Day 4 at the festival
April 27th, 2008, 12:59 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Richard Chang
Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford in a scene from “Lie to Me.”
Well, it is indeed Day Four, and I’m getting ready to head down to Edwards Island Cinemas once again.
But first, some highlights from Saturday, April 26, Day Three.
I went to see “Lie to Me” at the Lido Theater. The venue was packed! I hear they sold out, and actually may have oversold the screening.
It was the world premiere for the romantic comedy/drama, directed by John Stewart Muller and written by Muller and Laura Boersma. The audience was quite energetic, with a lot of cheering, hootin’ and hollerin’, and most of the good-looking cast was in attendance. That cast included Brandon Routh (the lead in “Superman Returns”), Courtney Ford, Steve Sandoss, Shoshona Bush and Nick Wechsler. I remember Nick from the canceled WB/UPN series “Roswell.” He played Shiri Appleby’s ex-boyfriend. It was a cool show.
Anyway, I thought the movie was good, and my friend Tani thought the movie was excellent. It definitely pushed the envelope a bit on “open” relationships.
Exiting the theater was a challenge, since there was a crowd waiting outside (and inside) for the following film, “The Art of Travel.” (See Matthew Ralston’s review here.)
There was an after-party at Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa. We attended that, but it was crowded and haughty and the drink line was way too long. Plus, we were starving, and there was no food to be seen for miles.
So we ditched that scene and had dinner at the Yard House at Triangle Square, which is an oxymoron, isn’t it? I had a cheeseburger with fries. First time in months.
After din-din, we went back to Newport, to Blue Coral, where the post-party for a few other movies was located. It was a more friendly and less conceited affair. I chatted with a few filmmakers, including Chris Lusvardi, who directed “Man Maid,” which makes its world premiere at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Edwards Island, theater No. 1. It’s a comedy starring Phillip Vaden, who was in the festival last year in the charming “Pope Dreams.”
I also met John Arlotto, who made the short film “Deface,” a North Korean drama, which screens Thursday, May 1, at 3:15 p.m. at Edwards Island, theater 2.
Today I’m going to see “West 32nd” at Edwards Island, followed by a panel on Asian American filmmaking.
So see you at the movies!
