Festival Corner

This year was a milestone for the 2009 Newport Beach Film Festival. They celebrated a decade of eclectic films and even more eclectic people in an upscale, seaside…mall. Along with the Lido Theater, Fashion Island – more moniker for the Lost wardrobe truck than mecca of Newport Beach shopping – hosted the masses thirsty for indie film and hungry for complimentary buffets. Of course, Film and Music Forum was on hand to experience the OC oddities firsthand.

The Newport Beach Film Fest is ideal if you’ve gotta grab a button down and khakis from The Limited before getting your culture injection. After all, nothing says Southern California like sprawling malls and red carpets. But nestled amongst the commercialism were some compelling indie films.

Though I already felt somewhat lost navigating a sea of escaped housewives of Orange County, I very much reveled in ‘getting lost’ with Joe Leonard’s debut feature How I Got Lost (check out our interview with Joe and his the leads, Aaron Stanford and Jacob Fishel, on the FMF News Homepage Player). A sweet road film that juxtaposes the warmth of the Midwest with the luster of New York City, How I Got Lost follows two friends in the aftermath of 9/11 who try to recapture their passion, in love and life. Exceptionally written, acted and shot, this film reminds us to have faith in the journey. And as artists, that’s something to embrace.

The festival also showcased Zooey Deschanel, star of Gigantic and 500 Days of Summer. Gigantic, a directorial debut for commercial director Matt Aselton (a Williams College Eph, like me), follows “Happy” (played by Deschanel) as she charms unlikely suitor Brian Wethersby (Paul Dano, There Will Be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) who’s jonesin’ to adopt a Chinese baby…and inexplicably stalked by a mercilessly homicidal homeless dude played by Zak Galifianakis (see The Hangover for more prime Zak). The result is a quirky tale that takes us so delightfully far from reality that we come to inhabit, and believe in, theirs. From Happy finding her way to love, to Summer who doesn’t believe in love in 500 Days of Summer, Zooey seems to be channeling indie queen Parker Posey. 500 Days is – as the whimsical, deep voice cautions us in the opening – not a love story.  But sometimes we’re defined by what we don’t have, and this non-love story shapes how love, once in a while, may just sprout from an emotional abyss.

According to Art and Copy, legendary creative ideas often seem to come from an abyss, too. Directed by Doug Pray, this scintillating documentary illuminates the evolution of advertising’s most iconic campaigns, from MTV to Nike, the original Apple computer to iPod. It chronicles the unlikely inspirations for our most enduring slogans, and even some that changed history (it’s morning in America in 1984, President Reagan). And fittingly, after a battery of recognizable brands danced on screen, Fashion Island beckoned in the distance for attendees to scoop ‘em up.

The Newport Beach Film Fest certainly sated guests’ thirst for a shot of Hollywood in their quaint lil’ beachside community, drawing a contingent of bedazzled blondes and bronzed boys hoping to become the darling of a director or two. But the most telling tool was the ravished, complimentary smorgasbord of hors d’oeuvres to which many a well-to-do man fell. Some piled plates high and absconded to a quiet corner to chow down (and rinse, repeat); others hovered over the spread with quiet determination and held the line, nibbling away. Waiters gingerly circled with fresh offerings, retracting their hands instinctively upon delivery as if feeding tigers at the zoo.

As I approached, one fleeing man implored, “Are you sure you want to go in there?” Indubitably. A wise man once said, you can tell a whole lot about a person just by watching them work over a free buffet.

To contact Hilary Barraford email: hilary@hilarybarraford.com
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