‘Touchdown Newport’ and ‘What It Takes’ get an encore
The premiere of “Touchdown Newport,” along with the short film “What It Takes,” sold out at Lido Theatre Tuesday night as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival.
The majority of the audience appeared to enjoy both movies, as each provided emotional and exciting moments.
The event was such a success, an encore screening has been added Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Big Newport.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.
“Touchdown Newport,” the documentary about the 1970 Newport Harbor High football team, made its debut Tuesday night. The central figure of the film, Coach Ernie Johnson, attended Tuesday night’s screening.
The director, Randy Hamilton, and producer, Tony Horvath, both played on the team.
The movie also features Billy Whitford, the director of the Newport Aquatic Center, who was on the team, as well as current Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley and defensive coordinator Tony Ciarelli. Brinkley played under Johnson while at Cerritos College. Ciarelli played for Huntington Beach High in 1970 and played against Newport Harbor that year.
Phil Marshall, a Newport Harbor alumnus, was the composer for the music in the film. He has composed several music scores for movies, including “Endless Summer II.”
Kyle Chandler, the Emmy-award winning actor, is the film’s narrator.
“What It Takes,” which runs 14 minutes, is about the Mater Dei team that went through an intense four-day U.S. Navy SEAL training last June amid its quest to capture its fifth straight CIF Southern Section championship.
The film made its debut in December at the L.A. Underground Film Festival, where it won best documentary short.
“What It Takes” features Mater Dei team members from Newport Beach — Jon and James Walters, Nick Silvers, Carter Yonkers, Jeff O’Brien, Spencer Carroll, Phil Tran, Peter Seidner and Neil LeVecke — as well as Stig Terrebonne from Costa Mesa. Huntington Beach residents Eric Hernandez and Kent Inoue and Matthew Payne of Laguna Beach are also Mater Dei team members.
Leslie Seidner, a Newport Beach resident, is a producer and editor of the film.