Hey, Grimes, looks like while you can get into Ghostbar, Treach from Naughty By Nature ain't so fortunate -- if that's what you call it. Ran into a coupla AFI filmmakers last night, and they said that on Wednesday night, Treach was doing his damnedest to get into the rooftop joint at the Dubya, only to be greeted by, "We don't care who you are." Also trying to make his way in: Married...With Children David Faustino, who was cock-blocked from getting into Ghostbar till he agreed to fork over a thou for a VIP table, which was less for his pleasure than that of some AFI-attenting pals who were looking for a happening hang and wound up at the G-bar instead.
A few other AFI news and notes: Sounds like the fest's a winner, at least with theater managers who say their 'plexes have been full-up for most screenings. Shawn Mahan, general manager at the Magnolia Theater, says he expected attendance to be "up and down, and, for the most part, it's been up"; lines have wrapped around the building for some screenings, a pattern oft repeated over at the Angelika (least, that's what my folks have said, and they've been damned near every day).
Filmgoers have been delighted too -- and not just because of the gimme fest-and-Target-branded satchels full of swag (if that's what you call WFAA and Dallas Film Commisison T-shirts, a leather Nexis PDA holder, a bottle of water, a Target bean-bag doggie, a disposable camera and an American Airlines wallet the size of a newborn child). Better still is the filmmakers' lounge in Victory Plaza, where Bombay and Bud flow freely after 5.
Last night in the lounge you coulda found the Hot Fuzz fellas -- director-co-writer Edgar Wright, co-writer-star Simon Pegg and co-star Nick Frost -- and narrative-feature judges Robert Loggia, ex-New York Times film crit Elvis Mitchell and L.M. Kit Carson. Robert Loggia -- bet he wasn't a Big fan of this. Oh, and word is Christian Bale was spotted at a local multiplex yesterday. In the audience, silly. --Robert Wilonsky
