For Immediate Release on Entertainment Drive
Released by Beck/Smith

Stallone Movie Redefines Action Genre?
Hollywood -- April 29, 1996 -- At least one person who'd be sorry to see Sylvester Stallone give up action movies -- as he's sworn he'll do -- is Joe Singer, one of the producers of Sly's upcoming "Daylight." "After having watched Sly work and seeing the dailies on this film I think it would be really awful for everyone if he gave up the action genre," says Singer. "In this movie you just love seeing him be heroic and save people." Singer insists "Daylight" (in which Stallone rescues people from a tunnel after a catastrophe strikes) "has the potential to redefine the action genre. He doesn't confront any bad guys, it's just a man against a tunnel. He's got to use his brains to get people out of it. It really shows the kind of stuff he showed in 'Rocky'...the emotion is really something." Stallone, who turns 50 July 6, has reportedly said "Daylight" will be his "farewell to this [action] kind of film." But Singer believes he'll end up doing more action fare if it's more character driven. "If stars like Sly say we're not going to do action pictures anymore, it forces people to not do the same old terrorist stories but come up with some real characters...like in 'Daylight.' Anybody can find themselves in that situation and find a way to be heroic." For "Daylight," Singer reveals, "We got a lot of our ideas from all these confidential plans the FBI had on how they would get people out of a tunnel if they were trapped. And we have to give the city of New York a lot of credit for being surprisingly cooperative. We built a tunnel for the movie but we did rent the Midtown Tunnel for Saturday and Sunday morning shoots."

VH-1 Gala for Worthy Cause
Hollywood -- April 30, 1996 -- It was a night of high contrast at Sunday's VH-1 Honors. The poshest of Hollywood/Music Industry galas glittered -- yet much of the talk focused on human rights abuses on children. The show benefitted Witness, the international organization that provides video equipment to human-rights groups in hopes of helping to open the world's eyes to such abuses. The star turnout was blinding -- Peter Gabriel, Joan Osborne, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Stipe, Gloria Estefan, Susan Sarandon, and of course host Tim Robbins, etc., etc. Even brand-newlyweds Sean Penn and Robin Wright put in a brief appearance. Among the first honorees was Bruce Harris, who was recognized by VH-1 for his work as the executive director of Casa Alianza, a child-welfare agency operated by Covenant House. Casa Alianza shelters provide help to thousands of youngsters in Latin America. "ER's" Anthony Edwards escorted Harris into the backstage press area, and when they came in, the media members there were very subdued and quiet. Asked whether he had any anxieties about becoming involved with a political cause when some entertainers have been criticized for doing so, Edwards replied with passion. He noted that the murder and abuse of children is not a political cause and he could not understand how anyone could see it that way. (Edwards also said he would be returning to start production of the fall season of "ER" on Aug. 12, and at the moment he had no plans for the summer.) Natalie Merchant commented backstage that she first became socially conscious when she was about seven or eight years old -- while watching TV and seeing kids in Northern Ireland being hit by rubber bullets. The very suave Laurence Fishburne talked about artists becoming involved in causes, and said, "Artists get involved because politicians follow people" -- and people are often inspired to rise up for good causes and against injustice by the arts. When Peter Gabriel and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan came to the press room, the Pakistani music sensation hovered shyly in the doorway to the press room as if he were uncomfortable with all the attention. When Gabriel realized what was happening he went over and escorted Nusrat up to the podium. Then the rock great, a champion of Witness, noted that ordinary citizens can help the cause on a local level, via writing letters to legislators and opinion makers, and so forth. The after-show party was lavish -- with tables featuring a fabulous spread of food set up under a large tent on the grounds of the Universal City, CA, City Walk mall. There were large video screens everywhere -- playing music videos, naturally.

Revising Travolta's Past
Hollywood -- May 1, 1996 -- Talk about revisionist history. John Travolta's manager Jonathan Krane -- who's also producer of most of his movies -- feels it's ridiculous that people refer to the actor as a "comeback kid." As Krane recalls Travolta's past, "He was always in demand, he could have been working all the time. And he made a tremendous amount of hits -- 'Grease,' 'Saturday Night Fever,' 'Urban Cowboy,' 'Pulp Fiction,' 'Look Who's Talking.'" He's right about the first five. As far as the latter, well, as Time Magazine wrote of "Look Who's Talking," "It was an object of contempt in all the better circles." And then there were the embarrassing losers like "Moment to Moment" and "Perfect" -- but mostly the unexplainable fact that the industry just didn't seem very interested in John Travolta after a while. Even Travolta has told this column that he's particularly grateful for his current success, because of his knocks in the past. If he doesn't forget that his career has been a roller-coaster ride, why does Krane choose to? When this question is posed to Krane, he moonwalks and says, "Well, I know one thing, John is his same humble self." Indeed. Travolta is a fine actor, a fine person -- and no one questions his latest round of success, just the reasons for Krane's short memory.

Tim Conway Has New "Dorf" Video in Works
Hollywood -- May 2, 1996 -- Tim Conway reports his next "Dorf-on-Sports" video will be on "baseball -- in conjunction with the Little League." When he's told we've gotten inquiries from people wanting to know where they can get his "Dorf" videos, the veteran comedic actor jokes, "Just tell me where they live, I'll come to their houses and deliver them, or, if they have six or more for dinner, I'll come over and demonstrate personally." Actually, Conway's comedy videos -- in which he portrays Derk Dorf by standing in holes in the ground so he appears to be a four-foot-tall midget with 14-inch legs -- have been a success from the beginning. His first video, "Dorf on Golf," is one of the seven all-time most popular comedy home videos and the most popular sports home video; subsequent "Dorf on..." videos have been top sellers as well. Before he can start work on the latest "Dorf..." project, Conway has to finish shooting the big-screen comedy "Dear God" with Laurie Metcalf and Greg Kinnear. He says the Paramount film is the first chance he's had to work with director Garry Marshall. "I was thrilled with the opportunity to do so," says Conway, who also does a guest turn on the May 20 episode of "Cybill." He adds, "Garry is great to work with. You show up, he gives you an idea and you go out and just do it....You get a chance to improvise a little bit."

Leslie Nielsen as Mr. Magoo?
Hollywood -- May 3, 1996 -- Leslie Nielsen, in Toronto filming the TV movie adaptation of "Harvey" with Harry Anderson, could be playing "Mr. Magoo" next. He tells this column, "I'm taking a look at the latest script. Hopefully everything will come together. I'll tell you this: When Disney sets its mind to something, there's action -- and 'Mr. Magoo' is a Disney project." He adds, "I hope it does come together. I love the character, and making the movie would be a challenge." Nielsen, whose Disney "Spy Hard" big-screen spoof opens this month, isn't just sitting around waiting for his next film project. He's bought rights to the play "Clarence Darrow," and intends to go on a mini-tour with the one-man show in September. "The serious side of my nature will be satisfied," he says. For those more interested in his funny side, remember that his latest book of advice to golfers -- "Bad Golf My Way" -- will be published around Father's Day.

Copyright (c) 1996 Beck/Smith Ent.


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