allow the dragon to tell your story in a unique way.

INDESIGN goes into detail by saying, “The magical beast is the luckiest of all the zodiac signs, portending good fortune, intelligence and success in business. Tap into that power with this 14kt yellow gold dragon pendant from Alex Woo’s Star Struck Little Signs collection.”

The Knot – Everything’s Looking Rosy

We would have to agree with the Summer Issue of The Knot, everything is looking quite rosy! We get a sneak peek of some stunning summer jewels in Rose Gold and the Narissa Crescent and Little Vegas Cherries were part of this dazzling story.

“Rose Gold is hot for baubles right now, and it’s not hard to see why. The rosy metal complements almost any skin tone, plus you’ll get quality and durability similar to white or yellow gold, only with a more feminine finish.”

What a lot of us who love this metaldon’t realize is that the meaning of this metal is a bit more sentimental: It means love. The color of these pieces adds just the right touch to their delicate designs.