The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 145

SURFS UP! In record stores today is "MOM Ik MUSIC FOR OUR MOTHER OCEAN," the sequel to last year's benefit album, proceeds from which support the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation's clean-water activities. The album includes rare and unreleased songs by Jewel, Porno for Pyros, Sublime and other artists. SurfdogInterscope Records Cos Angela Sames orange county SECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1997 HIGHLIGHTS a By CLAUDIA PUIG TIMES STAFF WRITER ast summer Disney flew some 500 Hollywood types to San Francisco and ferried them over to Alcatraz Island for a lavish premiere of "The Rock," an action thriller produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and set on Alcatraz. The event held on the island that once housed the famous ning to question the payoffs for the huge amounts of money spent for that hallowed Hollywood tradition, the premiere. For a radically different approach, DreamWorks, whose first film, "The Peacemaker," opens Sept.

26, decided that since it has no opulent studio tradition to uphold, it would introduce its first production with far less fanfare. The studio will hold its premiere screening next month at Mann's Chinese Theater with cast and crew members, free popcorn, candy and drinks but no glittering catered gala. In fact, some scaling back has already begun. In May, the premiere for "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" was held in similar low-key style at Universal City's Cineplex Odeon theaters. Lots of stars turned out anyway, and the film made a record-breaking $90.2 million on its opening four-day weekend and went on to become one of the year's biggest hits to date.

So, just what is the value of the red carpets and searchlights today's Hollywood? "There's no value at all in terms of ticket buyers," said Mike De Luca, president of production for New Line Cinema. "There's some P.R. value. You can maybe read about it in a magazine. It's an industry thing." Please see PREMIERES, F6 PHIL BRAY BOX OFFICE: And the decision goes to "G.I.

Jane," starring Demi Moore, above. According to box-office results, which were in dispute Sunday, the film about a female Navy SEAL took in $11.1 million, while "Money Talks" earned $10.7 million. F4 The box-office chart. F5 maximum-security prison drew widespread coverage in the press, on television entertainment shows and news segments around the world. The film had a very successful opening weekend, grossing $25 million.

Two months ago the same studio flew about the same number of Hollywood insiders to Las Vegas on commercial commuter airlines, then bused them in "prisoner transports" to see a premiere of "Con Air," a thriller also produced by Bruckheimer about some brutal convicts who hijack an airplane. The event got far less coverage than the other Bruckheimer film and left many guests grumbling about the unaccommodating transportation and frantic itineraries. But such carping didn't affect the box office; "Con Air" opened successfully anyway, taking in $24 million its opening weekend. Given such experiences, it's probably no wonder that some studios are begin- Studios are beginning to question the value of lavish premiere parties, staple of Hollywood promotion. -I -n I I I I I III II PRUDE NUDES: A show of figure painting in Laguna Beach is over-populated by rigidly academic or moralistic work.

Reviewed by Cathy Curtis. F2 PORTER DOCUMENTARY: Chapman University will host a screening of documentary about Edwin S. Porter. He not only revolutionized U.S. cinema with "The Great Train Robbery" in 1903 but was adept at creating movie machinery.

F2 FOND PARODIES: The mood is wry, the playing impeccable as the Dad Five, an attraction in local coffeehouses, plays primarily original songs patterned after fondly remembered baby-boomer icons from the '60s and early 70s. Album review by Mike Boehm. F3 MORNING REPORT: Fox has yanked one of its new programs "Rewind," a sitcom starring Scott Baio less than three weeks before its scheduled premiere. The series "is still evolving," Fox says. F4 HIS WAY: At the JVC Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl concert Sunday night, keyboardist Joe Zawinul made it clear that with his new group, the Zawinul Syndicate, he intends to continue to explore some fascinating musical territory.

Reviewed by Don Heckman. F6 RAZZLE: Russian violinist Boris Brovtsyn showed off his dazzling technique and determined musicianship in the season-opening concert of Sundays at Two at Beverly Hills Public Library. Reviewed by Timothy Mangan. F9 6RIT-P0P: Del Amitri offered some satisfying dark pop moments at L.A.'s El Rey Theatre, but in choosing mainly to rock, the Scots didn't effectively serve their intriguing fusion of melody and bile. Reviewed by Natalie Nichols.

F9 ENERGIZED: A long night of mixed -bag works dimmed the energetic luster of Lula Washington Dance Theatre at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Reviewed by Victoria Looseleaf. F10 PotbyeBer1ierStudjo' Premiere parties bring out the stars: clockwise from upper left, Will Smith and Linda Fiorentino for the "Men in Black" opening; Madonna at the "Evita" fete; and Nicolas Cage at "Con Air" gala in Las Vegas. TV Class Is Now in Session An NE A Deal or a Gutting? The arts: Several senators are trying to find a compromise to keep the endowment alive, but others say any changes to its current structure would ruin the agency. Television: Stations will begin to provide at least three hours a week of educational kids' shows.

What qualifies is likely to be the next hot debate. Index F2 What Goes On By JANE HALL TIMES STAFF WRITER EW YORK-When young I sters curl up with Saturday morning cartoons and other Movie Guide F3 Liz Smith F4 Radio F13 TV: Tonight's schedule F14 TV Tips F14 To Write By KASPER ZEUTHEN TIMES STAFF WRITER WASHINGTON-With the House on record with a bill to kill the National Endowment for the Arts and the Senate expected to ride to the agency's rescue when Congress reconvenes next month, compromise is in the air. And that could mean a dramatic restructuring of the NEA a change not all arts advocates would welcome. Given the differing congressional attitudes toward the NEA, several senators are scrambling to devise a solution that will make their bid to keep the agency alive easier to swallow for the agency's fierce opponents in the House. "You have one body the Senate with a clear position for the NEA, and one body the House against it," said Sen.

Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho). "The question is where we can find some middle ground. How can we change the NEA? It must be different from the status quo." Craig said "informal talks" among senators so far have concluded that "a more fair distribution" of NEA Please see NEA, F7 children's shows on broadcast television this fall, they're going to be greeted with "kidvid" that has been vitamin-enriched. Beginning Monday, broadcast stations must provide at least three hours a week of educational programming for children.

The shows must be "specifically designed to meet the educational needs of children under the age of 16," according to requirements set by the Federal Communications Commission. Stations have been required since last January to designate Please see TV, F12 Letters should be brief and must include the writer's full name (no pseudonyms), address and phone number. Mail to letter, Ounge County Calendar, The Tmms, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Maaa, CA 92626. Or you can fax us at (714) 966-7790.

Our e-mail address is Randy latlmet.com. When referring to a specific article, please mention the date of publication. All communications are subject to editing. Walt Dinwy Television Animation ABC says "101 Dalmatians: The Series" teaches kids "about thinking.".