Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 6

Family Saturday, December 30, 2000 Page 6 Scoop By UZ SMITH Tribune Media Services 'WHEN I started acting, I was much more an anarchist. I was only in terested in more rebellious kinds of punk rock, alternative expressions. I became aware, however, that I was going to 'intense1 or 'weird' myself right out of the business. I had neglected the other side of the industry." ihats Nicolas Cage talking to Online about how tie gradually eased into establishment movies, winning Vegas." (Cages ex-buddy Scan Penn an Oscar, finally, for "Leaving Las ripped into him last year for going mainstream, out at least we don get nick complaining ne aoesnt make enough money, as Penn did not long ago in Details.) Cage has "The Family Man" in cineplexes right now, and flexes his "weird" muscles as the producer of the eagerly awaited "Shadow of the Vampire' starring two fellow travelers in intensity John Malkovich AH and win cm uatoe. ims tongue-in-cheek, movie-within-a-movie hit theaters Friday.

Producer Cage says, 'The movie is totally 'out there There's no disguise or formula, and it wasn't enhanced with the kinds of demands that sometime inhibit creativity. I'm very proud of what we achieved It is totally unco promised. And Dame's 'Schreck is the most compelling vampire I've ever seen!" SPEAKING OF THINGS VAMPIRIC, Greta Garbo was a big fan of F.W. Mur-nau, the German filmmaker whose silent screen classic "Nosferatu" is the basis for "Shadow of Che Vampire." Sharing Christmas joy The Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 29? recently held a Christmas party for the residents of Kenbrook Personal Care Home, with gifts, refreshments and entertainment provided by members of OES. Standing from left are Pamela Rougeaux, activities director, and OES elves Barb Elgin, Elaine Holt and Carolyn Adcock.

Kneeling in front is Carolyn Kelsey, worthy When Murnau died in an accident at Student of the Month Josh Antoline, the son of Richard and Edith Antoline of New Alexandria Kit 1, was named a Saltsburg MiddleHigh School Student of the Month for December. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl team, band, cross country and track. He has also participated in school plays and musicals. Josh plans to attend a four-year college and major in chemistry. people who attended his funeral.

She also commissioned rus death mask" and kept it on her desk in Hollywood, gazing at it while she wrote letters, read scripts and communed with her soul. You see, she didn't really want to be "alone." She just wanted to be "left alone." EVERY NEW YORKER knows the famous bandleader Peter Puchln, the inheritor of the legend that was his famous father, Eddy Duchin. Peter was raised in high cotton by the Averell tfarrfmans. He is married to Brooke Hayward, die etiild of the producer Leyland Hayward and the beautiful Mm star Margaret Sullivan. Duclun gives the downbeat for debutantes, socialites and high-livers.

He has been named a Living Landmark by the New York Landmark Conservancy and is a fixture at their annual parties at the Plaza. Now Ducliin will join with author John Morgan Wilson for a series of mysteries inspired by Peter's remarkable life The agent Alice Marcel has already closed the deal with a major publisher Each book will take its tide from a song that the lead character, Philip Draper, has performed. The character will be "inspired" by Duchin, not exactly based on his reality. After all, this will be fiction. And let's not forget that Peter Duchin is also a writer.

His autobiography, "Ghost of a Chance," was a best-seller some years ago. As for John Morgan Wilson, his "Benjamin Justice" mystery series is a winner. He has won both the Edgar and Lambda awards. DEPARTURES, the magazine published by American Express, is a big favorite of mine. And its editor, Richard David Story, has a winner in the JanuaryFebruary issue This includes a big takeout from food expert Gael Greene on the three handsome sons of Slrio of Le Cirque, titled "The Fabulous.

Maccioni Boys." Mario, Marco and Mauro are all in the restaurant business themselves, even though their famous daddy says, "It's not my fault. I pushed them 10 be doctors, lawyers, architects anything but this. Maybe 1 pushed too hard!" RAN INTO society's Nan Kempner up at Swifty's. She was lunching with a very blonde and great-looking Nancy Kissinger and the dashing brunette frith Landau. Nan said her book on style and entertaining, "RSVP," has been a marvelous experience and she praised her publisher, Clarkson Potter.

Nan has been doing the circuit in Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. A lot of these cities are asking her back to speak about the high life. Nan's book found a benefactor who prefers to be nameless. This man donates the same amount to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as the price of the book every time anyone buys one. So there's a good incentive to pick up Nan's book.

It's great fun for a good cause. The hostess-entertainment arbiter will make appearances in Palm Beach and the rest of Florida in the spring. It' i age 42, Garbo was one of the only 11 more precious than when a man hits Marshall Lumsden said. year, Bjvrk might even find herself hit on his hands with the fact-based "AT NO TIME is freedom of speech his thumb with a hammer, author SHORT SHOT: Singer actress Bjvrk is now reversing herself about not acting in any more films. She said upon the release of "Dancer in the Dark" that she'd never do it again.

However, the Icelandic music star has already collected a clutch of awards for her performance in "Dancer" and, considering it is a lean movie Oscar-noimnated. KEVIN COSTNER looks to have a thriller "Thirteen Days" (about the cinating fact. The briefcase used in Cuban missile crisis). And here's a fas Student of the Month Afton Harr, the daughter of Tom and Sandy Harr, was recently selected as a Salisbury MiddleHigh School Student of the Month for December. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the North Apollo First Church of God.

She also participates in volleyball and softball, and works part time at the Saltsburg Pharmacy. Afton plans to attend Pennsylvania Slate University and major in actuarial science. Senior of the Month Dana R. Kozich has been named the Penns Manor High School Senior of the Month for December by the Penns Manor Education Association. She is die daughter of John and Deane Davis of Clymer.

She serves as the student council public relations officer. Environmental Club secretary and Varsity Club treasurer. She also served on the prom committee, and is a member of die ski club. Dana volunteers with the MS Walk, Relay for Life, Special Olympics and others. She is named in "Who's Who Among American High School Students," and is a member of the National Honor Society.

She has received distinguished honors. Dana's future plans are to attend 'Fantasia Each week, Evan Levine, the author of "Kids Pick the Best Videos for Kids" from Carol Publishing, previews and rates two ciiUdren's programs available on TV or video. By EVAN UEV1NE Newspaper Enterprise Assn. Fantasia 2000 Walt Disney I Tome Video Adults who saw "Fantasia" as children probably have indelible memories of dancing hippos and marching broomsticks. Inspired, no doubt, by the cult appeal of the original, "Fantasia 2000 which was released in theaters last year, is now available on video.

Rabid devotees may cry "Foul!" about this sequel of the original segments, only "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is included in the new don (Mickey stars as an apprentice who unleashes the power of the wizard's hat when his master is not around). It's still by far the most dramatic, lucid sequence, with captivating animation, endlessly exciting music by Paul Dukas, and a direct link to children's deepest fears' about the desire for power and the fears of the consequences. One of the most successful new episodes features a breathtaking (if New Age-y) sequence of whales cavorting -and eventually breaking through the surface of the water, with music by Oltorino Rcspighl A photographic evidence, is trie actual case given to President Jolui Kennedy during those super-tense days in 1962. SANDRA BERNHARD opens her one-woman show, "The Love Machine," at the Jane Street Theatre tonight (Dec. 27).

Her act always contains surprises, but I hope along with her witty way of pricking the pom posity balloons (trashing herself, trashing others), she also belts out a few songs, i still amazea tnac sancira AFTON HARR Saltsburg DANA KOZICH Clymer California University of Pennsylvania and major in technology education. 2000' may much-discussed installment offers Hirschfcld-like drawings that capture the lives of several people who eventually intersect on a Manhattan day, set to George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." An ovcrscheduled child, a construction worker who longs to be a jazz musician, and a man whose wife gives new meaning to the term "shopaholic" are some of the caricatures (or are they?) of New York personalities. Other sequences include a rather frightening adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," with music by Dmitri Shostakovich, and a take on "Noah's Ark," vi(h Donald Duck as a rather confused helper and "Pomp and Circumstance" as die backdrop. Die sequences don't work as seam: lessly as they might, and viewers may wonder at the selections of music and story line. Rut it still offers children a chance to watch wordless, imaginative blends of music and animation.

As Toby, 7. explained about the video, "It lets you think of the words yourself. It should be famous." Rating scale: 1-10 (10 is die highest) Appropriateness: 6 Some of the segments are definitely scary and seem targeted to older children. Visuals: 7 Each Installment has a distinctive look, and the widely varying animation is one of the pleasures of the film. Humor: 6 Fragments of humor JOSHANTOUNE New Alexandria RR 1 NIKKI MONSILOVICH Indiana everyone couldn't determine who diat man in the dark clothes was.

Was he an older brother? The father? A visitor?" The insertion of music and dance gives the show its "FameMike quality and its strongest appeal, although it also adds a burden of unreality. The scries can't seem to decide if it's a realistic (although lighthcarted) look at a girl struggling with two worlds and a burgeoning career, or a fantasy of sorts. Despite the quibbles, however, Kelly Is a definite fan. "I would watch this show again because it has everything. It has the ethnic mix, it has music (which I love), and teen-agers.

We rule!" Rating scale: 1-10 (lOisthehighest) Appropriateness: 7 Pretecns, especially those with dreams of stardom and who doesn't fit into thai category?) will like this rousing if unrealistic look at life in a performing-arts high school. Visuals: 6 Live action, with plenty of dose-ups of singing and dancing. Humon 6 The characters alt laugh at themselves, but the humor seems vaguely unreal. Believability.6 It's a Tunny mix of the very believable and the very unbelievable. Social value: 7 It's great to see a strong emphasis on a Latina and her family.

Fun factor: 6 The plots tend toward the fluffy (so far), and viewers will enjoy the performing. route, stiea be a smasn. But mayoe mats too mainstream tor a cutting-edge star. Girl of the Month The Indiana Junior Women's Civic Club recently selected Nikki Monsilovich as the Girl of the Month for December. She serves as die student government secretary and an IATV broadcaster.

She is a member of Grace United Methodist Church, the Road Runners Club, National Honor Society, Key Club and is a Special Olympics volunteer. Nikki is also active In cross country, basketball, track and powder puff football, and is an Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame hon-oree. She plans to attend a four-year college and major hi communications and history. not be for emerge in many of the scenes; catch those yo-yo- twirling flamingos! Bel icva bility: 6 Best to watch for the sheer artistry and music. Social value: 7 AlUiough definite misses exist, some of the segments are terrific.

Fun factor: 6 The watchabitity varies widely and may depend on children's preferences. Tama Nickelodeon; Sunday In another instance of TV sitcoms finally catching up to the real world, this new creation on Nickelodeon features die travails of a 15-year-old PuerLO Rican girl trying to make her mark at a performing-arts high school while also contending with her very traditional family. It's great to see a Latina teen-ager and some of (he conflicts that arise between school and family, the Old World culture and the new. However, the series, which has a distinctly "FamcMikc feel, needs to establish more of a feel for what's real and wbni's not. (It's hard to believe, for example, that anyone would actually choose to do a monologue from a Jennifer I.opcz movie for an audition piece.) Kelly, 13, who's an aspiring performer herself, gave high marks to die show.

"I liked the fact that a teenage Hispanic girl is the lending character tn a show, and that the actress looks Hispanic," she explained. However, as she objected, "The family didn't seem very real I IN THE MIDDLE of the crush of Christmas and New Year's, I somehow managed to start and finish one of the best pieces of fiction I've read in ages. Actually, I can't take any credit for finding the time, because once I started this novel, I just had to finish It. It is Richard North Patterson's "Protect and Defend" (Random House), a story so omnipresent and in sync with the current headlines that it makes one wonder how the author managed to get ahead of the curve so as to create this book. There are no corpses to speak of in this melodramamystery, but it is thrilling and exciting.

There is a Bobby Kcnncdy-tvoe president a broadcaster girlfriend his handsome war-hero com petition from the Senate a fabulous Justice of the Supreme Court assorted tcen-aeers, wives, lovers, aides. the movie, the one containing vital nasnt gone tne eroaaway musical female nominee to become Chief limits. This isn't one of those serial admit I love so much, but "Protect let's think of something entirely dif showed that the majority of children hours and one in 10 people oruy re- lawyers, sleazy journalists, victims and die conservative moss backs of the religious right and the Congress. They are all locked in political, ethical power struggles to the death. America now hip on the issues and powers of the "Supremes," the Constitution, the electoral process, politics In general and infighting in Washinpton should simply eat up this story, which takes late-term abortion and Roe vs.

Wade to the killerforensic science novels that I and Defend is every bit as Buspenseful and much more sausfying! AND NOW that Christmas is over, ferent tattoos. You have to suffer for this kind of body art and the problem is that although the tattoo is painful, it is said to be nothing compared with having the tattoo removed. So, think before you ink! The Daily Telegraph out of London reminds us that tattooing has been around for at least 5,000 years. "Twenty years ago, it was still the preserve of hikers, sailors and criminals." Likewise, if vou get tattooed to impress your kids, forget it. A recent study were not impressed oy uik unuer uauuy oi mummy iuue.

wu icci tattoos are a "bad thine." The number of women having tattoos has risen threefold. And tattoos on men have doubled. The most popular age group is 1 6 to 24. Most peo ple keep tattoos hidden during omce vcais tnem in me oca room..