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REPEAT PERFORMANCE
Newsfront & Center - Already asparkle in Christmas finery, the City by the Sea received an added layer of luminosity last Saturday night when a couple of Hollywood stars arrived for a Newport International Film Festival event.
Director Phillip Noyce received the Claiborne Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement In Filmmaking at the Jane Pickens Theater. He was presented with the award by none other than the Honorable Senator and Mrs. Pell who looked like a movie star in her fantastic zebra print caftan. Actor Billy Zane flew in from London to toast Noyce who he worked with on the film Dead Calm.
After a screening of Noyce's 1978 critically acclaimed film Newsfront, movie goers headed to the sumptuous Gray Craig estate for a private reception. The island's "chocolate guy," Ed Patterson, dished out some early Christmas gifts. Truffles from his family-owned company Patterson Chocolates were scattered about the mansion and boxed up as favors for guests. Musician Michael Walsh was particularly keen on the sweet treats.
Like any good Hollywood party the local stars turned out. Budding filmmaker Alix Flood Benson was on hand, posing for photos with movie star Zane (no confirmed comment if they will, in fact, partner on an upcoming film). Artist Joya Hoyt received raves from those who saw the debut of her latest documentary "CUBA Through the Eyes of Her Contemporary Artists " at Thursday evening's Clothesline Exhibit at Island Arts Gallery. The divine Macey Blue was there snapping shots. Hopefully she had a chance to meet Donald Woods and Lee-ann Wilber who own the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River. Woods said he enjoyed Noyce's movie and reminisced about going to the theaters as a boy and watching news reels prior to the showing of feature films.
The jovial Don Glassie was there as was Bill Cartier, Ellen Barnes Seyla and Linda Phillips. The groovy NIFF gals were a basket of fun -- Sky Sitney, executive director Laurie Kirby, volunteer extraordinaire Rachel Balaban and PR guru Catherine Bowen Brophy. Gary Bowen Brophy and John Burnham, husbands to Catherine and Rachel, gallantly lent a hand helping to serve up the yummy hors d'oeuvres. The ever elusive Dan Benson even made an appearance, stopping long enough to pose for a photo with the lovely Rebecca White, which finally squashed the rumor circulating that he couldn't be captured by photographic paper. We've pin holed your soul now, Dan.
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