I also must have missed your Chat with the Times woman, Lizza. What can you tell us? So glad there are "take charge" people in this group. Can't imagine two better people to plan the Donmar excursion than Evelyn and Lizza. ;-) Well, you two sort of offered....are you game?

I bet they will change the setting round, so don't bank on the bed being where it was before!! The set may well be redesigned and more along the lines of what Karen saw in Chicago. Actually the bed was on the left side in Chicago as well, although it was not within inches of my itching fingers... ;-) Now what is this about chatting with a woman from The Times, Lizza? Are you the source for the Colin mention in the "Possession Syndrome" article? Colin Firth, who made his name as Darcy in the most recent version of Pride and Prejudice, found himself swept up by football frenzy in 1996 when he made the film Fever Pitch. Before the film he had seen only one football match but since then has been an Arsenal obsessive, strikingly similar to his "laddish" role in the film. (Bethan) You see how rumours start!! :-) She must have verified the rumors. Nothing that Colin would be ashamed to admit. (like that one about the CCs) ;-o

Another blurb in the Sunday Times relating to Fever Pitch. It's about bringing football/soccer-related movies to the screen. The article is entitled: "The goal to aim for." Here's the relevant part: Football may be making millions for clubs and broadcasters, but film companies have not yet shared in the bonanza. When Saturday Comes grossed less than �1m in 1996 and failed to win an American release. Fever Pitch did better the following year, particularly on video. But both films resorted to romance as selling points: Fever Pitch the book had been hard-core football memoirs, but the balance in the film tilted towards romantic comedy. [...] Banking on romance and foreign locations to attract a wider audience, Calcio is the story of a young English football player who goes to Sardinia, falls in love with a local girl and is drawn into helping the local team. It is backed by BBC Films, which is also funding Extra Time. "It's not a film about soccer," David Thompson of BBC Films told Variety. "This is a very funny script with good characters that happens to have soccer as its background." The BBC may be counting on aficionados recognising the title as Italian for soccer and others simply recalling fond memories of Cinema Paradiso. Many of these films are chasing the same, elusive goal - a female audience. Received wisdom has been that women in particular are turned off by football - although When Saturday Comes was written and directed by Maria Giese, and one of the most successful football films ever, Gregory's Girl, centred on a female player. On the small screen, a second series of Kay Mellor's Playing the Field appealed to both sexes in a primetime slot. [...] Another big market that has been traditionally indifferent to the game is America. But the World Cup finals five years ago raised football's profile there, and the producer Duncan Kenworthy, who had an American hit with Four Weddings and a Funeral, is hopeful that Mike Bassett: England Manager can break into the US market. "It's a comedy about a year in the life of a newly appointed England manager in the run-up to the World Cup finals," Kenworthy says. "There's very little football in it. Much of it is backstage in the dressing room, in the conference rooms of the FA, in the home of the manager, on the bus afterwards, on the plane to Brazil, etc." A mock documentary, it will be a sort of football version of This Is Spinal Tap, though it is going to be hard to top recent events in the real England camp.

Ladies of drool, the word "obsessive" never crossed my lips!!! But then , THIS journalist likes others to do her sourcing for her, without even a cursory acknowledgement!!! She wouldn't last a minute with drool's ethos!

Ladies, thank you! Some NEWS at last. I am still trying to think up a reason to go to London in Nov. considering that we will be in Italy in Dec. Agh! This is frustating! (Karen),A mock documentary, it will be a sort of football version of This Is Spinal Tap, though it is going to be hard to top recent events in the real England camp. I loved ST! It is a worthy model for a comedy, and if they also have that wonderful movie Gregory's Girl in mind, and can pull it off, it will be a sure hit. Let's see Ewan as the lead as usual, I would imagine. Cosidering that the new coach of the British National Selection is Capello an Italian, the British are ready for anything. I know him well because he used to be AC Milan's coach (my team). This is quite unprecedented. KB is too skinny to play Bridget. HBC would be good as one of her friends, not BJ. Would you consider CF confirmed as MD? Heide, it's time for another fax. :-) Bethan, any dramatic actress would love to do a comedy. Comedies are much harder to pull off than drama. I just hope they do not overact.

Do come Moon, this is as good a reason as there will EVER be!!!

Just got back here, only to read such wonderful news! I'm so happy to see 3DOR will be back! I don't want to miss it this time. If I do go, it'll either be in November or Januari (I prefer Januari). December is out (Okay, I know I said the same for June 12th, I'm unpredictable!) The first time I went to London was in November, two years ago. London is incredibly crowded in November and December. Everyone sees London as the place to do Christmas shopping. Everything is more expensive then. Which is why I'd rather go there after New Year. On the other hand, I don't know what I'll be doing in Januari next year. Only too often, we have projects and assignments due right after the Christmas holidays. November is less hectic.

Speaking for the unprivileged contingent of CF fanatics (who either have not the means or time off for such expeditions...), may I suggest that NOW is a good time to start a steady and intensive campaign with the powers-that-be at the BBC or WGBH Boston or A&E Network that they preserve this unique play and its actors in a video tape for broadcast...As Great Performances, for example --(which they are)--because as neato as all this sounds, there are only going to be a limited number of people that can wi ness it as live theatre and the greatest influence on Colin's very long-standing "most-underrated-actor" etc. status is to encourage as broad an exposure of this tour-de-force as is possible. Someone mentioned that they "smelled" an award in this...well, I think this can also expose his abilities to people who heretofore have been unaware of him as an actor (as opposed to a character...). But the time to start campaigning is NOW!

Hear hear!!! Karen, I'm in that underprivileged and too-far-away category. The other occupant of my life says, if we have that much expendible income, where is my new SUV?! Of course, it is imaginary just as his sports/utility vehicle is. So, with a Firth in the heart and fire in the soul, let us begin our campaign to bring ODB to yet another small screen near you. Then we may perserve it on videotape for all time...rewind...slo mo....super slo mo...freeze frame...aaaah! =)

(Heide)Can't imagine two better people to plan the Donmar excursion than Evelyn and Lizza. ;-) Well, you two sort of offered....are you game? Yup. Lizza and I will confer via email and in person on June 12th. Tineke, we will set up both dates, but I favor January too. A nice Christmas present to ourselves :-) Ann what brilliant news....CF doing MD!!I prefer Helena to Cate B...I don't think the latter does comedy as well. What happened to Kate Winslett?

Oh dear! From the Daily Mail.... The Pinocchio Test - Apparently some scientists have discovered that your nose really does get longer when you lie. Dr Alan Hirsch says that although the change is too small to detect with the human eye, tell tale bouts of nose scratching give the game away. "The erectile tissue in the nose expands slightly, causing inflammation and a desire to touch its tip"... I shall never be able to watch that A&E interview again ....:-)

Too funny!!

NEWSSSSSSSSSSSSSS DAILY MAIL MAY 14, 1999 "... I can also tell you, that mr firth along with em and pm will return to the donmar warehouse theatre in london in rg remarkable play, three days of rain. The 3DOR drama ran for a few performances erlier this zear and was such a hit that everzone decided to reassemble at the Donmar for a longer run, beginning on november 16. The production will brak for christmas and new year then return from january 5 to 22. WOOOOWWWWWWW !!!! Sabine

Yes, very funny, Allison! Sorry to hear about your imaginary funding, Marcia. Funding, job status (I'm about to make a change) and that little ol' DH issue are the obstacles standing in my path. Aargh! Evelyn, you're going to be on a first-name basis with the folks in the Donmar ticket office! (Evelyn) Ann what brilliant news....CF doing MD It's still a rumor. The entire article is posted at Murph's site: here (I hope that link works). Ann, I was wondering the same thing about Andrew Davies. Mention of his involvement in the screenplay is conspicuously absent. Perhaps it was a rumor?? Is it mere coincidence that Curtis wrote '4W' and 'Notting Hill,' which is about to *ahem* open in the US? (Bethan) He's so versatile that to be rubber stamped as Darcy does him a disservice *We* know he's versatile, but we're his loyal fans. IMO the press won't let it go.

Great to hear from you Sabine. Can we count you in? And your twin sister....the one who took that fab pic of the Spring Group!! Allison...that is a hysterical quote.Actually, the book on Body Language says the same thing. Ladies: It has been suggested that we use Springfolks listerve for 3DOR Redux (AKA Firth-in- the- Flesh ,II)plans.Then it won't clog- up Drool.I am trying to find airline off-season dates. Don't forget lurkers..each person makes her own airline , lodging reservation, and ticket booking at the Donmar. Lizza and I are happy to answer questions and make dinner reservations before the performance. Tineke is a good source of information for youth hostels in London... (Hope you don't mind Tineke. )Dates for November and January will be posted before the box office opens in July. Pl. email me or Lizza with any questions. Thank you.

Murph has posted the two news items on Colin on her website. http://www.geocities.com/~murphyat65/news2.html http://www.geocities.com/~murphyat65/roles.html Thanks Murph...the poem is darling!!

An article in the Evening Standard today, quoting an interview with Cate Blanchett in the Radio Times, saying that she is very busy with her part in "Plenty" through July and then..."nothing"....[but BJD I wonder..?] She says she has several offers but has not made up her mind. "I'll be unemployed".

(Eileen)Evelyn, you're going to be on a first-name basis with the folks in the Donmar ticket office! She already is, I believe...James? Isn't it? (Evelyn) Hope you don't mind Of course not! I have the address, phone and fax number and more info on all Youth Hostels in Europe (there are 9 in London). You can always e-mail me.

(Tineke) She already is, I believe...James? Isn't it? Yes, but now James will know Evelyn's name too(as one of the volvo-driving labrador-owning women of 'a certain age'). Hee hee!

Too funny, LOL.

WOW!! I�ve been abroad for a few days and what do I find here! Felt dizzy reading the news about 3DOR. Can it be true, Firth in the Flesh AGAIN!? I wonder if one could get an overdose of him.....not me ladies, I think I�ll have to see several performances. I only wish we can settle at least one date with as many droolers present as possible. I have no special preferences of month, but the sooner the better, don�t you think?;-) (Bethan)They've set a very early booking date....they must be expecting a lot of advance bookings this time! That�s right, this indicates that there must have been an enormous demand for tickets after the two weeks had been sold out in March. Read Sunday Times in the aeroplane yesterday and was pretty surprised at all that stuff about things Firth in one paper, even a FP picture. Has something begun to happen in the British media? They suddenly seem to acknowledge his existance.

Don't know if anyone else has done this already, but... since I live in the Boston area I sent WGBH Boston an email asking if they are involved in DQ and/or have plans to show it. Here's the message I received: "Thank you for contacting WGBH. There's been no word about the broadcasting of 'Donovan Quick' however, a program request has been forwarded to our program director on your behalf." I know I'm just one voice crying out in the wilderness, but hope it gets results.

That's an interesting item about Cate Blanchett, Allison, - I was wondering when "Plenty" ended its run...very timely. I've now done a 360 degree turnaround and think that she would be an excellent choice for BJ....and I'm sure that she and Colin would get on well (both serious theatre types!) And she's certainly "hot" at the moment, which bodes well for the film's promotion. I'm convinced that movies succeed on the strength of the pre-release hype (I am sick of hearing about "Notting Hill"!!!) Also, he'll finally be one up on the Fiennes bros...Cate played the one that Rafe and Joe didn't (finally) get in "Oscar and Lucinda" and "Elizabeth", but it sounds as though MD will get the gal! I'm puzzled by the lack of mention of Andrew Davies though. He's a very experienced screenwriter (more so than Richard Curtis), both adaptations and originals. Hes done "Vanity Fair" and "Moll Flanders" recently, and "A very English marriage", for which he wrote the (original) screenplay, has just won the BAFTA Best Drama award. But don't US studios like to bring in a team of screenwriters? Perhaps Universal have called in Richard Curtis (who is more well known in the US) to add some extra "oomph". Anyway a Davies-Curtis script would have to be good! And I can't see how CF can afford not to do it...with three months in the Donmar this year, he'll need a big pay packet! One interesting fact...did you know that EMcG's husband (Ian Curtis) wrote the screenplay for "Lost Empires". Small world!

For those in need of excuses to go: you may say this is a Meeting of your Internet friends. What kind of meeting, what kind of friends? Theatre loving friends, movie loving friends, whom you meet with in the Internet to discuss precisely movies and plays, of the more obscure (sniff sniff) variety. Going to have dinner and "maybe" go to a theatre play afterwards. Why in London? Because it was so decided: old Europe at the end of the millenium. Next time it will be in America :-)

SusanMC: Good work. WGBH is the PBS station that handles all Masterpiece Theater and Great Performances series. But now you should sent it directly to Rebecca Eaton, the big Kahoona of MT, not some little programming flunkey. Gi: Will your excuse be that you will be examining CF's scalp for transplants? ;-) (Bethan) Also, he'll finally be one up on the Fiennes bros... Somebody needs to point this out to CF. Good girl, you already have his sound bites all written for the promotional tours.

How many people remember the excerpts I posteded from this novel? And how I thought Colin would be fabulous for the role of Jonathan Blair? There's a bathtub scene; clog-clad, naked kickboxing miners; and an yarn dance. ;-) Kaige plucks 'Rose' to helm CANNES -- Acclaimed Chinese director Chen Kaige, whose new film "The Emperor and the Assassin" is in competition here, will direct the detective story "Rose" for Miramax Films. Oscar-winning screenwriter Ted Tally ("Silence of the Lambs") wrote the screenplay, adapting Martin Cruz Smith's best-selling novel "Rose." The film will be produced by Mike Newell, director of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Pushing Tin." The film follows Jonathan Blair, a brilliant detective sent to an English mining town to i vestigate the disappearance of a young minister. Blair falls in love with a woman who holds the key to the mystery. Though the Gong Li starrer "The Emperor" will be released domestically by Sony Classics, Chen has a long association with Miramax.

Yes, but now James will know Evelyn's name too(as one of the volvo-driving labrador-owning women of 'a certain age'). Hee hee! I plan to have James' hide for this :-)) ***** (Bethan)And I can't see how CF can afford not to do it...with three months in the Donmar this year, he'll need a big pay packet! Agree. He must have a Big Paycheck already confirmed...with only a BBC and Donmar alone he can't pay his bills.That's the only way he would commit a to long-range project that brings in such little cash.

Susan--What's the e-mail and snail-mail addresses for WGBH? Possibilities of their helping put 3DoR on the screen can be combined with the Donovan Quick enquiry. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. Also, where and to whom would be the best place to inquire BBC...Who's in charge of deciding what's to be produced?? Just asking...

About that Curtis person (Richard?), maybe his involvement will be less of a mystery if you realize that he is Helen Fielding's ex-flame.

(KJArt)Also, where and to whom would be the best place to inquire BBC...Who's in charge of deciding what's to be produced?? Just asking... ..."and you shall receive" fiona.williams@bbc.co.uk She can tell you who is in charge of Drama.I found her most accomodating. OR Suzanne Swinburne Education2@main.bbc.co.uk I hadn't forgotten about your posting ...I think it is a brilliant idea. Let's zero in on getting 3 DOR on film .Even if it only is shown in UK, we'll get the video and can have it converted. Televised plays have a v. limited audience in the US.

Evelyn--Thank you!! Bless you!!

(Arami)About that Curtis person (Richard?), maybe his involvement will be less of a mystery if you realize that he is Helen Fielding's ex-flame. In college! Evelyn, don't know if this is the place to post this, but Bedrooms & Hallways (is that the correct title?) will premiere at the Provincetown Film Festival. I don't have a date yet, but will look into it.

June 18-20 Provincetown Film Festival -The second annual film festival featuring gay and lesbian film makers. For more information call (508)487.2234 or (800)276.1948

From the Guardian: Capturing literary giants A biopic of the philandering Scots genius Robert Burns has been announced. Dougray Scott, of Twin Town and the forthcoming Mission Impossible 2, is to play the peasant poet. What with Ewan McGregor squaring up to play James Joyce in his own project, Nora, the young-Scottish-actor-as-dead-literary-titan trend gathers momentum. Kevin McKidd as Dostoevsky, anyone? *********** Not Scottish, but how about Colin as Dylan Thomas? ;-) Would be great role and there's a resemblance I've always thought...

From Liz Smith: SALMA HAYEK, in Cannes for "Dogma," stunned her handlers with her impact on the paparazzi last week. Hayek, who will also appear at the big American Foundation for AIDS Research benefit Thursday at Cannes, was mobbed big time. At least 200 photographers converged on the actress, separating her from her press people. This caused a bit of hysteria when it seemed she might vanish forever in the madding crowd! One shell-shocked Cannes veteran remarked, "never seen the like . . . only Elizabeth Taylor ever gen rated this kind of insanity." (Taylor herself arrives any second in the South of France. She presides over the annual AmFAR event.) ******** Shoot!! Between Liz Taylor and Salma Hayek, we won't see any of Colin at the benefit. Argh!!

Rebecca Eaton is the producer for Mystery! and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre. She's at WGBH Boston, 125 Western Avenue, Boston MA 02134 (www.wgbh.org). Phone for members is (617) 492-9254, otherwise 617-492-2777. Write a letter and enclose a check :-). Great Performances is not produced by WGBH. I think it's WNET in New York.

I thought Dylan Thomas was Welsh, not Scottish.

Yes, he's Welsh and Colin isn't Scottish. ;-) Just going with the flow of literary films....

Thanks Chris. I believe you're right about Great Performances being produced by WNET. Do you know who the big cheese there, because filming a play is more in line with GP's programming than MT's.

Thanks to everyone for the specific contacts at WGBH and the BBC. Would the Bravo network (on U.S. cable) also be an option for 3DOR? I've seen filmed versions of plays on Bravo, but am not sure if Bravo acquires them from other sources...

(Karen) The film will be produced by Mike Newell, director of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" I hope this doesn't mean more Hugh Grant. BTW, 'Newsweek' praised his performance in "Notting Hill"--said he limited his stuttering and eyelid fluttering. Julia was panned. Shoot!! Between Liz Taylor and Salma Hayek, we won't see any of Colin at the benefit. Argh!! Double argh! Particularly if Salma wears a low cut outfit--we'll be seeing something(s) other than CF, for sure. But I shall watch for him in earnest...

(SusanMC) Would the Bravo network (on U.S. cable) also be an option for 3DOR? I've seen filmed versions of plays on BRAVO) ..."and you shall receive"..... Joanne programming@bravo.com Bravo buys directly from BBC and Channel 4. They showed "The Maitlands" an old JE BBC play.I think they are a good contact for this. ***Thanks for all the info on Bedrooms and Hallways...It's also being shown at the NY Gay and Lesbian FF...don't think I shall see that one in mid-America...I can assure you.

Evelyn--Didn't someone say they had seen someone from the BBC attending the performance of 3DoR in March? (Alan Yentob, I think it was on the last Friday evening) Perhaps he could be cited as a reference!!! (If he liked it, that is!)

Alan Yentob was there on the first Friday.

(Karen), but how about Colin as Dylan Thomas? ;-) Karen, what an idea! You have my heart going on that one. Thanks for all the info ladies, there is strength in numbers. What's poor Colin to do amidts Liz and Salma. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Maybe Hello will give him some coverage.

Shoot!! Between Liz Taylor and Salma Hayek, we won't see any of Colin at the benefit. Argh!! I must have been living in a cupboard [closet!] for the last year but who on earth is Salma Hayek?

but who on earth is Salma Hayek? She is in every clip we've been shown from Cannes (her arrival in the convertible, the Austin Powers movie party, etc.) She's a Mexican actress of Lebanese descent who came to Hollywood's attention in such films as Desperado, Fools Rush In, etc. Was recently in 54 (Studio 54), but is in Kevin Smith's controversial movie Dogma that Miramax just screened at Cannes, looking for distributors. Oh yes, she's also the spokesperson for some quick-dry nail polish too! I'll try to find a pic of her on the web, b t a lot the news orgs have big writeups on her arrival at Cannes. The clip I saw was pretty unflattering - standing up in the convertible, shown from behind and the way that dress made her behind look....actually, it looked realistic. Salma's very pretty; looks a lot like Livia. Same kind of hairdo. Salma's boyfriend (British) was shown yesterday as he has been recording the events at Cannes himself with a camcorder!

She also wore the most gorgeous BM gown at the Oscars. ;-)))

(KJArt)Alan Yentob, I think it was on the last Friday evening) Perhaps he could be cited as a reference!!! Let's try sending him the email.....Alan Yentob@bbc.co.uk See wha' 'appens!! *** Thank you Karen, for all the sleuthing you do for us on the web....we seem to be getting the news hot off the wires !!

What do you think?

...and Colin is the perfect age. Dylan Thomas died a few days after his 39th birthday.

Karen, most definitely! Realizing, of course, that ODB is So Much more Handsome at his "ugliest" than DT ever was at his best - and I am a Cymrophile!

Yes...definite resemblance ...especially the curly hair and the hands.

Hi, here s the voice again from the backstreets of Volterra ....... could some of our British sisters please post the address of the Rent-a-Labrador Service in London. Thanks. :) PS: How many Labradors, do you think, can the Donmar lobby hold

Welcome back, Renate. Rent-a-Labrador Service LOL! With or without a close resemblance, Colin could play DT. The actor/director Tony Goldwyn is a *dead ringer* for Dylan--I thought that was Tony's picture above! GMA interviewed three ardent 'Star Wars' fans this morning to ascertain their thoughts about the movie they waited on line (camped out) for a month to see. To my surprise, each of them *hated it*. If this sentiment spreads, it can only be good for MLSF. Kid-less adults will be looking for another way to spend their entertainment dollars later this summer (now if they can just get past EWS...):-)

Hi, coming out of lurkdom for just a few seconds ... According to Jeannie Williams of USA Today, Colin Firth and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio will be at Thursday's AmFAR screening of My Life So Far or as she says it, "dolling up."

Star Wars...too much hype, too much expectation. Notting Hill (heavily hyped in the UK) opens tomorrow...it will be interesting to see what sort of reaction it gets. Sometimes it's better not to have a big build up. On literary films, the one role Colin could play is the poet Ted Hughes. Gwyneth Paltrow has already been cast as Sylvia Plath in the Miramax movie. TH was craggily handsome. But what particularly struck me was a photo of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath's son at a memorial service...there was a striking resemblance to CF. But, hey, I'm not the casting director!

Thanks, Marianne. We had our fingers crossed. Now, if only the entertainment news shows would spare a second from their coverage of TPM and those same-old, same-old people... Rent a Labrador Service If I stuff the one who lives in the house behind me in my suitcase, I won't have to rent one! Here, doggie, doggie... Now, we will just have to be dropped off in front of the Donmar in a Volvo. Are you still in the same town, Renate? Tony Goldwyn? Shush! Let no know hear that. Besides he'd never be able to do the accent.

Marianne: Colin Firth and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio will be at Thursday's AmFAR screening of My Life So Far Does anyone know which shows are covering Cannes? If Liz Taylor will be there, I'm sure they'll show something. Marianne, I love your name...so Austen-like.

Evelyn--Do you know whatt Alan Yentob's position is at the BBC??

(Renate)How many Labradors, do you think, can the Donmar lobby hold? I don't know, but will a Yorkshire Terrier be allowed? Maybe he could pass for a Labrador, if we took Antonio's Volvo ;-)

Alan Yentob is the Big Honcho...Head of BBC1 ( I think), second-in-command to the Director-General. Allison, do you know? I know he's more than Head of Drama.

(Lidya) Does anyone know which shows are covering Cannes? If Liz Taylor will be there, I'm sure they'll show something. All the entertainment news shows have been showing Cannes: Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and E! They will definitely show the benefit because it is an event into which the press is invited. Unfortunately, they will probably be showing Liz Taylor, Salma Hayek, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver and the rest of the "usual suspects." Moon, does the IFC show parties at Cannes? I don't get the Independent Film Channel (boo hoo) Here's the entire article from USA Today that Marianne brought to our attention. Love the comment about "dolling up" and how Puttnam is so "proud" of his film. ********* HOT TICKETS: My Life So Far will be screened at Thursday's AmFAR fund-raiser at the Cannes Film Festival with Elizabeth Taylor as host. Producer David Puttnam is so proud of the film that he'll rush off to Cannes right after his session in the British House of Lords. You gotta have priorities, you know. The big deal also is that this story of a boy and his eccentric Scottish family is the first collaboration of Puttnam and Hugh Hudson, the director, since Chariots of Fire in 1981. Taylor was due to arrive early Tuesday, little dog Sugar in her lap or purse, to get ready for the bash at the fancy Moulin des Mougins eatery. Hair man Jose Eber will be there with comb in hand. Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Kristin Scott Thomas and Life stars Colin Firth and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio also are dolling up. A highlight will be the auction, which offers one of Princess Diana's dresses, worn on her 1992 Korea trip with Prince Charles, not to mention tennis lessons with the likes of Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. Last year, the event raised $1.2 million for AIDS research, and they're pushing to beat that figure.

(Karen), Moon, does the IFC show parties at Cannes? I don't get the Independent Film Channel (boo hoo) So far no parties. Will try and call them tomorrow and see if they plan to do this one. As I said before, I am sure Hello will cover it and they will have Colin, Yeah!!!

Renate, you must tell us of your adventures in Italy, and Volterra. Welcome back!

(KJArt)Evelyn--Do you know whatt Alan Yentob's position is at the BBC?? I think he's the Top Banana/Head of Drama. Anyway...today he got my email. **** Got an answer from WGBH...the usual..."we'll pass your suggestions on to Programming".Though I think Chris was right ...we should direct a letter to Rebecca Eaton.

How would you address it so he gets it? "Allan Yentob@ etc.?"

I sent it Alan Yentob@bbc.co.uk So far it hasn't been returned. That's the address I received from previous BBC replies.

If people wouldn't anticipate this movie like it were the second coming of Christ, then we'd have a lot more satisfied customers. Unfortuantely, when it comes to sequels nowadays, people are expecting 6million Dollar Man results: bigger, better, stronger, faster. I've got tickets for tomorrow night. Will anticipate nothing.

Allison: Go here to see Salma at Cannes: Salma on the Beach

From BBC News: Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor is to hold her annual celebrity-packed Cinema Against Aids benefit evening at Cannes on Thursday. Stars expected to join Taylor - and pay �1,500 for the privilege - include Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Anjelica Huston, David Lynch and Tom Jones. Madonna and Julia Roberts are also rumoured to be flying into Cannes for the party. [could merit major time on news shows] Last year actress Sharon Stone danced [this is what we were shown of the benefit] to Sir Elton John's piano playing and helped to raise more than �720,000. [...] Before the auction a new film from Chariots of Fire director Hugh Hudson will be screened. My Life So Far stars the British actor Colin Firth. Other stuff from article that should make you gag: Brit actors enjoying the sunshine Meanwhile British actors Jude Law and Sadie Frost flew in to Cannes to enjoy the last few days of the festival and publicise their film The Final Cut which is out in August. [...] Law also announced that he plans to play the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe in a forthcoming film to be made by his production company Natural Nylon. Ewan McGregor, who with actor Jonny Lee Miller make up the rest of Natural Nylon, is tipped to play Shakespeare in the film. Director John Maybury, who made Love Is The Devil about artist Francis Bacon, was keen for the team to work on the film, even though it follows so closely on the heels of the blockbuster about Marlowe's more famous contemporary - Shakespeare. But the new project is likely to be much darker than Shakespeare In Love. Law said of Maybury and the film: "It is going to be black. The first reference point he gave us was The Evil Dead." Law also has other projects in the pipeline. He plans to play Brian Epstein, the manager of The Beatles, in another film being developed by Natural Nylon.

The Arts Council of England has defended its record of distributing lottery money to British films - even though none of the projects it has backed has yet made a profit. [...] The council's lottery film committee chairman, Charles Denton, said no-one should be surprised that returns from the �67m it had invested in 79 films were slow. [...] Denton said his committee's achievements were "not uncheerful", adding: "Out of 49 completed films, only six have so far not secured a cinema release. "The recoupment of a film's budget is a very long proces - unless it is a dog, in which case it's very short."

Thanks Karen! It's amazing to see how Ewan is getting all the good parts. As I've said before, Colin should start his own production company to develop interesting projects for himself to star in. Hopefully, that day is not too far away. There should be a group picture in all the papers tomorrow.

Here's a link that the Independant Film Channel of Cannes: (I hope this works) http://ifctv.com/events/cannes99/text_bot.html

From The Times (re: SLOW) Lottery-funded films fail to show a profit WHEN lottery players paid for Colin Firth to star in a film called The Secret Laughter of Women, little did they know how secret the laughs would be. The �3.3 million movie, described as a romantic comedy set among the Nigerian community in the South of France, has never been shown on a British screen. The film is among an embarrassing and growing list of lottery films which have yet to announce a release date, even though the Arts Council promised that all its titles would get into the cinemas before giving companies the money. The council said yesterday that none of the films in which it has invested lottery money has made a profit, but asked the public to be patient. "That is possibly the time factor or possibly that we have not had many successes," Charles Denton, chairman of the lottery film panel, told a press conference in Cannes. "The council accepts that not every film it supports will achieve critical acclaim or commercial success. It has always seen its lottery film programme as part of a long-term strategy to enhance the prospects of the film sector." He conceded that no lottery-funded movie had "made plus-100 per cent of its spend". So far, 79 feature films have been awarded �67 million over the past four years: of those, he said, 18 have made enough money to repay any of their lottery investment - �3 million so far - as the others have not reached "the marketplace". Mr Denton said that the recouping period was long-term. He would not be prepared to release figures anyway at this stage, even though lottery money was involved, because matching funding from the private sector made that difficult. He said that films took years to make and he would be concerned if their makers rushed them into production before scripts were ready. He added that 16 per cent of the lottery funds had been allocated to black and Asian films. The most successful film has been The Woodlanders, followed by True Blue and Shooting Fish. Others which have made some money include Love is the Devil, about Francis Bacon, Land Girls, Slab Boys, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Among Giants. Three franchises received lottery money to create "mini-studios": DNA, The Film Consortium and Path� who were allocated a share of �95 million over six years in 1997. DNA reported that it signed contracts for its �29 million only a year ago. Two films have now gone into production: Night of the Creatures and The Final Curtain. The Film Consortium, which got �33.55 million in its share, said that �5.5 million spent so far on films had attracted a further �13 million from the private sector. Path� Pictures, which got �33.12 million, has so far made Ratcatcher and An Ideal Husband. One turkey which cost lottery players �500,000 was Peggy Su!, released in Singapore in 1997 but considered too weak for British cinemas. It was shown on television.

Thanks Karen....Salma is a "dead-ringer" for Livia. *** Thanks Moon, but I didn't have any success with that link. I'll try it on Explorer.

It looks adorable!! Had a feeling that it might be there... Miramax has finally put My Life So Far up at its website and there's a trailer!! Colin is mentioned first and shown quite a bit. Cute scene running after his son and out of a window after him. Has a jazzy soundtrack from the '20s or '30s. You hear Colin speak a couple of times. Go to: http://www.miramax.com The trailer is BIG 5.4MB and will take about 20 min with a 56K modem but it's worth it. YOWZA!!!

Good grief, seems I can�t see the trailer properly with this lousy equipment of mine....oh**** Thanks for the tip anyway Karen, I can imagine!!

Which one of the options are you using? There's Quicktime and the other? I used the "other," even the shot of the house showed up right away. There's a little glitchy noise at the beginning, but then it runs smoothly. How can it be saved so we don't have to download it each time. I'm downloading right now Real Player's newest upgrade, in which the picture is larger. Don't know if this will help at all. Nan, can you get Snappies off the trailer? BTW, no Scottish accents!! Take that Ewan!

I SAW IT!! It's a treat....Colin in a 20's bathing suit...sporting those glasses we all love... and that little boy is darling.... all this and Satchmo.... Hey...I want that sound track,now. "The Summer Hit".....Roll on July 16th!!

(Evelyn)...sporting those glasses we all love... HA!!! I KNEW he'd look handsome and distinguished in a pair of spectacles. ;)

Ooooh...nice trailer. I downloaded them both and they are not realvideo files. Both the AVI and the Quicktime give the same 1" x 1" results. But he is cute...but that comes as no surprise ;) If anyone finds a way to use Real on them, let me in on the secret!

It is possible to play the quicktime on a screen about 3 x 3 but you have to go into your files where the stuff you download from the internet is stored temporarily. Mine is Netscape/users/default/cache. In there is a wee movie camera with M193raqf. change that name to MLSF and move it to a permanent file. Click on that little movie camera and there is your movie!

(Karen) Nan, can you get Snappies off the trailer? If I can download it, then open it in Quicktime Pro I can swipe it frame by frame. I'll give it a try when I get home...

Thanks for the warning about the trailer's load time, Karen. It is charming-- different than the one they were running last year briefly. I did hear a trace of a Scots accent (it was more pronounced in that other trailer). Can't wait to see CF back on the big screen! OK, ET is about to come on--have VCR set up for this and Access H'wood. I hope Rosie O'Donnell didn't fight with anyone today. I want the air time for ODB! I'm off to watch...with fingers crossed. They're both gorgeous but IMHO Livia's prettier than Salma, Evelyn. PS. I have the beginning of ET on. It's Rosie and Tom and a rehash of their fight (with Howard Stern thrown in--gag). They mentioned Ben Affleck rubbing elbows with Liz Taylor in Cannes, so there will be a story. I'm outta here!

With previews like your. Eileen, I will not waste my time on it when it come on here in about 4 hours! Definite advantage for the Hawaii dwellers!

OK, nothing of real interest on Access Hollywood or ET. Showed people (Jerry Hall, Salma Hayek and of course Liz) arriving at the gala. Both shows said they would have more coverage tomorrow. I'd bet ET's weekend edition also has a decent sized segment. Nothing on E! Probably tomorrow as well. Nothing on CNN Showbiz. I think that's it!! Nan, asked a guy at a nearby store and he said Quicktime Pro would do it and you should be able to save with Windows Media Player. Marcia, I couldn't find the file in my cache for either IE or Netscape. I'm going to try this again.

Karen, I'd still try for the downloaded files and rename them. Then move them to a safe file as where you find them will dump data when it is full. QuickTime Pro costs. Let us know if you think it was worth the $$ because if you can't find the little file. Thanks for the rundown of the evening's offerings on the Cannes-Firth-watching. I shall hunt for more things for Gi's shower rather than waste my time on the TV ET shows!

I have scanned the major Italian papers who love Liz and yes, they did mention the Gala and lots of stars, I even posted the menu on 72, but no mention of ODB or MLSF. Will see what happens tomorrow on TV.

From the UK Press Assoc.: SEXY SALSA COSTS �33,000 AT LIZ'S CHARITY BASH Salma Hayek spiced up the annual Cannes Aids benefit with a sexy salsa lesson for fellow Dogma star Ben Affleck. She hitched up her glamorous satin gown and swung her hips to the Latin rhythm at the request of producer Harvey Weinstein. He bid �33,000 at the high-rolling charity auction hosted by screen legend Elizabeth Taylor - and ended up tangoing with Ben Affleck himself.

Got 'em. I just love my QT Pro...

Nan.... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! oh Yum. :) *drooling*

Ok, I'm convinced. I'm going to download the QT Pro! Thanks, Nan. You have never let us down =)

Ok ladies, I just discovered that with the AVI format, which gives you the larger picture, you can opt for full screen (your monitor screen) size. Wow!!! Close up it is a little pixelly so you sit back a ways, but my he does look fine!!!

(KJArt)Evelyn--Do you know whatt Alan Yentob's position is at the BBC?? He is Director of Television, BBC. Off to watch clip. Whee!

(KJArt)Evelyn--Do you know whatt Alan Yentob's position is at the BBC?? He is Director of Television, BBC. Off to watch MLSF clip. Whee!

Isn't Netscape wonderful. It now posts twice; an improvement on IE4!

Nan!! Fantastic!! Thank you. He is just so adorable in this. Warning to anyone who opts for full screen: BE VERY CAREFUL! I did this shortly after getting my new PC and it totally changed all the settings on the PC, so that the opening desktop was huge and you couldn't navigate around at allwith a mouse. I had to restore the settings from the DOS setup. The tech support guy at Micron was really impressed by how screwed up it was. Nevah again!! Thanks Marcia, I now have the trailer all captured for viewing on demand. Now if I could only get the movie... :-)

Thanks Nan for giving us our own video stills. Murph tells me she also has them up on her website: http://www.geocities.com/~murphyat65/mlsf.html#new **** Harvey tangoing with Ben Affleck? Did any of the shows capture that one?