Monday, June 19, 2006 | 7:03 a.m.
One of the quirks (or perks) of beginning a career at age 7 is you can be considered a veteran at 26. That was evident Saturday as the CineVegas Film Festival wound to a close with Christina Ricci receiving the festival's Half Life Award.
"It might seem strange to be giving a Half Life Award to someone so young," CineVegas Director of Programming Trevor Groth understated while introducing Ricci prior to a screening of "The Opposite of Sex" at the Palms' Brendan Theatres. "But she has done such a great body of work the times seemed right to give her this honor."
Ricci's first major movie role was at age 9, playing opposite Cher in "Mermaids." During the Q&A session that preceded Saturday's screening she remembered having her hair trimmed for the part of Kate Flax and how she "cried and cried" at the unwanted grooming. "Cher came over and put her arms around me and said, 'Let her cry, let her cry. It's terrible when you're 9 years old and they cut your hair.' "
Ricci also recalled her first commercial, for Quaker O's, when she was 7. "My mom put my hair in this side ponytail (near the top of her head) and it was a secret good luck thing - I never got a commercial till I had the side ponytail. (In the commercial) I said, 'O, yeah!' and it ran a lot, and when I went back to school, all the kids did that to me, O, yeah!' " Of growing from a child to an adult actor, Ricci said, "You can be cute until you're 13, then you are no longer cute. You have to wait until you're 18 to get work. You can play a sex kitten at age 18 when I was growing up I saw all these stage mothers trying to get pregnant so they could have one kid working while the other was off. It was really strange."
NoteMart
CineVegas moments: The festival careened to a close Saturday night with a splashy affair at the Green Valley Ranch Station pool deck, a party brimming with fabulous folks that also marked the third anniversary of VEGAS magazine. In particularly bubbly spirits was the cast of Grand Jury Award-winner "G.I. Jesus," without question the festival's most powerful message film, punctuated by disturbing graphic footage of target bombing in Iraq.
"This is just incredible, an incredible boost for us and for the film," lead actor Joe Arquette said. "I've never been involved in anything like this, ever. I've been to Vegas before, to visit, but this is like another world tonight."
A little roast: The Friars Club roast of Jerry Lewis was " tamer than most roasts," roaster Robert Klein told the New York Observer. The June 9 roast at the New York Hilton's Mercury Ballroom, was not without edgy material. Richard Belzer, with whom Lewis appeared on "Law & Order: SVU," said: "Jerry recently played my uncle now he's been (blanking) my aunt for eight weeks. And when my Aunt Martha came out of that coma "
Lewis, 80, is still recovering from a mild heart attack and a case of pneumonia he suffered while flying back from the Friars Club appearance (where he also accepted his appointment as the new abbot of the 102-year-old club). He also took part in the "Law & Order" wrap party on June 10
Paul serenaded: And in the end On his 64th birthday Sunday Paul McCartney was treated to a version of "When I'm 64" - by his grandchildren, as reported by the London Sunday Mirror. Sixteen-month-old Miller, Arthur (age 7) and Elliot (3) were herded into Abbey Road Studios to record a version of the song, which was played for McCartney on Sunday. The cast of "Love" at the Mirage considered singing that song for McCartney, but opted for "Happy Birthday to You."
Facing Mekka: Ex-"Hairspray" star Eddie Mekka checked in on Sunday to say he was "very disappointed" at the closing of "Hairspray" at the Luxor. "Las Vegas has a lot of talent, and when we can get the professional locals involved in these Broadway productions, it makes Vegas a tighter and stronger family. We need to make the people of Vegas part of the big picture, and I was hoping something like 'Spray' would open the door wider right now I'm looking for another production as wonderful as 'Hairspray,' " Mekka said in an e-mail message
Drummer, or KFC frequenter: Vanity plate on a green Nissan Altima: DRMSTYX.
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