For Immediate Release on Entertainment Drive
Released by Beck/Smith

Marshall Talks "Preacher's" Pressures
Hollywood -- July 15, 1996 -- Penny Marshall is the first to admit that directing "The Preacher's Wife" was no piece of cake. She says of the Denzel Washington-Whitney Houston starrer slated for release at year's end, "We had a lot of problems -- the weather alone in New York was a killer, and, then, we had to work around Whitney's voice." But as she points out, "Every movie presents problems. For 'A League of Their Own,' I had girls playing baseball in 120 degree heat. You get used to it." What she can't get used to, she admits, is the ongoing potshots by the press. "Some tabloids had Whitney and Denzel at each others necks- still another had them running away together to have an affair. They even used photos -- from our ice skating scene in Portland, Maine." Marshall does admit she's nervous -- as she always is while she's making a movie. "Yes, I'm smoking -- I try to quit, but then I get nervous. I'll try to stop again -- but not until this picture is in the can."

Kurt Russell Latest Salary Highway Robbery
Hollywood -- July 16, 1996 -- Things are really getting downright ridiculous in Hollywood when Kurt Russell is being paid $15 million for a picture. That's the amount he will reportedly receive for Warner Bros. "Soldier," a sci-fi thriller to be producer by Jerry Weintraub. To put Russell in the league of superstars that draw down such a sum tells you just how out of control things are getting in the film capital. He was paid $10.5 million for "Executive Decision" and it's true that picture did draw -- but it had Steven Seagal as a box-office lure who was listed as co- star, even though Seagal was killed off early in the picture. Now, all this isn't just Hollywood's business -- it's ours. It effects what pictures we'll get to see. When costs of movies get so high, ticket prices go up - they're up to over $8 in some cities now. And when studios pay actors exorbitant salaries for certain movies, other movies won't get made. For instance, the salaries alone for "Batman and Robin," which rolls this fall, are estimated to be at some $60 million. I can tell you this, there are more than a few people in town who are happy at the failure of "The Cable Guy" to score big. The Jim Carrey picture was the first in which an actor was paid $20 million -- and opened the flood gates for other studios to follow suit with other stars. It will go down as the picture that proved that no actor is necessarily worth such a fortune -- not even a comic who had earlier racked up one winner after another.

Williams Won't Speak At DNC
Hollywood -- July 17, 1996 -- Robin Williams wants us to know there's absolutely no truth to the report that he'll be appearing at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 27 -- or on any date, for that matter. He notes, "Somebody put that story out -- and it's all wrong. I did a benefit for the Democrats -- it raised a lot and was a one-shot deal. I'd be afraid to speak at the convention -- afraid of what I'd say." Williams, who plays a 10-year-old who ages four times faster than normal in the upcoming "Jack," says he worked out strenuously for the movie. "I bike ride as it is -- but keeping up with 10-year-olds is something else. They never stop." Williams also reportedly hung out at a boys' summer camp to study the mannerisms of the youngsters. He also has his own children -- ages 4, 6 and 12 -- he can use as models. Robin can study them a lot, taking pains as he does to make his films where he (and other film names such as Francis Coppola and George Lucas) lives in Northern California. "Jack" was filmed in the Marin County community of Ross that is, says Williams, "Like a New England village." He also reports that a studio complex is being constructed in an area between San Francisco and Oakland.

Latino Laugh Festival Showcases New and Old Talent
Hollywood -- July 18, 1996 -- If comic/producer/comedy club owner Jeff Valdez has his way, his "Latino Laugh Festival" will introduce much of the showbiz world -- and the world in general -- to a talent pool they weren't very aware of. The half-hour Showtime series, which is hosted by Cheech Marin and consists of comedy done at a three-day comedy festival in San Antonio, debuts tomorrow night (7-19). Not only will we see Latino talents we haven't been exposed to, says Valdez, we'll see some familiar faces in a new light. One bit, for instance, has Cheech teamed with Edward James Olmos in a spoof of an awards show. Cheech tells the audience he's sick of hearing the line, ...and the winner is...'" At that point, out comes Olmos, who deadpans that he thought he was being called. "Since I win everything, I assumed you meant me." Another bit has the very high energy Maria Conchita Alonso paired with tele-ingenue Daisy Fuentes as Cubans in Florida. "Maria is the dark, brooding revolutionary. Daisy is the Valley girl-type who THINKS she knows where she's from, but is so Americanized, she hasn't a clue." At one point, Fuentes raises her fist in salute, and the audience is treated to a view of her gnarly, snarly long a rmpit hair. "It's an old bit, but it still works," Valdez says cheerfully. "Daisy was backstage, flashing everyone her armpit hair before going on. The makeup people put it on for her, of course. It must have been awful to take off." Certainly no cause for laughter. Valdez says it took him three years to sell the project, and then "we had three and a half months from green light to tape in the can -- which is an insanely short turnaround. I coulda just gone out with (avant garde artist) Cristo and wrapped tinfoil around the Grand Canyon instead."

Zemeckis' 'Frighteners' Premiere a Ghoulish Bash
Hollywood -- July 19, 1996 -- "The Frighteners'" exec producer Robert Zemeckis stayed til after midnight at the Hollywood premiere party for his new film starring Michael J. Fox. Zemeckis told us he's looking forward to working with Jodie Foster on the upcoming sci-fi thriller "Contact," which is based on the Carl Sagan book. He says they've already spent "hours and hours and hours" preparing for the project which starts filming in September and co-stars the hot new star Matthew McConaughey. Foster is reportedly receiving a $7 million salary for the film. When asked what other projects he might have brewing, Zemeckis said, "I only do one at a time, that's enough--I don't stack em up too much." Throughout the night Zemeckis received congratulations on the film -- that some hope will revive Michael J. Fox' career -- from such celebs as "Saturday Night Live" alum Rob Schneider, "Married...With Children's" David Faustino, Kate Jackson, Mykelti Williamson and Gary Busey. Busey was seen beaming with pride, since his son, Jake Busey, plays the villain in the film -- and Jake is definitely a chip off the old cracked block as the evil murderer Johnny Bartlett. Party guests were transported by tram to the Town Square section of the Universal Studios backlot, which was set up as Fairwater' the fictional town of the movie. The Town Square is also where much of the "Back To The Future" movies -- on which Fox and Zemeckis first teamed -- were shot. Mock cemeteries with open caskets and eerie fog served as the bar areas, with bartenders done up in zombie makeup. Buffets were dishing up seafood pizza, pasta, grilled fish kebabs and Mexican fare. And a fortune teller forecast the future for those willing to stand on line for the privilege and a live band rocked away the night.

Copyright (c) 1996 Beck/Smith Ent.


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