icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Starting with last week’s doggone Disney/Brother Bear meeting with Mayor John Street for a "Bear Claw Eating Contest" (why did I give up drugs now?!) it’s been nauseatingly film-o-licious in Philly. Of course, the Philadelphia Film Fest starts tonight. Charlize Theron won’t be here with beau Stu Townsend for Shade (local producer/ex-RuffHouser Joe Nicolo’s first film for his Judgement Pictures). But you will find Laura Prepon and Hal Sparks at a Silk City party in their honor. Just like you’ll spot Melvin and Mario Van Peebles at Fluid and L’Etage for post-Baadasssss! bashes. After he’s done with Shirley MacLaine and Cameron Diaz (filming In Her Shoes at Leehe Fai, Le Bec-Fin), director Curtis Hanson will hook up the festival’s 2004 Set in Philadelphia screenwriting winner at Sofitel with a nize prize. You can throw in Bono (who’ll speak at U of P’s commencement), Helen Mirren and Ryan Phillippe (the duo shoot Lee Daniels’ Oedipal directorial debut Shadowboxer) in May. But I’m still more excited that G. Rich Goldberg’s back for the festival. The former executive director for the Philadelphia Film Society moved to L.A. in November to pursue the Philly-based film dream through other cities. "My experience has been that you can make a great film in Philly but there’s never anything done with it," says Goldberg of seeking distribution and money for local movies. "I want to make the right things happen for the right price." Producer and "arts facilitator" Goldberg and his partner, Nena Eskridge (still in Chestnut Hill), are in talks with several studios to produce scripts they’ve optioned -- Will Keightley’s The Delicate Skin, Ish Klein’s Snuggle Club and filmmaker Dan Lantz’s sci-fi franchise (for Disney television/consumer products/games) Starship Acuna. "It may be years off," says Goldberg. "But I’m hoping to build a Philly-to-L.A. pipeline of talent and production." Ö WHOWHATWHERE: David Carroll was reopening Magazine (with new chef Aras Azuolas) and waiting for his birthday party at Bar Noir April 12 (a combination femme fatale film, folk from Betsy Spivak and punk records) when The Darkness hit. Sore-throated singer Justin Hawkins and band not only hung at Noir’s new Wednesday Billionaire Lounge till 5 a.m., but hit Magazine and invited the Noir crew to their Westin Hotel afterparty. Nicetown’s Young Gunz and a crew of 20 stopped by Bahama Breeze in Cherry Hill to celebrate several b-days. Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria crew joined its annual party thrower, M3 PR’s Michele Malin Seidman, on a site trek to Waterworks, Lloyd Hall, the Marine Club and the Navy Yard, narrowing down spaces for July 8’s bash. Philly’s Brenda L. Thomas unveiled her new book, Fourplay, at a swanky soiree at Solefood. Author David McCullough hung out at Kelly Writers House before his little speech at Irvine Auditorium. Though he’s due in federal court April 8 on that gun-possession charge, Beanie Sigel’s been in Brooklyn filming the Philly crime-rap drama State Property II, directed by co-star Damon Dash, with appearances by Nore and more. After gigging with Britney Spears at Wachovia, Milkshaker Kelis and a handful of Britney dancers stopped by Flow. Punjabi MC hit Shampoo for an impromptu DJ set. Local painter and Playboy Playmate Victoria Fuller hit the opening of her show at King of Prussia’s Wentworth Gallery. No Bunny ears in sight. On the TV tip, Paul Green School student CJ Tywoniak got live TRL/MTV time this week. And before debuting the new Roots CD, The Tipping Point, in private listening sessions next week, Ahmir Thompson appeared on SNL with Toots & the Maytals. Look for ?uest and the Roots crew on Jimmy Kimmel’s show April 21. And remember I joked about filming Real World in Atlantic City? Isn’t there now a handful of producers pitching Comcast a show called 24/7, about A.C. nightlife on the reality tip? Call my lawyer. Ö After working on his film for ages, director Jeff P. Elstone II’s Mother Divine debuts April 14 at International House. Ö Face Down Records releases its tribute to The Who, Who’s Not Forgotten, at Khyber April 9, with Cordalene, Art Difuria, Tommy Conwell and Nancy Falkow, who is moving to Dublin, Ireland, at the end of June, finishing her new CD Clear View and taking pre-orders to raise cash (PO Box 54951, Phila. PA, 19148). Ö Bruce Renfield retired his band name, Polar Creep, to form a perfect new union We the People Inc. , which’ll debut at The Fire, April 9. Ö Ben Edwards’ new non-trio, Soulamite, gets its Easter lily-ing debut April 11 at Tritone and Ray’s Happy Birthday bar on April 16. Ö Condolences to the family of John Mannino, an always jovial friend to all foodies and Restaurant Collection promotions gentleman who passed away on April 1.

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