Farrelly loves Nantucket Film Festival
Peter Farrelly doesn't do film festivals, but he never misses a chance to be at Nantucket for the annual gathering of movie makers and film lovers. "I've never been to Sundance . . . and never done Cannes," said Farrelly. "But I love coming over to Nantucket. I love it here. I love that audiences can see these films and interact with filmmakers." One half of the zany filmmaking sibling duo, Farrelly was at the 12th annual Nantucket Film Festival to host a Late Night Storytelling event with comedy legend Anne Meara (inset left), whose son, Ben Stiller, just finished shooting "The Heartbreak Kid" for the Farrelly brothers. "I'd do anything with Peter Farrelly," said Meara. "Except they couldn't seem to find a role for me in their movie," she deadpanned. Actor Steven Weber (left) made a return trip to the island for a staged reading of his script "Filthy Dirty Twisted Lust." Joey Pantoliano, at the fest with his film "Canvas," made a stop at the Ralph Lauren store to buy a navy blue blazer with the Wimbledon logo on it. "I wanted to fit in on the island," Joey Pants told us. On Saturday night, the festival, known for focusing on screenwriters, turned its attention to Oscar-winning writer Robert Benton (left). "You know, no, it never gets old talking about 'Kramer vs. Kramer' or the other films. I was lucky I had Stanley Jaffe (above) as my producer," Benton told us. And yesterday, before the film events wrapped up, former Peace Corps volunteer Marc Arneson (left) won the Tony Cox Screenwriter Award for his script "Peck."
Steven Tyler may not be quitting Aerosmith, but he certainly sounds tired of all the traveling. "It's weird, all these years later and we're still massively at it," Tyler says in an interview published in London's Daily Telegraph newspaper. "Because we're on the road so much, there's no time to go to the dentist, the doctor, go on vacation," Tyler told Telegraph music writer Andrew Perry. "My daughter's graduating from high school and I'm gonna be in [expletive] Dubai! I had to tell her, 'Aw baby, I tried to move it, but it's moving a whole tour! ' Sixty million [expletive] dollars' worth of argh!" The Aerosmith frontman and guitarist Joe Perry talked to the British newspaper before heading out on the band's Nine Lives Tour, which rolls into London's Hyde Park next weekend. For his part, Perry tells the reporter it's tougher for Tyler because: "Steven lives and breathes Aerosmith." But Perry seems less bothered by the hoopla. "For me, sometimes, it's just a way to make a living," Perry says. "But I'm not part of that celebrity thing. I don't need that." The guitarist seems to regret being as forthcoming as the band members were in their 1997 autobiography "Walk This Way." Says Perry: "We didn't have to tell that much."
B.D. Wong, the man behind the 11-character, one-man musical "Herringbone" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival , takes that whole "show must go on" thing very seriously. Playgoers at the festival got an extra dose of drama during the season's opening performance on Friday night , when Wong finished a boffo song by collapsing onstage (that was in the script), then rising to announce that, moments earlier, he'd injured his right thigh while sliding across a piano bench. He hobbled off. Later director Roger Rees would accompany Wong out to the stage where the actor said: "I need stitches, I think." He was right. The "Law & Order: SVU" star was taken to the North Adams Regional Hospital where he received a total of 30 of 'em. But Wong proved to be a trouper ; the Tony Award-winner was back at the theater for Saturday's 4 p.m. performance.
Globe correspondent Sandy MacDonald contributed. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.
The pink balloons outside their Nantucket restaurant, Straight Wharf, were the only clues that chefs Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon had just welcomed a new addition to their family. Marin Clementine Frasca, arrived on Thursday at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, weighing in at 9 pounds. Because they were so busy, Gabriel continued to work through the dinner shifts while the new mom -- daughter of public radio stalwart Christopher Lydon -- got some rest. And slammed they were: Straight Wharf was packed on Saturday night when the guests included Senator John Kerry and his wife, Teresa.
The perfect patriotic union
Patriots special teams captain Larry Izzo (above right) knew that he might be putting a strain on the Union Oyster House. He and eight fellow Patriots weren't just any hungry folks in off the Freedom Trail the other night, they were helping Izzo make good on an auction item for Izzo's Salute to Our Troops event late last year. "I've known Larry's family since before he was born," said the historic eatery's owner, Joe Milano (above left), who like Izzo's late father, Larry Sr., served in the military during the Vietnam War. Izzo brought along teammates Matt Cassel, Lonie Paxton, Mike Wright, Wesley Britt, Garrett Mills, Dan Koppen, and rookies Kyle Bissinger and Zach West, who had dinner and talked football with a local family that had the winning bid at the fund-raiser. . . . San Francisco Giants player and Holliston - raised Mark Sweeney took his family to Game On! after Saturday's game. . . . And singer Frankie Valli and his band, in town for the Oldies 103.3 show, stayed at the Westin Copley Place Boston on Saturday night.
Turner's a hit in P-town
Actress Kathleen Turner was a ubiquitous presence at the Provincetown International Film Festival, which ended yesterday. She seemed to be tickled by how the moviegoers reacted to her work . "It's quite interesting to see this all together in one place," the husky-voiced "Serial Mom" star was overheard saying at a festival luncheon at the Land's End Inn on Saturday. Turner was honored at the fest with a lifetime achievement award for her many films, which include her break-out "Body Heat" and "Romancing the Stone" and "The War of the Roses." Turner's "Serial Mom" director John Waters, a festival supporter and longtime Provincetown summer resident, squired Turner around to the various festivities. . . . Also honored at the festival was actor Alan Cumming, who received an excellence in acting award, and "Happiness" writer-director Todd Solondz.
Jesse Jackson helped Michael
Michael Jackson says in a court deposition that Rev. Jesse Jackson and billionaire Ron Burkle gave him advice to help save him from financial disaster when he was fighting child molestation charges. The New York Daily News reported in yesterday's editions it reviewed seven hours of transcripts, finding that the singer believed disloyal advisers took advantage of him financially before a Santa Maria, Calif., jury acquitted him of child molestation in June 2005. Michael Jackson said in a deposition taken last summer in Paris that the entertainment industry was "full of sharks, charlatans and impostors." Jackson testified that during his trial he received wise advice during bathroom break cellphone calls with Burkle, the billionaire friend of former President Bill Clinton. Burkle brought in Jesse Jackson, who has known Michael Jackson since he was a child, to help with the consultations, the newspaper said. The deposition was made in preparation for a civil trial expected to begin this week in US District Court. The case against Jackson was brought by a Hackensack, N.J., finance company that claims he cheated the company of $48 million. (AP)
Bob Barker (above right) endorsed his friend Rosie O'Donnell as a possible successor on "The Price Is Right," although the newly retired host isn't sure CBS wants a woman to take over the game show. "I believe they're going to have a meeting with Rosie," Barker said backstage Friday night at the Daytime Emmy Awards, where he won his 19th trophy. "She knows the show," he said. "There's no doubt in my mind she could do the show. Now, whether they want a lady host, I don't know. I've never heard that discussed. As far as I know, they've only auditioned men." Among those mentioned as possible replacement hosts have been Todd Newton of the E! network, Mark Steines of "Entertainment Tonight," George Hamilton, and John O'Hurley. Barker retired last week at age 83 after 35 years of giving away vacations and cars on the hit CBS game show. (AP)
"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" rode the nationwide wave of moviegoers to the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office, according to studio estimates yesterday. The sequel to the "Fantastic Four" outperformed its predecessor, bringing in $57.4 million for its distributor, 20th Century Fox, said Chris Aronson, senior vice president of distribution for Fox. "We did fantastically, pun intended," Aronson said. Dropping from the top spot to No. 2, with an estimated three-day gross of $19.1 million, was "Ocean's Thirteen." The third film in the series teaming George Clooney and company with director Steven Soderbergh has a 10-day gross of about $69.8 million, said Dan Fellman, head of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. The surprise of the weekend may be that "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl's comedy "Knocked Up" remained a strong No. 3 in it s third week with an estimated $14.5 million. (Reuters)
British rocker Rod Stewart married model Penny Lancaster in a private ceremony Saturday on the Italian Riviera, gathering with a few friends and family in a 17th-century villa, according to Italian news reports. The couple (at right) wed in Santa Margherita Ligure, just outside the posh Portofino resort on Italy's northwestern coast, according to the ANSA news agency and other reports. A few friends and family attended the small ceremony, according to ANSA and private Sky TG24 news. Afterward, the newlyweds went back to a yacht just off the coast where they have been staying, ANSA said. The couple have a son together. It was the third wedding for the 62-year-old member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (AP)
