People talk 9/3/02

'K-19' director rises to challenge

VENICE, Italy -- Even for an experienced film director like Kathryn Bigelow of "K-19," working with longtime heartthrobs Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson was enough to make her sweat.

Bigelow, who was promoting her submarine epic with both stars at the Venice Film Festival, said being around the two wasn't always easy.

"I have to say that at first it was extremely intimidating," she said Sunday. "From my perspective, you have to rise up to this."

Ford arrived here with actress Calista Flockhart, sending photographers into a frenzy. He was willing to pose, but sounded a little annoyed at the media.

"Their interest in my personal life is disquieting," he said. "And all the more so for the failure to get it right in so many ways."

Mick Jagger gets right fit for stage clothes

NEW YORK -- When Mick Jagger gets on stage, he not only has to be a rock star, he has to dress like one.

"Part of the process of going onstage is to become a stage person," Jagger said in this week's New Yorker magazine. "Even if I wore these trousers on the day I put them on for the stage, they're stage trousers. Getting dressed. Any actor will tell you the same."

The Rolling Stones' lead singer says he has rigid specifications for everything he wears on stage, but most importantly his pants must be properly tailored.

"You're in them a lot more than anything else," Jagger said. "They've got to keep their shape. And the trouble is, stretch fabrics start to bag."

The Stones -- Jagger, 58, Keith Richards, 58, Charlie Watts, 60, and Ron Wood, 54 -- have been rehearsing for their fall tour, which begins Tuesday in Boston.

Between rehearsals, Jagger and his stylist have been going through hundreds of pieces of clothing trying to find the right fit.

Country artist receives humanitarian award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Country singer and songwriter Steve Wariner has received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award for his charitable work.

Kathy Mattea, last year's recipient, presented Wariner with the award Saturday during the Grand Ole Opry's 4,000th consecutive Saturday radio broadcast.

Wariner, 47, has worked with several charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. His stepdaughter, Holly, was diagnosed with diabetes as a child.

Wariner has had a number of No. 1 country hits, including the Country Music Association's 1998 song and single of the year "Holes in the Floor of Heaven."

The award was named for Minnie Pearl, the award's first recipient in 1988. Pearl, a character created by comedian Sarah Cannon, wore a straw hat with the price tag dangling and told jokes about being a man-hungry spinster.

Eminem goes home for cinematic debut

DETROIT -- Eminem's cinematic debut will showcase not only the rapper but also his hometown.

"8 Mile," filmed entirely in the Detroit area, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as a work in progress, with Eminem and director Curtis Hansen expected to attend.

"Detroit is an art director's dream," Los Angeles-based Phil Messina told The Detroit News during the shooting. "There's so much great stuff to shoot here architecturally -- hand-painted signs and great colors. You could do a coffee-table book just on Detroit architecture alone."

Eminem plays a rapper caught between ambition and anger. The festival begins Thursday, and the film opens Nov. 8. Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger also stars.

Bon Jovi is ready for some football

NEW YORK -- The members of Bon Jovi say their upcoming performance in Times Square will not only kick off the football season but celebrate New Yorkers' resilience after Sept. 11.

The NFL approached the group about headlining Thursday's free concert, which is being promoted as a massive tailgate party. After the performance the band will take a helicopter to Giants Stadium to perform at halftime during the game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers.

The group's latest album, "Bounce," was inspired in part by the Sept. 11 attacks. Middletown, N.J., a community 45 miles south of Manhattan where singer Jon Bon Jovi lives, lost 32 people in the attacks.

The singer said he saw the smoke rising from the World Trade Center from a beach near his home.

"When I was a kid, the Army and Marines would call, wanting me to enlist," he told the New York Daily News. "I used to jokingly say, 'The day they invade Asbury Park, give me a call.' ... Here I am 22 years later and I felt like ... this is the beach at Asbury Park and they're here."

Bjork's west London flat burgled

LONDON -- A burglar broke into Icelandic pop diva Bjork's west London flat, stealing valuable recording equipment while the pregnant singer slept, a newspaper report said Monday.

Thieves entered her apartment in the Maida Vale neighborhood Friday night, according to the London Evening Standard.

Bjork's spokeswoman declined to comment, saying it was a private matter. Scotland Yard said only that police had been called to a Maida Vale residence regarding a burglary allegation, but declined to say whether Bjork was the victim.

The singer's latest album is "Vespertine," released last year.

-- From wire reports

Wagner enjoys 'Austin Powers' role

NEW YORK -- Robert Wagner says it's easy for Rob Lowe to play a younger version of his character in the "Austin Powers" movies.

"You know why he can do me so well? I have three daughters. He's been cruising my house for years," Wagner told Newsday. "But he's a great boy. I love him."

Wagner, who plays the older version of the evil henchman "Number Two," said the movies have helped him reach a younger audience that may not have known him from television shows like "Hart to Hart."

"It's the best thing that ever happened," he said. "It's a terrific ride for me. ... It's great that people can go there and forget for a few hours what a mess this planet is in."

Risi was joking about 'Mamma' Loren

VENICE, Italy -- Veteran comedy director Dino Risi, who last week accused Sophia Loren of carrying out "Operation Mamma" to get her son's first feature shown at the Venice Film Festival, says people took his comments too seriously.

"I was joking," he told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. "I wrote her an affectionate little apology note."

Risi, 85, was receiving a lifetime achievement award at the festival. He is best known for films such as "Poor But Beautiful" (1957) and "The Easy Life" (1962).

Loren returned to the Venice festival after years away to promote her son Edoardo Ponti's film "Between Strangers," which she also stars in. The film received weak reviews and boos from critics at its premiere.

-- From wire reports