Feast of an attraction

Deepa Bharath

The excitement was in the air, along with the aroma of corn seeds,

which were dancing inside the biggest popcorn machine in the world.

This year’s Newport Beach Film Festival raised a few eyebrows and

a lot of expectations among fans who thronged Thursday night to the

Edwards Big Newport theater for the premiere of “Laws of Attraction”

featuring Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.

It was Newport Beach couple Tony and Marie Pierotti’s first time

at the festival.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Tony Pierotti said as he waited in the

long line with his wife. “I certainly didn’t expect to see the

world’s largest popcorn machine here.”

The crowd was also entertained by the so-called “Dragnuns,” whose

film, “Dragnuns Take Tinseltown,” is scheduled to be screened during

the 10-day festival.

“All these men and women look beautiful and shapely in black,”

said Dragnun Sister Buffy, who was pretty in a pink sequined dress.

“But take it from me, pink is the new black. And plastic jewelry

is fabulous.”

For Liz and Ron Breach of Anaheim, it was their first time at a

premiere.

“It’ll be great to see Pierce here if he shows up,” she said, her

eyes searching the red carpet. “It’ll be nice to see 007 in person.”

Although Breach and probably many others were a tad disappointed

by the celebs not showing up, they took in the festive ambience.

“It’s so amazing that we can have an event like this in Orange

County and not have to go to Los Angeles,” Breach said.

The film screened on opening night is a story of two divorce

attorneys, Brosnan and Moore, who are in the process of

deconstructing relationships while trying to manage their own. The

film was shot in New York City and Ireland.

David Friendly, producer of the film, said he’s amazed at how

quickly the film festival has grown.

“Three hundred and fifty films is an extraordinary accomplishment

for a young film festival,” he said.

Frances Fisher, part of the film’s cast, said she thought Newport

Beach provided a wonderful backdrop for the festival.

“The sunset is beautiful,” she said, pointing toward the orange

horizon. “The weather’s good. The people are happy. It’s great.”

Mayor Tod Ridgeway also walked the red carpet with his wife, Kay.

“This is fun,” he said. “I’m happy to see how successful this

event has become.”

Opening night was charged with more glamour this year than the

previous years, said Leigh Steinberg, one of the sports world’s most

well-known agents and the inspiration for the title character in

“Jerry Maguire.” Steinberg, along with his wife Lucy, is a major

sponsor of the festival.

“We’ve been able to make a connection between the festival and the

Hollywood community,” Leigh Steinberg said. “It’s added to the

excitement. But we’ve done that while retaining the independent film

focus.”

Key to the festival’s continued success is the consistent support

it has received from the local community, Lucy Steinberg said.

“The nucleus of people who started this are still there, so they

can work together in a joint, cooperative venture,” she said.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@ latimes.com.