“It brings instant credibility. [A festival] can...

“It brings instant credibility. [A festival] can build upon the fact

that they showed this film early on. There are so many film festivals

in Los Angeles, and it’s hard to set yourself apart. This gives [the

festival] something to stand on, when it courts future filmmakers.”

-- David Fenkel, executive director of marketing for THINKFilm, a

New York-based distribution company that bought “Born into Brothels”

after it showed at the Newport Beach Film Festival, on the effect of

the film winning an Oscar.

“It’s just sad they’re closing. [Wes Hseih] is a very

community-spirited kind of person. He even keeps keys for people who

get locked out of their houses and so forth. He’s got dozens and

dozens of keys. He helps people move furniture. He delivers food to

shut-ins. He’s just done so many things for the community here. It’s

an institution that’s closing.”

-- Howard Hall, Balboa resident, on the closing of 2W Market after

25 years.

“I don’t think you can go four or five years [without

renovations]. If you do, you’re kidding yourself.”

-- Joe De Dio, Costa Mesa Conference and Visitors Bureau

president, on the need for hotels in Newport-Mesa to continually

reinvent themselves.

“It was getting frustrating. I was in a serious slump. I talked to

[assistant coach Terry Boesel] Tuesday at practice, and he said it

might be time for my hair to go. So, I got it cut Tuesday, and I

think it worked.”

-- Ross Schraeder, junior guard on UC Irvine’s mens basketball

team, on getting a hair cut before a Thursday night victory over UC

Santa Barbara.

“It was a team effort. The whole team has played great through the

entire playoffs.”

-- Camille Hewko, junior two-meter player for Corona del Mar’s

girls water polo team, which won its fourth straight division title

last week.