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©1995-99, To Be Continued...
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March 26, 1999
“Starlighter” dies; “Zemeckis Center” gets more $
Lung Cancer claims gifted musician
I just found out last night that musician Tommy Thomas, whom fans will recognize as the saxophone player for "The Starlighters", died February 18 of lung cancer. He was 41, and is survived by his wife and four children. Thomas was a music instructor at Cypress College in Cypress, California. Our hearts go out to his family in their tragic loss. Please see http://www.bttf.com/news/99032601.htm for the complete story. [Thanks to "MyTatuo" for the details]
Lucas helps fund Digital Studio
George Lucas was in the news again yesterday, this time because he has donated $1.5 million to create a new digital studio at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, his alma mater. As you will remember, Robert Zemeckis, also a USC alumnus, recently donated $5 million to the school. According to Variety, the new facility will be part of the school’s new Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts, set to begin construction in June. The 35,000 square-foot Zemeckis Center is expected to cost about $15 million, and will be the first addition to the Film School since 1984.
Spielberg's next three
Cinescape Online reported yesterday that Steven Spielberg gave Variety some small details regarding his upcoming directorial film projects. Minority Report is expected to begin filming on time in September when Tom Cruise finishes filming Mission: Impossible 2. Filming will take place entirely in Los Angeles and on the 20th Century Fox backlot. Spielberg will follow that up with Memoirs of a Geisha, which he had postponed to begin filming in 2000. Apparently, the film will be shot entirely in Los Angeles, despite previous reports. Spielberg has some doubts now as to whether he'll still make Lindbergh, but that it will depend on how the script turns out. Unfortunately, the director didn't elaborate on the long awaited 4th Indiana Jones film, which has been expected to be one of Harrison Ford's next projects after he finishes Robert Zemeckis'
What Lies Beneath.
In other Spielberg news, Saving Private Ryan will be released on home video on May 25 (Bob Gale's birthday) as a rental title only, not priced for sell-thru. The film is also expected to surpass Back to the Future this weekend to take the over the #22 spot on the Movies That Have Grossed $100 Million list. Ryan currently trails Future by less than $400k.
“Wild” for Flea
Also reported by Cinescape, quoting sources at the New York Post, is that Nickelodeon will produce a film version of their popular animated series, The Wild Thornberries. Red Hot Chili Peppers' Bassist Flea ("Needles") voices the character of "Donnie" on the show, and is expected to provide the character's voice for the film as well. Given the fact that Nick's last animated film, The Rugrats Movie, took in over $100 million in the U.S., expectations for The Wild Thornberries Movie will certainly be high.
— Stephen Clark
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