• Baz Luhrmann/Moulin Rouge Interview by Paul Fischer
• Pop star and actress Jennifer Lopez is to make a TV sitcom about her life growing up in New York City.
• Cumming's Star Cast Paid In Pints
• Eric Idle Has Love Child In Rutles Sequel •
• Madonna Snubs Ali G's Movie Debut
• A New Reality TV Show Where Anything Can Happen - 'FOUR PLAY'
• Veteran star attacks illiterate Hollywood producers
• Francis Ford Coppola wants to create Utopia and needs the world's top film stars to live in it.
• Universal Pictures and Working Title Films Begin Production in New York On Spicy Romantic Comedy, 'The Guru'
• Kim Hatamiya Appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of JP Kids' Television

Pop star and actress Jennifer Lopez is to make a TV sitcom about her life growing up in New York City.

The 30-year-old will produce and star in the show, detailing her experiences growing up in the Bronx area of the Big Apple. It is not clear what form the show will take, although it is sure to feature characters playing Lopez' real-life sisters Leslie and Linda.

Leslie is a single mum while Linda has followed Jennifer into the world of showbiz to become a music television presenter. The deal inked by Jennifer with TV company NBC is said to be worth millions of dollars.

The network has also signed with Lopez for a series of music specials to be screened in the US this autumn. Entertainment boss Jeff Zucker enthused about her appeal, "Jennifer Lopez is the country's hottest entertainer now with crossover appeal in film, music, fashion and many other genres".

Both deals mark a return to TV for Lopez, who was one of the Fly Girl dancers on variety show "In Living Color" in 1990.  Her new film, Angel Eyes, opens in America this week and is being billed by some as her make or break movie with Hollywood's critics.

Although she remains a draw at the box office for many young men, Lopez has been slated for her acting ability in the past and is yet to prove that she can cut it as a lead actress on the big screen.

However, Lopez is still using her name to enter new businesses - she recently signed a deal with Andy Hilfiger, brother of Tommy, to produce her own line of clothing called J-Lo. And her music is still selling strongly, with the album J-Lo riding high in the album charts.

Cumming's Star Cast Paid In Pints

 Alan Cumming apparently bribed Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Kline to star in his film-directing debut for the price of a pint. Peoplenews reports that the charming Scot managed to sweet talk his pals into appearing in The Anniversary Party with Jennifer Jason Leigh for the smallest of fees. "Who could possibly believe that you could get a line-up like that for the price of a pint? That's what friends are for," he said. "They even did their own make-up!" The film, which is set against the backdrop of a couple's sixth wedding anniversary party, was made over 19 days in the house of an architect friend of Cumming's.

Eric Idle Has Love Child In Rutles Sequel

US comedian Jimmy Fallon, soon to be seen in Steven Spielberg's mini-series Band of Brothers, is to be exposed as Eric Idle's love child in the sequel to spoof Beatles rockumentary The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash. Idle has spent years updating the 1978 cult classic, which he narrated and starred in as Dirk McQuickley, Sir Paul McCartney's alter ego. The sequel, Can't Buy Me Lunch, features unseen outtakes from the first movie and spoof interviews with David Bowie, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks and Steve Martin on how The Rutles changed their lives.

Madonna Snubs Ali G's Movie Debut

Pop queen Madonna has snubbed spoof-rapper Ali G, by refusing to appear in his debut movie. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, the rapper's creator, is hoping to make his name in America and had thought that a cameo from the pop star would secure the film an audience across the Atlantic. The comedian, 30, who won two BAFTA awards on Sunday starred as a limousine driver in Madonna's video for her smash Music and later hailed her as "my main b**** Maradonna (sic)". Baron Cohen moaned: "She's got too much stuff on the go and her schedule can't accommodate it."

 A New Reality TV Show Where Anything Can Happen - 'FOUR PLAY'

Robert Kubilos -- the director of MTV's Real World and Road Rules come together with members of the crew of Blind Date, Survivor and The Mole to bring you a new reality dating television show where anything can happen. Two guy friends are set up on a total night out, from dusk 'till dawn, with two girlfriends. They get to decide their sleeping arrangements, and in the morning they all meet for breakfast where their thoughts and opinions of the night out and each other are revealed. The audience will participate as they vote on which contestant they like based on the date they have seen. The winning contestants will be awarded a prize and their friend from the date will be awarded half as much.

Open casting call auditions will be held Tuesday, May 15th (Men) and Wednesday, May 16th (Women) at Gotham Hall located at 1431 3rd Street Promenade, in Santa Monica. Auditions will be from 12 noon to 8 PM. For more information, interviews or press/media coverage please call Reyna Trevino/Trevino Enterprises at (818) 755-1340 or e-mail trevinoenterprises@mail.com.

Veteran star attacks illiterate Hollywood producers

Nick Nolte has slammed Hollywood's major studios for being motivated only by money according to reports from Cannes today.

The 60-year-old actor claims that thirtysomething studio bosses are ignorant of cinema and literature and he says their films are little more than cartoons. "It's difficult to find a good movie in America," Nolte told reporters. "The old guys that had an interest in film are gone. The heads of studios are 35. They don't know anything about literature. It's predictable stuff they're turning out. I don't want just to be thrilled by a film. I want to toss something around my head for a few days afterwards. I want to be surprised, awed, moved."

The star of Cape Fear also said that he was dismayed by American star culture. He claimed films were "geared around" the stars, who would leave the set as soon as they had finished their scene and were not particularly interested in the consistency of the film. "The old traditional values have gone," he said.

 Francis Ford Coppola wants to create Utopia and needs the world's top film stars to live in it.

Buoyed by a rapturous reception at the Cannes Film Festival for a new, extended version of his 1979 hit "Apocalypse Now", the renowned US director said he was currently working on an even larger project than his cult Vietnam epic.

"Megalopolis", the story of one man's battle to build an ideal world, should start shooting before the end of the year and Coppola hopes to get it to the cinemas in early 2003.

"It is bigger and more ambitious than Apocalypse because it deals with a vision of the future," he said. "It basically deals with the subject of that unspeakable word 'Utopia'." In his own ideal world, Coppola would want "the greatest actors" of the moment in the picture.

For a man who has such films as the Godfathers Part I and II to his name that should be possible, but Coppola is taking nothing for granted.  "Nowadays you get one star and pay him all the money," he complained. ""Megalopolis" has a cast of characters like "The Godfather" and has some beautiful roles in it.

So I'm now approaching any number of actors to see if they would be willing to work together as an ensemble."

Maybe Marlon

Asked if he wanted to sign up Marlon Brando, star of both "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now", Coppola was non-committal.  However, he denied rumors that the reclusive legend was seriously ill.

"No, no, no. He's not ill, he just had some flu. He is better now," said the corpulent film maker, dressed in a cheerful Hawaiian T-shirt. Coppola set up his own studio following the success of the two Godfathers, but he ran into financial straits when the shooting of "Apocalypse Now" spiraled out of control in the Philippine jungle.  "I was aware that I was in deep trouble," he recalled.

In the 1990s he reverted to being a director for hire, but has yet to recapture the critical and box office success of his earlier works. He says that he has learnt his lesson and plans to finance "Megalopolis" himself. In the beginning of "Apocalypse Now" I was not so much aware of what money they were spending. I was only aware of the results," he said, adding that on the new project he planned to make sure "every dollar can be spent to good advantage".

"Megalopolis" will be set in contemporary New York and will follow its hero's fight to realize his dream to build a city of the future.

Coppola said such a city could be constructed today, but he thought hidden forces were at work to prevent it. "My feeling is that if we can show people what is possible, they will want it. Therefore it is a very political (film). Who doesn't want a Utopia? Maybe those who are already on the top of things," he said.

Universal Pictures and Working Title Films Begin Production in New York On Spicy Romantic Comedy, 'The Guru'

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., May 14  Principal photography has begun in New York City on Universal Pictures' and Working Title Films' "The Guru," a spicy romantic comedy starring Heather Graham ("Austin Powers II: The Spy Who Shagged Me"), Marisa Tomei ("Someone Like You"), Jimi Mistry ("East is East") and Christine Baranski ("Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas"). Daisy von Scherler Mayer ("Party Girl," "Madeline") directs the screenplay by Tracey Jackson.

Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are the film's producers along with Michael London, who recently produced Working Title's "40 Days and 40 Nights" for Universal and Miramax. Shekhar Kapur ("Elizabeth") is the executive producer.

"The Guru" is a mishap-laden, cross-cultural tale about the search for the American dream. A young Indian dance teacher Ramu Gupta (Mistry) embarks for New York City, in pursuit of fame and fortune only to find himself working as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. Through an encounter with Sharonna (Heather Graham), a beautiful adult-film star, the shy, inexperienced Ramu is mistaken for a spiritual healer -- the Guru of Sex -- and becomes an overnight celebrity. Fame comes at a price, however, and Ramu must choose between his newfound notoriety and his growing love for the beautiful Sharonna.

Working Title Films is Europe's leading film production company. Co- chairmen Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner have more than 40 films to their credit including the current hit "Bridget Jones's Diary"; the Academy Award® winning "Elizabeth," "Dead Man Walking" and "Fargo"; "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Billy Elliot," "Notting Hill," "High Fidelity" and "Bean." Forthcoming releases include "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," directed by John Madden, starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz; the Coen brothers' "The Man Who Wasn't There"; "My Little Eye"; "Long Time Dead" and "40 Days and 40 Nights," starring Josh Hartnett and Shannyn Sossoman. Currently in production are "About a Boy," directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz, starring Hugh Grant, Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz, and "Ali G in Da House," starring Sacha Baron Cohen.

Working Title Films has a long-term agreement with Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures in turn has an agreement with StudioCanal, whereby films produced by Working Title are distributed in the US through Universal Pictures and internationally through Universal and StudioCanal. Universal Pictures is a unit of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com), a part of CANAL+, the TV and Film division of Vivendi Universal, a new global leader in media and communications. For further information, please contact Jeff Sakson of Universal Pictures, 818-777-4791

 Kim Hatamiya Appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of JP Kids' Television

JP Kids, Inc., one of the nation's leading independent kids' media companies, has named media veteran Kim Hatamiya as Senior Vice President and General Manager of JP Kids' Television. Ms. Hatamiya will manage the sales and distribution of JP Kids' television properties in the US and around the world. She will also oversee business affairs for JP Kids' Television and work with the President and Chairman to develop strategic plans to further JP Kids' growth across multiple media platforms.

"As we continue to grow JP Kids, we're excited to have Kim on our team. She has an incredible track record in business development and powerful experience in the domestic and international television businesses. I know she will play a key role in driving the continued success of JP Kids' Television, and I look forward to working with her," said Jeff Pinsker, president of JP Kids.

With 20 years of experience in the entertainment and new media industries, Ms. Hatamiya brings extensive expertise in children's television and Internet content, new product launches and business development. As Senior Vice President of Marketing at Passport New Media, Inc., she oversaw the launch of their flagship product Your Own World(TM) (YOW(TM)), a safe Internet-based service for children. Before joining Passport, Ms. Hatamiya was Senior Vice President of Fox Kids Worldwide, where she was responsible for launching Fox Kids Latin America and Fox Kids UK. Prior to Fox Kids International, Ms. Hatamiya was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Canal Fox, Fox Television's cable network in Latin America. Under her leadership, Canal Fox became the #1 most-viewed cable and satellite channel in Latin America. Ms. Hatamiya has also served as Director of International Operations for Home Box Office, planning the launch of new versions of HBO around the world, and as Vice President of Film and TV Business Affairs at Imagine Entertainment.

JP Kids is a leading independent kids' media company offering creative content that is both entertaining and educational. JP Kids created the Disney Channel original hit series The Famous Jett Jackson, produced Harambee, an award-winning family Kwanzaa movie starring Howard E. Rollins, Jr., and produced a series of anti-violence/conflict-resolution spots known as Generation Hope for WAM!, America's Kidz Network. The company currently has live action, animated and reality television series in development with Granada Kids, one of the largest and most successful commercial producers of children's programs in the United Kingdom, Yahoo! (Yahooligans!), Fox Family (Jimmy the Bully), KQED/PBS (WurlD) and Sony Family Entertainment (Verdi and the Other Yucky Creatures).

In October, 2000, JP Kids acquired the award-winning teen website react.com -- an online destination that celebrates teen voices, encourages teens to share their opinions, entices them to explore alternative points of view, political topics and global causes, and offers light-hearted polls, quizzes and pop culture features. Since taking over react.com, JP Kids has more than doubled its traffic. In March, 2001, JP Kids announced a strategic partnership with ThinkQuest (www.thinkquest.org), the most heavily trafficked educational destination on the Internet, with an estimated 120 million hits and 2.2 million unique users per month. The ThinkQuest library features more than 4,500 websites created by collaborative teams of students and teachers worldwide.

JP Kids is headquartered in San Francisco with production/sales offices in New York and Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.jpkids.com.