‘A Hard Day’s Night’ of partying and fund-raising
Young Chang
The newly formed Newport Beach Premiere Cinema Guild is throwing a
party -- a Beatles-themed party with an impersonating band called the Fab
Four and a local screening of the 1964 Beatles film “A Hard Day’s Night.”
Not a dull way to make an entrance.
Local resident Lucy Steinberg helped start the guild to fund the
Newport Beach Film Festival. In the chartering process, the guild is
still working toward its nonprofit status.
But its first fund-raiser -- the party and screening of “A Hard Day’s
Night” -- will be held Thursday.
Steinberg was inspired to help the film festival earlier this year
after watching the documentary “Long Nights Journey Into Day,” about
apartheid in South Africa and Newport Beach resident Amy Biehl, who was
murdered there in 1993.
It was a profound documentary for Steinberg, one that caused change,
inspiration and a desire to bring more films to Newport Beach.
“I think it brings the human experience to people,” she said. “I think
that movies can really teach people valuable lessons.”
With 11 others who care about films, culture and Newport Beach,
including Gregg Schwenk, executive director of the Newport Beach Film
Festival, the guild took form in September. It’s initial goal is to
spread the festival’s name and cause. The result will, guild members
hope, generate funds for the spring festival.
Earlier this year, the festival had a turnout of about 20,000 people,
with 50 feature films, 150 short films and special events on each night
of the seven-day event. If there was a theme to be had for next year,
Schwenk said, it would be “being evolutionary instead of revolutionary.”
The 2001 film festival will be international in scope, with more than
18 countries represented. Genres will include comedy, drama and
documentary. Sixty feature films and 160 short films will be shown.
“This bodes very well,” Schwenk said of the increase in movies.
Less than a year after Jeffrey S. Conner, founder of the former
Newport Beach International Film Festival, filed for bankruptcy,
organizers of the newly revived and slightly renamed Newport Beach Film
Festival have reason to be optimistic.
The 2000 festival happened, despite doubt that it would. Thanks to
local business officials, who backed the event both financially and with
hands-on work during long hours, Schwenk and the new guild hope to
continue the six-year tradition.
Sponsors for the upcoming fund-raiser include The Watch Connection in
Costa Mesa, The European Clinic, Bloomingdales, The Sutton Place Hotel in
Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Club. Corona del Mar artist Michael
Bryan created the invitations and posters.
By next spring, the group hopes to expand its membership to at least
40 people.
Rita Goldberg, chairman of the guild, thinks Beatles-mania may do the
trick.
“It’s a wonderful movie because it’s exciting, upbeat and it really
lends itself to a very festive evening,” she said. “You walk out of that
movie and you feel like dancing and being in a good mood.”
FYI
* WHAT: The Newport Beach Premiere Cinema Guild’s kickoff fund-raiser
party and screening of “A Hard Day’s Night.”
* WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
* WHERE: Edwards Island Cinema and the Hard Rock Cafe in Fashion
Island, 905 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.
* COST: $100 for the post-screening party, which includes dinner,
entertainment and a silent auction. Only party guests get a complimentary
screening of the movie.
* CALL: (949) 253-2880.
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