PREMIERES.....Star Wars: The Acolyte World Launch Event Premiere + FIDM Sketching Contest Winner!

The Acolyte Hollywood Premiere--At the "Star Wars: The Acolyte" World Launch Event & Premiere--Nick Verreos, David Paul, and "The Acolyte" Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan and The Acolyte X FIDM Sketching Contest Winner Ashot "Ash" Markosyan, El Capitan Theatre Hollywood

Last week, David and I were invited to the World Launch Event, and the new Disney+ Star Wars series "The Acolyte" premiered on June 4th. Several weeks back, we (as Chairpersons of the FIDM Fashion Design and Advanced Fashion Design Programs) partnered with Disney+ and the new show, to promote it, by having an EXCLUSIVE to FIDM Students and Alumni FASHION SKETCHING CONTEST, "The Acolyte X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest". 

Nick Verreos, World Launch Event and Premiere for "Star Wars: The Acolyte"--El Capitan Theatre Hollywood

For the contest, we asked FIDM students and alumni to sketch a FASHION sketch inspired by the new show, but again, draw a FASHION interpretation, not do another costume as it were. 

The Acolyte X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest--A collage (above) of some of the entries in the fashion sketching competition, inspired by the new "Star Wars: The Acolyte" Disney+ show

The eventual TOP Winner and 2 Finalists would be chosen by the series' Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan, and as a prize, they would attend the World Launch Premiere and the Winner would have a chance for a one-on-one with the Costume Designer! I'm a big Star Wars fan and was thrilled (along with David) to be invited to attend as well. Here are photos from the WONDERFUL night:

Nick Verreos and David Paul, at the World Launch Event and Premiere of "Star Wars: The Acolyte" Disney+ show, El Capitan Theatre Hollywood

Nick Verreos and David Paul, with "The Acolyte" costume from Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan (behind them, on podium/mannequin)

Soon after arriving, we met up with the Winner of "The Acolyte X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest", Ashot "Ash" Markosyan, who was very excited and humbled to be there:

FIDM Fashion Design and Advanced Fashion Design Co-Chairs Nick Verreos and David Paul, with FIDM Advanced Fashion Design graduate and winner of "The Acolyte X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest" Ashot "Ash" Markosyan (wearing black cap and sweater)--"Star Wars: The Acolyte" World Launch Event and Premiere, El Capitan Theatre Hollywood

Winning Sketch--Sketch by Ashot "Ash" Markosyan, "The Acolyte X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest"

The Top Three Sketches--We had MANY SUBMISSIONS and the show's Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan chose these sketches above, as her Top 3 Choices (L to R) Lynlea Michaels (Finalist), Ashot Ash" Markosyan (Winner) and Raiah Chavah Young (Finalist)

David Paul, Jennifer L. Bryan, Ashot "Ash" Markosyan, and Nick Verreos--World Launch Event and Premiere of "Star Wars: The Acolyte" Disney+ Show

"The Acolyte" Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan and Ashot "Ash" Markosyan, winner of "The Acolyte" X FIDM Fashion Sketching Contest

Just by chance, as we were walking the Red Carpet, I spotted the show's Costume Designer, then fabulous Jennifer L. Bryan--we had met years ago at a FIDM Museum TV Costume Exhibition when her costumes for "Breaking Bad" were being shown. I introduced her to the person who had sketched the Winning Design (that she chose) of the sketching contest! Soon afterward, we were joined by the other two finalists whom Jennifer picked...

"The Acolyte" Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan (2nd from right), with Sketching Contest Winner and Finalists (L to R) Raiah Chavah Young, Lynlea Michaels, and Ashot "Ash" Markosyan--World Launch Event and Premiere of "Star Wars: The Acolyte", El Capitan Theatre Hollywood

"The Acolyte" Inspired--Finalist Sketch from Lynlea Michaels (a FIDM Alumna)

"The Acolyte" Inspired--Finalist Sketch, from Raiah Chavah Young, a graduate of the FIDM Advanced Fashion Design Program

Group Pic--Nick Verreos and David Paul celebrating the evening with our FIDM Fashion Sketching Winner Ashot "Ash" Markosyan (far right) and Finalists Raiah Chavah Young and Lynlea Michaels (2nd and 3rd from left) as well as "The Acolyte" Costume Designer Jennifer L. Bryan

Lightsaber Red Carpet--Nick Verreos with a group of "Star Wars" enthusiasts, who brought their own lightsabers!

Last but not least, I was SOOOOO inspired by the new Disney+ series "The Acolyte"--as well as the Sketching Competition--that I had to do MY OWN "Star Wars: The Acolyte"-inspired FASHION SKETCH -- even though I was not allowed to compete ;)

"Star Wars: The Acolyte"-inspired Fashion Sketch by Nick Verreos

May the Force Be With You!