LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 30, 2001--Acclaimed director Wolfgang Petersen, who helmed the Warner Bros. Pictures summer blockbuster ``The Perfect Storm,'' has been named ShoWest 2001 Director of the Year, it was announced today by Robert Sunshine, Chairman of Sunshine Group Worldwide (SGW), which operates the event. 

Petersen will receive his award at the annual Gala Award Banquet sponsored by the Coca-Cola Co. to be held at the Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas on March 8. 

``We are overjoyed to be honoring Wolfgang Petersen, who has had such an exciting and winning year with 'The Perfect Storm,''' said Sunshine. ``From his early films to his most recent blockbuster, Wolfgang again and again proves himself to be a true artist and craftsman.'' 

Petersen, whose films ``In the Line of Fire,'' ``Outbreak,'' ``Air Force One'' and ``The Perfect Storm'' have earned combined box office receipts of more than one billion dollars worldwide, recently signed a first look directing deal with Warner Bros. His most recent film ``The Perfect Storm,'' starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg and based on a true story, opened on the July 4th weekend of 2000 to the most successful three-day opening in Warner Bros. Pictures history. It was the second most successful debut this summer and the third highest box office gross for any July 4th weekend opening ever. ``The Perfect Storm'' has grossed $326 million worldwide to date. 

Petersen first shot to fame in the United States in 1982 with the breathtaking submarine-thriller ``Das Boot.'' The film, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including two for Petersen (Best Screenplay and Best Director), was the highest-grossing foreign language film ever released in the United States at the time. 

Among the previous recipients of the ShoWest Director of the Year award are: Anthony Minghella (``The Talented Mr. Ripley''), John Madden (``Shakespeare In Love''), Barry Levinson (``Sphere''), Joel Schumacher (``Batman & Robin'') and Mel Gibson (``Braveheart''). 

ShoWest 2001 will be held from Monday, March 5, through Thursday, March 8, at Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas. Celebrating its 27th year, ShoWest is the world's largest motion picture industry convention. Each year, ShoWest attracts delegates from more than 45 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. ShoWest is managed by Sunshine Group Worldwide, operators of ShowEast, Cinema Expo and CineAsia.

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - The cinematographers for ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Gladiator,'' ``The Patriot,'' ``The Perfect Storm'' and ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' have been tapped by the American Society of Cinematographers as nominees in the feature film category for its Outstanding Achievement Awards.

They are Peter Pau for ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' John Mathieson for ``Gladiator,'' Caleb Deschanel for ``The Patriot,'' John Seale for ``The Perfect Storm'' and Roger Deakins for ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?''

The nomination is the fourth for Deakins, previously nominated for ``Fargo'' and ``Kundun'' and winner of the 1994 award for ``The Shawshank Redemption.'' Seale won in 1996 for ``The English Patient'' (going on to win the Oscar as well), and was nominated in 1988 for ``Rain Man.'' Deschanel was previously nominated in 1996 for ``Fly Away Home.'' Mathieson and Pau are first-time ASC nominees.

Nominees were chosen by the 185 active members of the ASC, and the winner will be announced Feb. 18 at the ASC Awards dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. The ASC launched the awards in 1986.

Jennifer Aniston's attempts to establish herself as a serious movie star have suffered a major blow. The 'Friends' actress signed up to play a lead role in the upcoming comedy 'Rock Star' (formerly titled 'Metal God'), but apparently most of her work has ended up on the cutting room floor. 

The actress, who's 32 in February, plays Mark Wahlberg's love interest in the movie - inspired by the real-life events surrounding '80s heavy metal band Judas Priest - but test audiences weren't keen on the love scenes between Mrs Brad Pitt and Wahlberg.

Movie executives apparently agreed, citing a lack of on-screen chemistry between the pair, so the movie's been re-edited to play down the romance between Aniston and Wahlberg.

You'll be able to see Aniston and Wahlberg together (briefly anyway) when 'Rock Star' opens in the UK this summer. Wahlberg will also be seen in the equally hairy 'Planet Of The Apes', which is due to open here in August.

LOS ANGELES and DALLAS, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI - news) today announced the nominees for the Seventh Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards presented by Blockbuster and Entertainment Weekly magazine, scheduled to air April 11 (8 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX. The star-studded event honors the lead and supporting actors and actresses in the top performing movies of 2000, as well as music artists based on the top- selling albums for 2000, based on information provided by Baseline.Hollywood.com and Soundscan.

Nominees* for this year's awards ceremony include Tom Cruise in the category of ``Favorite Actor - Action'' for his lead role in ``Mission: Impossible 2,'' Gwyneth Paltrow in the category of ``Favorite Actress - Drama/Romance,'' for ``Bounce,'' Denzel Washington in the ``Favorite Actor - Drama'' category for ``Remember the Titans,'' Christina Aguilera for ``Favorite Female Artist of the Year'' for ``Christina Aguilera,'' and Santana for ``Favorite CD'' for ``Supernatural.''

The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards is one of the world's largest publicly-voted awards shows and beginning Jan. 30, millions of Blockbuster customers will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite actors, musicians and video games. Voting will occur in more than 5,000 participating U.S. Blockbuster stores, as well as in more than 1,400 stores in 14 other countries.

Fans can also cast their votes online at blockbusterawards.com. This year several categories, including Favorite Villain, Favorite Action Team, Favorite Single, Favorite Group - Pop, Favorite Artist - Latino and several video game categories, will be available for voting exclusively online. All voting will end Feb. 19.

Veteran television producer Ken Ehrlich (``The Grammy Awards,'' ``The Emmy Awards,'' ``VH-1 Honors'') leads the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards production team for the seventh consecutive year. Coke, MCI WorldCom, Colgate Total Plus Whitening, America Online and Sony are this year's sponsors.

                       BLOCKBUSTER ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
                                   NOMINEES

     Movies

     Favorite Actress - Action
         Angelina Jolie           Gone in 60 Seconds
         Robin Tunney             Vertical Limit
         Vanessa L. Williams      Shaft

     Favorite Actor - Action
         Nicolas Cage             Gone in 60 Seconds
         Russell Crowe            Gladiator
         Tom Cruise               Mission: Impossible 2
         Samuel L. Jackson        Shaft
         Matthew McConaughey      U-571

     Favorite Actress - Comedy
         Sandra Bullock           Miss Congeniality
         Kirsten Dunst            Bring It On
         Janet Jackson            Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
         Nia Long                 Big Momma's House

     Favorite Actor - Comedy
         Jim Carrey               Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
         Martin Lawrence          Big Momma's House
         Eddie Murphy             Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
         Marlon Wayons            Scary Movie
         Shawn Wayons             Scary Movie

     Favorite Actress - Comedy/Romance
         Jenna Elfman             Keeping the Faith
         Helen Hunt               What Women Want
         Tea Leoni                The Family Man
         Renee Zellweger          Me, Myself & Irene

     Favorite Actor - Comedy/Romance
         Nicolas Cage             The Family Man
         Jim Carrey               Me, Myself & Irene
         Robert De Niro           Meet the Parents
         Mel Gibson               What Women Want
         Ben Stiller              Meet the Parents

     Favorite Actress - Drama
         Joan Allen               The Contender
         Julia Roberts            Erin Brockovich
         Kate Winslet             Quills

     Favorite Actor - Drama
         George Clooney           The Perfect Storm
         Michael Douglas          Traffic
         Mel Gibson               The Patriot
         Tom Hanks                Cast Away
         Denzel Washington        Remember the Titans

     Favorite Actress - Drama/Romance
         Penelope Cruz            All the Pretty Horses
         Helen Hunt               Pay It Forward
         Gwyneth Paltrow          Bounce
         Charlize Theron          The Legend of Bagger Vance

     Favorite Actor - Drama/Romance
         Ben Affleck              Bounce
         Billy Crudup             Almost Famous
         Matt Damon               All the Pretty Horses
         Will Smith               The Legend of Bagger Vance
         Kevin Spacey             Pay It Forward

     Favorite Actress - Science Fiction
         Jennifer Lopez           The Cell
         Anna Paquin              X-Men
         Elisabeth Shue           Hollow Man

     Favorite Actor - Science Fiction
         Kevin Bacon              Hollow Man
         Patrick Stewart          X-Men
         Vince Vaughn             The Cell

     Favorite Actress - Suspense
         Kim Basinger             Bless the Child
         Michelle Pfeiffer        What Lies Beneath
         Meg Ryan                 Proof of Life

     Favorite Actor - Suspense
         Russell Crowe            Proof of Life
         Harrison Ford            What Lies Beneath
         Samuel L. Jackson        Unbreakable
         Dennis Quaid             Frequency
         Bruce Willis             Unbreakable

     Favorite Actress - Horror (Internet Only)
         Courtney Cox Arquette    Scream 3
         Neve Campbell            Scream 3
         Ali Larter               Final Destination

     Favorite Actor - Horror (Internet Only)
         David Arquette           Scream 3
         Vin Diesel               Pitch Black
         Devon Sawa               Final Destination

     Favorite Villain (Internet Only)
         Jason Isaacs             The Patriot
         Ian McKellen             X-Men
         Joaquin Phoenix          Gladiator
         Dougray Scott            Mission: Impossible 2

     Favorite Action Team (Internet Only)
         Drew Barrymore,          Charlie's Angels
           Cameron Diaz &
           Lucy Liu
         Jackie Chan &            Shanghai Noon
           Owen Wilson
         Clint Eastwood,          Space Cowboys
           James Garner,
           Tommy Lee Jones &
           Donald Sutherland
         Chow Yun Fat &           Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
           Michelle Yeoh

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Action
         Toni Collette            Shaft
         Lucy Liu                 Shanghai Noon
         Connie Nelson            Gladiator
 

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Action
         Djimon Hounsou           Gladiator
         Bill Murray              Charlie's Angels
         Harvey Keitel            U-571

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy
         Christine Baranski       Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
         Candice Bergen           Miss Congeniality
         Blythe Danner            Meet the Parents
         Cheri Oteri              Scary Movie
         Molly Shannon            Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy
         Benjamin Bratt           Miss Congeniality
         Paul Giamatti            Big Momma's House
         Tom Green                Road Trip
         Jeffrey Tambor           Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
         Owen Wilson              Meet the Parents

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy/Romance
         Maria Bello              Coyote Ugly
         Amanda Peet              The Whole Nine Yards
         Marisa Tomei             What Women Want

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance
         Jack Black               High Fidelity
         Michael Bowman           Me, Myself & Irene
         Don Cheadle              The Family Man
         Michael Clarke Duncan    The Whole Nine Yards
         Mark Feuerstein          What Women Want

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Drama
         Marg Helgenberger        Erin Brockovich
         Helen Hunt               Cast Away
         Diane Lane               The Perfect Storm
         Catherine Zeta-Jones     Traffic

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama
         Benicio Del Toro         Traffic
         Albert Finney            Erin Brockovich
         Wood Harris              Remember the Titans
         Mark Wahlberg            The Perfect Storm

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Science Fiction
         Kim Dickens              Hollow Man
         Famke Janssen            X-Men
         Rebecca Romijn-Stamos    X-Men

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Science Fiction
         Josh Brolin              Hollow Man
         Vincent D'Onofrio        The Cell
         James Marsden            X-Men

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Suspense
         Robin Wright Penn        Unbreakable
         Pamela Reed              Proof of Life
         Christina Ricci          Bless the Child
         Diana Scarwid            What Lies Beneath

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Suspense
         Andre Braugher           Frequency
         David Caruso             Proof of Life
         Spencer Treat Clark      Unbreakable

     Favorite Supporting Actress - Drama/Romance
         Caroline Aaron           Bounce
         Fairuza Balk             Almost Famous
         Frances McDormand        Almost Famous

     Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama/Romance
         Philip Seymour Hoffman   Almost Famous
         Jason Lee                Almost Famous
         Haley Joel Osment        Pay It Forward

     Family Favorite
         Chicken Run
         Dinosaur
         Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
         The Emperor's New Groove

     Music

     Favorite Female Artist of the Year
         Christina Aguilera       Christina Aguilera
         Toni Braxton             Heat
         Faith Hill               Breathe
         Madonna                  Music
         Britney Spears           Oops! ... I Did It Again

     Favorite Male Artist of the Year
         Dr. Dre                  Dr. Dre 2001
         Eminem                   The Marshall Mathers LP
         Ricky Martin             Sound Loaded
         Kid Rock                 The History of Rock
         Sting                    Brand New Day

     Favorite Group of the Year
         Backstreet Boys          Black & Blue
         Creed                    Human Clay
         Destiny's Child          The Writing's On the Wall
         *NSYNC                   No Strings Attached
         Santana                  Supernatural

     Favorite Artist - Rap
         DMX                      And Then There Was X
         Dr. Dre                  Dr. Dre 2001
         Eminem                   The Marshall Mathers LP
         Jay-Z                    Dynasty-Roc La Familia 2000
         Outkast                  Stankonia

     Favorite Female Artist - Country
         Faith Hill               Breathe
         Reba McEntire            So Good Together
         JoDee Messina            Bum
         Lee Ann Womack           I Hope You Dance

     Favorite Male Artist - Country
         Kenny Chesney            Greatest Hits
         Toby Keith               How Do You Like Me Now
         Tim McGraw               Greatest Hits
         George Strait            Latest Greatest Straitest Hits

     Favorite Duo or Group - Country
         Dixie Chicks             Fly
         Lonestar                 Lonely Grill
         SHeDAISY                 The Whole SheBang

     Favorite Female Artist - R&B
         Toni Braxton             Heat
         Whitney Houston          The Greatest Hits
         Sade                     Lovers Rock

     Favorite Male Artist - R&B
         D'Angelo                 Voodoo
         Joe                      My Name is Joe
         R. Kelly                 TP-2.com

     Favorite Group - R&B
         Destiny's Child          The Writing's On the Wall
         Jagged Edge              J.E. Heartbreak
         Next                     Welcome II Nextasy

     Favorite Artist - Rock
         Don Henley               Inside Job
         Lenny Kravitz            Greatest Hits
         Kid Rock                 The History of Rock
         Sting                    Brand New Day

     Favorite Group - Rock
         Bon Jovi                 Crush
         Creed                    Human Clay
         Limp Bizkit              Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored
                                   Water
         Red Hot Chili Peppers    Californication
         Santana                  Supernatural

     Favorite Female - New Artist
         Dido                     No Angel
         Macy Gray                On How Life Is
         Mandy Moore              So Real & I Wanna Be With You
         Pink                     Can't Take Me Home
         Jessica Simpson          Sweet Kisses

     Favorite Male - New Artist
         Billy Gilman             One Voice
         Nelly                    Country Grammar
         Sisqo                    Unleash the Dragon

     Favorite Group - New Artist
         3 Doors Down             Better Life
         Baha Men                 Who Let the Dogs Out
         Papa Roach               Infest

     Favorite CD
         *NSYNC                   No Strings Attached
         Creed                    Human Clay
         Eminem                   The Marshall Mathers LP
         Santana                  Supernatural
         Britney Spears           Oops! ... I Did It Again

     Favorite Artist - Latino (Internet Only)
         Christina Aguilera       Mi Reflejo
         Marc Anthony             Desde Un Principio
         Gloria Estefan           Alma Caribena-Carribean Soul
         Ricky Martin             Sound Loaded
         Shakira                  MTV Unplugged

     Favorite Group - Latino (Internet Only)
         A.B. Quintanilla
          y Los Kumbia Kings      Amor Familia Respeto
         Los Temerarios           En La Madrugada Se Fue
         Son By Four              Son By Four

     Favorite Single (Internet Only)
         *NSYNC                   Bye, Bye, Bye
         Creed                    Higher
         Destiny's Child          Say My Name
         Faith Hill               Breathe
         Madonna                  Music

     Favorite Soundtrack (Internet Only)
         Charlie's Angels
         Coyote Ugly
         Mission: Impossible 2
         Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
         Romeo Must Die

     Favorite Song from a Movie (Internet Only)
         Independent Woman/Destiny's Child      Charlie's Angels
         Can't Fight the Moonlight/Leann Rimes  Coyote Ugly
         Doesn't Really Matter/Janet Jackson    Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
         You Sang to Me/Marc Anthony            Runaway Bride
         Another Dumb Blonde/Hoku               Snow Day

     Favorite Female Artist - Pop (Internet Only)
         Christina Aguilera       Christina Aguilera
         Celine Dion              All the Way - A Decade of Song
         Faith Hill               Breathe
         Madonna                  Music
         Britney Spears           Oops! ... I Did It Again

     Favorite Male Artist - Pop (Internet Only)
         Marc Anthony             Marc Anthony
         Enrique Iglesias         Enrique
         Lenny Kravitz            Greatest Hits
         Ricky Martin             Sound Loaded
         Sting                    Brand New Day

     Favorite Group - Pop (Internet Only)
         98 Degrees               Revelation
         Backstreet Boys          Black & Blue
         Destiny's Child          The Writing's On the Wall
         *NSYNC                   No Strings Attached
         Savage Garden            Affirmation

     Video Games

     Favorite Video Game
         Driver 2                   PlayStation
         Madden NFL 2001            PlayStation 2
         Pokemon Stadium            Nintendo 64
         Pokemon Trading Card       GameBoy
         Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2   DreamCast

     Favorite PlayStation Game (Internet Only)
         Driver 2
         Spider Man
         Syphon Filter 2
         Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
         WWF Smackdown 2: Know Your Role

     Favorite N64 Game (Internet Only)
         Pokemon Stadium
         Perfect Dark
         Mario Tennis
         Mario Party 2
         The World is Not Enough

     Favorite PlayStation 2 Game (Internet Only)
         Madden NFL 2001
         Midnight Club Street Racing
         Ridge Racer V
         SSX
         Tekken Tag Tournament

     Favorite Dreamcast Game (Internet Only)
         Crazy Taxi
         NFL 2K1
         Resident Evil: Code Veronica
         Shenmue
         Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

     Favorite GameBoy Game (Internet Only)
         Pokemon Gold
         Pokemon Silver
         Pokemon Trading Card
         Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
         Wario Land 3

"Rock Star," the movie starring Mark Wahlberg as a salesman-turned-rock star, has been given an April 13 release date, and a soundtrack dominated by Wahlberg's fictional band, Steel Dragon, will hit stores on April 3.

Sources close to the production, which was shooting with the working title of "Metal God," say musicians making cameo appearances will include Colleen Fitzpatrick, a.k.a. Vitamin C, playing a fan, and Sean Kinney and Mike Inez of Alice in Chains appearing as members of a fictional Seattle band — not much of a stretch.

Sharp-eyed fans will also spot Myles Kennedy of the Mayfield Four and Chris Hower of Radford in the film, directed by Stephen Herek.

Wahlberg's character is styled after Tim "Ripper" Owens, who fronted a Judas Priest cover band before being tapped to become the new lead singer of the actual group. Wahlberg, fans may recall, used to perform under the handle Marky Mark with his group the Funky Bunch, while his brother Donnie was a member of New Kids on the Block (see "Mark Wahlberg Scores With 'Big Hit,' Discusses Possible Record With Brother").

Steel Dragon features Dokken's Jeff Pilson on bass, Jason Bonham on drums and Zakk Wylde on guitar. The tribute band that gives Wahlberg his start, called Blood Pollution, includes the Verve Pipe's Brian Van Der Ark, Slaughter's Blas Elias and Zakk Wylde bandmate Nick Catanese.

Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind also has a small role in the film as the lead singer of a rival cover group. Jennifer Aniston plays Wahlberg's girlfriend.

The title "Metal God" was axed in favor of "Rock Star" to take the film out of the restrictive heavy metal niche and into a wider, more accessible rock genre, a Warner Bros. spokesperson said. Contrary to published reports, the spokesperson said, the switch was not spurred by a complaint from ex-Priest singer Rob Halford, who uses the "metal god" nickname.

The soundtrack will feature Steel Dragon performing a half-dozen songs written for the movie by such artists as Jay and Jeremy Popoff (Lit), Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson), Peter Beckett (Survivor, Little River Band), Steve Plunkett (Autograph), Sammy Hagar, Desmond Child and Richie Blackmore. Additional tracks for the disc are pending.

The album and film will also feature a new song from the Verve Pipe as well as popular '80s songs by the likes of Bon Jovi, Mötely Crüe and Kiss.

—— Sorelle Saidman

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - I'm back from a trip to the ``Planet of the Apes.''

Actually, it's my third visit to the ``Planet.'' My first was on July 10, 1967. At that time, I asked Charlton Heston, who played the astronaut, if he would have agreed to have played one of the ape roles, which at that time required three hours of makeup. He said, ``For a good part I'd wear any makeup.''

Despite the success of the first ``Planet,'' in which he owned a percentage, Heston told producer Arthur P. Jacobs he would not do a sequel. But the movie was a huge success and Richard Zanuck, who ran 20th Century Fox at the time, asked Heston to again appear in a ``Planet.'' After much persuasion, Heston agreed on two conditions: that his role required no more than one week -- and that his character was killed off. Zanuck agreed. Heston returned.

Fade into the year 2000 and Zanuck, readying to produce the new ``Planet of the Apes,'' invited Heston to breakfast at the Beverly Hills Hotel and again asked him to come aboard, this time playing an ape. Heston agreed to test four hours of makeup and said he'd play a role -- one day -- in the creation by five-time Oscar-winning makeup artist Rick Baker.

I found Zanuck, Baker, film director Tim Burton and cast members Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter, Kris Kristofferson, Michael Clarke Duncan and 150 apes on Stage 30 at Sony Studios. (It is a Fox feature but there's no vacancy on that busy lot for a set this size.) The stage is transformed by Rick Heinrichs into the apes' city of Derkein; it is multi-terraced, with ape homes carved into the sides of a mountain whose many caverns provide the humans with temporary escape from their ape captors.

Baker's makeup is advanced from the original by John Chambers, who won an Oscar for his work. Even the most subtle facial expression is translated. I touched the cheek of Bonham Carter (as simian Ari) and it felt totally human. She loves playing the part despite the fact she was in makeup at one a.m.! Duncan demonstrated how each facial muscle camouflaged in makeup responded to our conversation. He got a huge laugh (also visible) when Zanuck said he'd bring him down to a Lakers game -- in his ape makeup and costume.

The ape teeth of the principal (speaking) apes are also specifically created, and at mealtime, makeup assistants help remove the dental appliances so the actors may eat; the teeth are sterilized and appropriately marked and readied for when the ``apes'' return to work. The creation of the facial appliances is so critical, Baker told me only one in five appliances evolves to his satisfaction after days of work.

Stage 30 is separated from the rest of the studio by large black curtains drawn across the surrounding streets to prevent prying eyes of mere human actors working on other stages. Trams with blackened windows circle back and forth to the stage from a staging area on Washington Blvd. for makeup, hair, costumes and food. But there is a crafts services table outside the stage and it was funny watching the ``apes'' munching on (real) bananas.

Richard Zanuck, the epitome of a working movie producer, is on the set every day, working and watching each take with Tim Burton. Both say they are enjoying their work immensely. Zanuck proudly tells me that Burton is on schedule and budget. This ``Apes'' is in the $100 million neighborhood, compared to $5 million for the first. It will be in theaters July 27, leaving little time for post-production. But Burton and Zanuck say there is not a lot of f/x in this film, compared to many of Burton's previous pix. There is, however, a large blue screen at one end of the massive set, giving the opportunity to expand the ``city'' to even greater depths. There will be little digital use in the film; but when the company moves to a location in the desert next week, a cast of 300 apes will be used, and they will be digitalized to even greater numbers.

Despite the passage of over 30 years, Zanuck told me he feels Arthur Jacobs' presence on the set. He credits Jacobs for the original film being made. But, in my column of July 11, 1967, I quoted Jacobs saying, ``No one but Zanuck had the courage to buy it.'' Franklin Schaffner, who directed the first ``Apes,'' also gave credit to Zanuck. Schaffner called the picture ``a contemporary message picture, not sci-fiction.''

The original film's classic final scene of the (buried) Statue of Liberty's head squeezing through the earth, carried through that message. As for the tag scene of the 2001 version, Zanuck promised me, it will be ``thought-provoking.''

The Zanuck company starts two more films in six weeks: ``Road to Perdition,'' with Tom Hanks starring, Sam Mendes directing, and ``Reign of Fire,'' starring Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale for director Rob Bowan. All three Zanuck Co. pix (wife Lili Fini Zanuck is in Ireland readying ``Reign of Fire'') will positively wind before the strike deadline, Dick Zanuck promises.

A week after Mark Wahlberg winds ``Apes,'' he wings to Paris to start the ``Charade,'' remake also to wind pre-strike deadline.

As for the possibility (probability?) of the strike(s), Zanuck too wishes former MCA chairman Lew Wasserman could (again) settle Hollywood's labor woes. Why can't Zanuck step in to do it? He's been part of this biz all his life and knows everyone's importance -- or lack of same.

Returning to my office in the real world, I was sorry to learn Marvin Davis is hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center suffering from pneumonia. But his son, John tells me his father is improving.

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising, along with toy manufacturer Hasbro and specialty marketer Applause, have unveiled a major marketing push for summer 2001 event pic "Planet of the Apes."

Merchandising program, which will be launched at Gotham's Intl. Toy Fair (to be held Feb. 11-15), crosses all categories, and there are more than 50 domestic and international licensees already.

Hasbro will unveil a line of action figures and collectible toys at the Toy Fair, and will ship them to retailers just before the film's July release.

Dark Horse Comics will publish ``Planet'' comic books and graphic novels, while Buster Brown will produce footwear. In addition to traditional products such as lunch boxes, posters, knit caps, trading cards, T-shirts and backpacks, the ``Planet'' line will also include dioramas, inflatable furniture, scooters and scooter heads, underwear, clocks and shower caps.

"We have a dream team of creative cinematic talent reinventing one of the greatest film franchises of all time," said Fox L&M prexy Steve Ross.

Licensees include Topps Co., Andrews McMeel, Urban Station and Toy Island.

The picture, which began shooting Nov. 6, is expected to wrap in April. Mark Wahlberg, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Clarke Duncan star. 

WHEN:   Wednesday, Jan. 17, 6 p.m. PST

WHAT:   Fans of the $180 million blockbuster hit will join "The Perfect Storm" director Wolfgang Petersen in Warner Home Video's exclusive "Virtual Theater" event. WHV is the only studio to host the "Virtual Theater," an online forum that allows film buffs from around the world to participate in a simultaneous full-length screening and live chat event with some of the industry's top talent.

WHO:    "The Perfect Storm" director Wolfgang Petersen. Petersen's other film highlights include "Das Boot," which earned six Academy Award nominations, and the multiple Academy Award nominated box office hit, "Air Force One."

HOW:    To participate, users need a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive, "The Perfect Storm" DVD and an Internet connection. A cue delivered by Warner Home Video via the Internet will trigger the movie to begin at the same time for all users on their computer. Users will then view the movie together at DVD quality in the "Virtual Theater" and will be able to ask Petersen questions. Users without a DVD-ROM computer will be able to participate in the chat only.

Users can register by going to "Online Events" in their DVD-ROM's menu or at  www.warnervideo.com/Perfectstormevents. Users can also submit a question in advance or find additional information at this site.

DETAILS:

    --  Previous WHV "Virtual Theater" guests include director David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg on behalf of "Three Kings" and writer/directors Andy and Larry Wachowski and Visual Effects Supervisor John Gaeta on behalf of "The Matrix."

    --  A cinematic experience at its most exhilarating, "The Perfect Storm" stars George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. Based on the dramatic events that took place in the waters of the North Atlantic nearly nine years ago, Sebastian Junger's nonfiction account, "The Perfect Storm," has been on the best seller list for more than 100 weeks, boosted by the popularity of the theatrical release.