People talk 9/12/02

Glover urges active role in communities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Danny Glover urged an audience of more than 700 people at the University of Arkansas to take a more active role in their communities and in the world.

The film star said, "It's extremely important that we listen to and learn from one another in the larger global community."

On the eve of Wednesday's one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Glover said war is not key to fighting terrorism. Instead, he said, the government should attack "the sources of terrorism," such as poverty.

"Going to war and taking lives is not the process that works," he said. "What you've done is effectively cut off any discourse or dialogue. If we're only going to govern by anger, then we've lost the game."

Aldrin says attack was self-defense

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Buzz Aldrin was defending himself when he swung at a man who asked him to swear on a Bible that he'd been to the moon, the former astronaut's publicist said.

"Buzz Aldrin was forced to protect himself and his stepdaughter when he was aggressively confronted outside a Beverly Hills hotel," publicist Robert O'Brien said in a prepared statement.

Authorities were investigating a report by Bart Sibrel, 37, who said the former Apollo 11 astronaut attacked him Monday at the Luxe Hotel.

Aldrin, 72, had left the hotel when police arrived around 4:30 p.m. and was not interviewed, said police Lt. Joe Lombardi.

Sibrel, of Nashville, Tenn., said he does not believe Aldrin or anyone else has ever walked on the moon. Describing himself as a reporter, he told KABC-TV he was trying to confront Aldrin about his 1969 lunar mission when Aldrin swung at him.

Aldrin had just finished an interview with a Japanese television production crew, and the confrontation was videotaped.

Sibrel said he'd confronted Aldrin twice before and was surprised that Aldrin reacted the way he did.

Aldrin's publicist said the videotape shows Sibrel blocking the way as Aldrin and his stepdaughter left the hotel.

QVC shopping network sues ex-host Levine

WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- Electronic retailer QVC is suing a former host who moved to the Home Shopping Network, saying she violated her contract by e-mailing QVC viewers about promotions at her new station.

QVC Inc. filed the lawsuit against Kathy L. Levine, who was a star host on the network for 13 years. The lawsuit, filed Friday, says Levine exploited confidential customer information.

According to the lawsuit, Levine sent e-mails to addresses she acquired at QVC before the debut of her new HSN show, "Kathy Levine, By Request," in August.

Customers then complained to QVC, said Bonnie Clark, vice president of public relations.

Levine said she hadn't heard about the lawsuit, which was filed in Chester County Court.

"My reaction? You've got to be kidding," she said.

West Chester-based QVC is the world's leading broadcast and online retailer with reported sales of more than $3.9 million last year. QVC is majority-owned by Comcast Corp.

The Home Shopping Network, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, Fla., reported sales of about $1.9 billion last year.

De Niro looking for scripts to develop

NEW YORK -- Robert De Niro and his Tribeca Film Institute partner, Jane Rosenthal, are looking for scripts with scientific or technological themes for possible development.

The scripts, due Nov. 1, should have a leading character who is a scientist, mathematician or engineer. Each submission should include a feature-length script, a short synopsis up to two pages, and the writer's resume. Science fiction story lines won't be accepted.

Two writers will be chosen in the first year of the program, and will receive financial support and insight from filmmakers and science experts. At least one script will be read at the second annual Tribeca Film Festival in spring 2003, and the completed film will screen at the 2004 festival.

The Sloan foundation, created in 1934, makes grants for scientific, technological and economical performance, and previously has teamed up with film schools at universities including UCLA and USC.

Scripts should be sent to the Tribeca Film Institute, 375 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attn: Tribeca/Sloan Film Program.

-- From wire reports