Reel attraction
Young Chang
Filmmakers Jimmy Gerum and Lance Winkel ended up crammed in the same
corner of the Newport Beach Film Festival’s kickoff reception Thursday.
Though from two different worlds -- Gerum flew in from Germany that
afternoon and Winkel drove over from Huntington Beach -- the unlikely
pair found their worlds colliding through the art of films.
Over crispy bites of lobster dumplings, green apple martinis and
vodka-spiked cranberry concoctions, the two filmmakers agreed that it
takes little more nowadays than a few hundred dollars, a camera and
determination to make a movie.
“We’re just having a discussion about how privileged we are to be
making films,” said Winkel, whose short work “Within an Endless Sky” is
part of the festival’s shorts lineup.
Gerum’s film, “As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me,” is the German
Spotlight feature to be screened among more than 70 others at the
festival today and next week.
That bond explained just why filmmakers, supporters, distributors and
even mere film lovers mingled like they all knew each other at the third
annual festival’s kickoff night, which featured an opening premiere of
“The Bank” sandwiched between a reception at the Newport Beach Marriott
Hotel and a late-night gala at the Four Seasons.
Though not as star-studded as last year’s kickoff, which was attended
by some cast members of “The Sting,” Executive Director Gregg Schwenk
said the purpose of the premiere and following gala was to celebrate the
next seven days of almost 200 total screenings and special events.
Limos snaked through Newport Center Drive on Thursday evening. Lights
circled the air above Big Edwards Newport in Fashion Island. Some wore
satin, some wore tuxes, a few even kept their sunglasses on indoors
because that’s just what glamorous people do.
When Jeanne Carmen, queen of B-movies, stepped out of her limo and
onto the Big Edwards grounds, flashing cameras and a crowd of
autograph-seeking fans turned the local theater into a veritable
Hollywood scene.
“I felt strongly that Newport Beach could be a center of culture and
could host a flowering of the arts,” said Leigh Steinberg, sponsor of the
festival with wife Lucy, on how the festival has grown in both number and
glitz.
The crowd included an artsy and political mix, with such guests as
Newport Beach County Supervisor Jim Silva, the Steinbergs, well-known
filmmakers of yesteryear and lesser-known filmmakers of tomorrow.
“I’m looking forward to meeting people and exchanging ideas and seeing
what other people are doing,” said Bill Elliston, producer of “The Broken
Wings of Elijah Footfalls,” to be screened today and Wednesday at the
festival.
Gabriel Judet-Weinshel, screenwriter, director and actor for the film,
admitted that he didn’t have the right shoes on and that he’s still
trying to master tying a tie.
“This is the first festival I’ve been at of this caliber,” said the
filmmaker, who had flown in from New York just hours earlier.
Meanwhile, veteran filmmaker Val Guest and his wife, actress Yolande
Donlan, ducked early into a theater at Big Edwards Newport to get
comfortable in their seats.
“We’re guests of honor,” said Guest, who will also give three talks
for the festival’s seminar series. “We always are really excited.”
Donlan said they’ve been to almost every festival around the world,
including Cannes, Sundance and Venice.
“But this is our favorite,” said the actress, known for her British
theater work but also such films as “Expresso Bongo” and “The
Adventurers.” “It’s cozy and intimate and still glamorous. And it’s not
snooty.”
Not even Steinberg, a longtime sponsor of the festival now, could hide
his enthusiasm at the thought of meeting the bigger stars. When asked
what he is most looking forward to this spring, Steinberg blurted out
bashfully, “John Waters.”
“It’s not impossible to think that the Newport Beach Film Festival
could take its place with Sundance and the best exhibitions in the
world,” he said.
* Young Chang writes features. She may be reached at (949) 574-4268 or
by e-mail at o7 young.chang@latimes.comf7 .
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.