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Costner premiere will pack Ventura
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Chris O'Meara / AP Kevin Costner, performing recently with his band, Modern West, will play at a free concert Saturday.
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Organizers of Saturday's red-carpet premiere in downtown Ventura for Kevin Costner's new movie, "Swing Vote," offered this advice for fans: Walk if possible, take comfy seats and blankets, and get ready to rock.
Parking is expected to be at a premium, as six blocks of Main Street are cordoned off to make room for Costner and friends to mingle at a 2 p.m. VIP fundraiser before walking the red carpet about 4:30 p.m. to a private screening at the downtown Century Theatres.
After the movie, Costner and his country rock band, Modern West, will perform a free street concert about 7:30 p.m. atop a raised stage in the middle of California and Main streets. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and plop their folding chairs and blankets on the elevated portion of California Street leading up to Ventura City Hall.
"I think it's going to be awesome," said organizer Tim Hoctor, a childhood friend of the Oscar-winning director and actor and a Ventura resident. "The weather is supposed to be good. But parking is going to be a mess, so we're urging people to ride their bikes or walk."
Additional bike racks will be installed for the one-night-only event, he said. Limited parking will be available at city garages on Santa Clara Street and at the Ventura Promenade, as well as at a lot behind City Hall.
Costner, 53, grew up in Ventura County and often calls Ventura his hometown.
The star of "Dances With Wolves" and "Field of Dreams" has long wanted to premiere one of his movies in Ventura, calling Saturday's showing and concert a chance to "say thank you in my community."
At a media event earlier this year, Costner, Modern West's lead singer and guitar player, said he planned "to play loud and long and go down memory lane."
"Swing Vote" is a political comedy starring Costner, Dennis Hopper, Kelsey Grammer, Nathan Lane and comedian George Lopez. Costner plays Bud Johnson, "an apathetic, beer-slinging, lovable loser" who, through a series of events, must decide the outcome of a presidential election.
The number of cast members attending Saturday likely won't be known until Friday or perhaps even that morning, Hoctor said. The movie's official premiere is tonight at the El Capitan Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, where Costner will be talking up what is believed to be Ventura's first Hollywood premiere in decades.
"They are all welcome," Hoctor said, saying his phone has been buzzing all week.
The 2 p.m. VIP dinner fundraiser will be held in conjunction with the public unveiling of the new Watermark restaurant in the Groene Building at Chestnut and Main streets.
Celebrities and guests will make their way across the red carpet from the restaurant to the theater from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
The movie will play on two screens, with the start times offset by 15 minutes so Costner can introduce both showings, Hoctor said.
There also will be an earlier private screening at 1 p.m. for friends and family, although some tickets are being offered in contests on local radio stations. The movie's national release is Aug. 1.
Ventura City Corps, a community-service organization for people 12 to 24, is assisting with parking and is staging its own event — Concert on the Curb — from noon to 7 p.m. at its headquarters, 77 N. California St. The group will give away two guitars, signed by Costner, and will be selling hamburgers and hot dogs and signing up new members.
Walt Disney Pictures, the film's distributor, agreed to the special premiere, with proceeds to benefit a handful of local charities, including Ventura Unified School District art programs, the nonprofit Interface Children Family Services and the Santa Paula Family Resource Center.
Hoctor expects to raise $125,000. He has sold 250 tickets at $500 apiece for the dinner and screening, which will be limited to 350 people.
He hopes those who arrive for the red carpet will visit downtown shops and restaurants before the concert. "I think people will be surprised at how good the band is," he said. "This is such a great chance to bring a lot of attention to a city we all love."
Posted by loquinus on July 24, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, he can. I heard him and his band at California Speedway last year. They where very entertaining.
Posted by opns on July 24, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Costner blew it when he took that movie on with Houston. Now she can't sing, all she did in that song was yell and scream. Now he should of taken on a movie with Streistand, Dion, Arthetha Franklin or Anita Baker. He could learn from these woman.
Posted by AinVentura on July 24, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can this be a premier, if the "official" premier is going on in Hollywood? Sounds like a promotional ploy to get all of Ventura county out to see this movie, and talking about it.
Posted by whatsup805 on July 24, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Walt Disney Pictures, the film's distributor, agreed to the special premiere. Does it matter? No. A handful of local charities are going to benefit from this. Why bash it? He's a local movie star who is involved in this city. Thanks Kevin for having a "special premier" here and for helping some local charities!
Posted by BeReal on July 24, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AinVentura:
So what if it is a promotional ploy! So what if people are talking about it. What is your problem? Those who are interested will attend, those who are not will not.
Our little town doesn't get this kind of excitement very often.
I'm glad for the people that will be here and get a chance to hear the band. I would be curious to hear them, but I will be out of town. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to attend anyway because I am not one who makes a big deal out of celebrities, but I TRY not to judge those who do!
Posted by jill on July 24, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it's very cool that he's having the premiere in downtown Ventura. I just don't know if I'm up to fighting the crowd. Street fairs are bad enough; this will be crazy!
Posted by nunyabiznus on July 24, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHO'S KEVIN COSTNER...? OH, THAT'S RIGHT, IT WAS KICKING BIRD'S WHITE FRIEND.
Posted by FedUp on July 24, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Hoctor expects to raise $125,000. He has sold 250 tickets at $500 apiece for the dinner and screening, which will be limited to 350 people"
this is what bums me out the most about this event. all it is doing, is allowing the ventura elite an opportunity to rub elbows with the hollywood elite.
I guess I will wait to view the film on a normal date, and wait to try the restaurant on a normal date as well.
Posted by crazymind20082009 on July 24, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad someone can do math "selling 250 tickets at $500 each will bring in 125k" well duh!!I would love to go, however I do not think downtown Ventura can handle all the extra bodies. I do think it will be great to get more exposure to the city and to have more funds coming in to the city such as film permits, shopping and dining.
Posted by celtcwrtr on July 25, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
as someone who lives above main st & within walking distance to that theater i am not looking forward to saturday... isn't it the 1st weekend of the fair, too? what a mess for the residents.
Posted by nunyabiznus on July 25, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mmshoot- what do you mean this tickets are? doesnt Fedup state these tickets are $500 a piece?
Posted by tle0220 on July 25, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This event does not coincide with the Ventura County Fair, the fair dates are July 30th- Aug. 10th.
Posted by ca4ever on July 25, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You people would complain about anything. My gosh. Be positive people this is a good thing and most of you it wont even bother you....
Posted by opns on July 25, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your right ca4ever - the profits are staying within out city, even though he's from Compton LA.
Compton's probably asking 'hey kevin, what about us'?
Posted by freethought on July 25, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nunyabiznus - The benefit dinner tickets and movie are $500 each. If you just want to catch the concert afterwards, you don't pay a cent (unless you want to count parking, food, and drink).
Posted by avatarsbymas on July 25, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Kevin can sing!!
He and I were just two of about 60, 9 to12 year old boys that were chosen one by one by ear from all of the grammar schools of the Ventura Unified School District back in1965. We were called the Ventura Blue Beret Boys Choir. Some of the places we had the honor of singing where place’s like, the Ventura County Fair, the Camarillo State Hospital when it was still a real State Hospital, but best of all was when the choir sang on the Carnation Ice Cream Stage at Disneyland, in1966.
Kevin can also play baseball really good too. No it’s not because I saw him on TV, it’s because I used to be on the same little league baseball team as he was too. He played catcher and I played right field and was also one of the team’s starting pitchers.
I am pretty sure it was not one of Kevin’s more memorial times, but for me, especially now that he has become so well known, it was a time in my life that I am proud to have been a part of, and I will remember all the fun we had forever.
P.S. When the choir would sing someplace, Kevin and I would both have solo’s, Kevin’s solo was “Green Sleeves”, and mine was “Shenandoah”.
Best of luck Kevin!!
Tom Douglas
Buena High1972 Alumni
Posted by riotgrrl83 on July 26, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey celtcwrtr: why do you live in Downtown if you don't like to have traffic, people and events outside your door? Move to the Eastside. I think this is great exposure for our wonderful town!
Posted by opns on July 26, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Was just downtown helping my daughter with some deadlines - Looks like its going to be so much fun for so many . That's great!!
Also, the beaches are full and packed, haven't seen it like this in a long time. Sure was nice to see so many kids, mom and dads, grandmas, grandpas. Nice, Nice. Although your not my favorate, thanks for bringing in some good old family fun into town.
Posted by BaileyBlue on July 27, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
riotgrrl83 ~ celtcwrtr lives downtown because they are poor and cannot afford to live on the eastside. Ignorance is bliss. It must be nice to be so clueless.
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