An auspicious preem for 'Autism'

HBO documentary premieres in L.A.

By BILL HIGGINS

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'Autism: The Musical' producer Sasha Alpert, director Tricia Regan and HBO's Nancy Abraham at Sunday's premiere.

 

Documentaries don't usually garner much in the premiere department, so Sunday's preem of "Autism: The Musical" with a kids party on the Par lot was the docu equivalent of the "Ocean's Thirteen" launch.

As tykes climbed a rock wall behind her, HBO veep Nancy Abraham said the cabler sees the film "as less a documentary about a disability and more a film about people you can connect with."

"We wanted to do a film about autism but make it entertaining," said producer Sasha Alpert. "We wanted to leave people with a little more knowledge and a smile on their face."

The docu made it to the Oscar shortlist, and helmer Tricia Regan joked that "if it had been about soldiers with autism fighting in the Iraq war, we would have gotten nominated."

Season two of 'The Riches' premieres

'The Riches' stars Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard were on hand at the premiere screening of the show's second season at the Pacific Design Center in los Angeles on Sunday.

Golden Score awards handed out

The ASMAC's Golden Score awards honored the finest in film scoring last Friday in Universal City. Among the honorees were Alan Silvestri, Diane Warren and Bill Holman.