TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead

FOR REAL?: Talk about a film premiere with byte!

Chanting protesters and screaming fans lined the street across from the Mann National Theatre in Westwood for the Tuesday night premiere of ``Simone,'' starring Al Pacino, Catherine Keener and Winona Ryder. The film concerns a director who creates a computer-generated actress so real that she becomes as popular as Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Mother Teresa.

But the protesters, waving brightly colored placards reading ``Simone Is a Virus'' and ``Keep It Real,'' and fans sporting ``I Love Simone'' T-shirts were all fakes, a huge hilarious publicity stunt concocted by New Line Cinema.

Ryder, still waiting to go on trial for shoplifting, didn't make it to the premiere. Neither did Simone, the pixel star, but she had a good excuse. But when Pacino arrived in a cab, not the usual star limo, everyone assumed the transport was another publicity prank. Turns out the taxi was no joke. Word is Pacino's limo broke down on Santa Monica Boulevard and he had to hail a cab. Despite the delay, Pacino, wearing totally blond spiked hair and a slightly rumpled khaki suit, had time to talk about comedy and computers and his new hair color.

Pacino, best-known for his intense roles in ``Dog Day Afternoon,'' ``The Godfather'' and ``Scarface,'' said, ``God likes a joke and change. This was definitely a joke and a change.''

Unlike his ``Simone'' character, Pacino is no computer whiz. ``My 18- month-old son is better at computers than I am.''

Is it true blonds have more fun? The actor, who went blond for his role in the upcoming ``Gigli'' with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, confessed ``I don't know, but people do keep smiling at me.''

After the film, which opens Aug. 23, everyone was smiling, including Kathleen Quinlan, rapper Coolio, Maria Conchita Alonso, ``Once and Again'' star Evan Rachel Wood (she plays Pacino's daughter in the film), Alan Thicke and ``The West Wing'' star Richard Schiff, as they strolled to the nearby Napa Valley Grille for cocktails and a bountiful buffet of grilled fish, chicken, veggies and salad.

Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie's dad, joined Pacino and daughter Julie at their booth for a meal. Asked about Jolie, who has separated from her husband, Billy Bob Thornton, and refuses to see or speak to her father, Voight replied. ``I don't really want to comment. But my love is waiting for her.''

TOTALLY TUBULAR: The premiere of ``Blue Crush'' was a surfin' safari as more than 2,500 guests walked the blue, not red, carpet at the movie's premiere at the Universal Amphitheatre.

Adding to the madness: swaying Polynesian dancers and beach-blond guy and gal models showing off the latest surf gear (boards, shorts, sarongs and itsy-bitsy bikinis). The film's stars Kate Bosworth, sexy in a blue key-hole-bodice frock, and Michelle Rodriguez, glam in a white satin mini-dress, appeared with Sanoe Lake, Matthew Davis, Mika Boorem and Faizon Love. Director John Stockwell (``Breast Men,'' ``Cheating'' and ``crazy/beautiful'') and his family drove up in a huge, hip Hummer limo, hopping out to shake hands with producer Brian Grazer and his wife, Gigi, wearing surfer-bright Pucci-print pants. Big-wave surfers Kala Alexander and Chris Taloa, who appear in the film, as well as some of the pro surfer stunt doubles for the stars - Rochelle Ballard, Kate Skarratt and Megan Abubo - added authenticity to the night. And the after-bash was a beach - literally.

Spotted on the amphitheater lawn, which was covered in sand for the event: figure skating champ Tara Lipinski, cute as a button in a white tank and lavender flounced skirt; just-ousted ``American Idol'' contestant Ryan Starr, still showing off that admirable abdomen; ``24'' star Kiefer Sutherland, hot and hunky in a black T and jeans; and former ``Dark Angel'' Jessica Alba, in khaki pants, black T and a black newsboy cap.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) PACINO: Hack, but no hacker

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(2) TALOA: Crush with fame

Chris Weeks/Associated Press