Move over Cannes & Sundance - Barry and Stella Rivers have done it again—despite the unbelievable rain on Thursday, they have shown Hollywood and the entire film industry how to do a film festival. Next year, the bumper sticker should start with “Maui.” All of the stars agreed the Maui Film Festival is truly “no ka oi.” Here’s a few things I picked up: Dennis Quaid understands and celebrates our diversity and will vote for Barack Obama. Virginia Madsen intended to move off the beach and find out about the rest of the island. She and the Quaids were hoping to take a Blue Hawaiian helicopter ride and maybe see the world’s greatest sunrise on Haleakala. Listen-up producers—Pierce Brosnan wants to do theater, and Chekhov no less: Three Sisters, Cherry Orchard or an adaptation of some of his short stories. I’d pay to see that! Finally, the incandescent Felicity Huffman, who belies the cliché concerning the intellectual capacity of women with her hair hue, was wonderfully open and embracing when discussing with me her portrayal of a cancer survivor on Desperate Housewives. When I told her that her take was not my experience, nor was it my late wife’s, rather than becoming defensive, she wanted to know more. Who was the handsome stud in the Panama hat with Jerry Penacoli?
Best Quote of the Festival - “We don’t see movies… we go to feel them,” said Dennis Quaid.
Party Time - Besides the paid-for parties open to the public, there were numerous private, invitation-only soirees. The best was Thursday night at Shep Gordon’s new Mala Wailea. Everyone who was anyone was there, including the Quaids, Alice Cooper, Jonathan Starr and Helen Nielsen, Billy Knows, Diana Palazzolo, Rick and Karen Chatenever. If the food they were serving was any indication of what the restaurant will be dishing up, South Maui’s got a new, great food place. I particularly loved the biggest chicken wings ever! They must come from Goliath birds. The stir-fry was delectable and the ribs... yummy! Also in attendance was Shep’s wife, Renee Loux, fresh from her successful book tour. Watch her Easy Living Green show on the Fine Living Channel. If you’re not up, then set your TiVo for 6:30 a.m. Saturday or Sunday. Speaking of parties, the one at the Louis Vuitton Shop in Wailea for Felicity Huffman was unreal—non-stop Veuve Clicquot and beautiful Bev Gannon pupu. Seen there were the woman with Maui’ biggest and best smile (now that Betty is gone), Leslie Granat; Karen Fischer; Walter Bissett; Maya Rivers; and Susan Moulton, whose son, Will Smith, was killed last year by a careless driver.”
This and That - Teri Freitas Gorman and Tracy Johnson did a presentation at the Upcountry Rotary Club in Pukalani and brought those fabulous Maui Gold pineapples as give-aways. Mmmmmmmm!
Bumper Sticker - “Safe sex is in the palm of your hand”
Please send notable events/interesting happenings to pjanesbrown@gmail.com.