03/20/00

LC000320

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

THE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS WAS CRUMBLING AND THEIR BACKS WERE AGAINST THE WALL, BUT THESE TENANTS CAME OUT SWINGING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER SLUMLORD STORY. THIS IS A TALE OF HOW AN UNLIKELY GROUP OF THIRTEEN TENANTS FACING EVICTION HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO TRY TO RESCUE THIS PLACE THEY CALL HOME.

FRANCISCO BAXA>> WHAT'S KEY IS THAT THERE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE WHO REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THEIR HOME, WHO HAVE PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO MAKING THIS WORK.

VAL>> AND WE'VE ALL HEARD OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, BUT WHAT ABOUT AN ENDANGERED LANGUAGE? IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, MEET AN IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO WHO SAVED HIS INDIAN LANGUAGE FROM EXTINCTION.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> PEOPLE ARE ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT THEY SPEAK A ZAPOTEC LANGUAGE AND THEY START TEACHING THEIR KIDS SPANISH HERE IN THE STATES, SO ZAPOTEC WAS BEING LOST GRADUALLY HERE.

VAL>> PATT MORRISON MUSES ABOUT THE HEIST THAT GALVANIZED HOLLYWOOD.

PATT>> THIS WEEK'S CRIME OF THE CENTURY, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND A WINDOW INTO THE WORLDS WE SELDOM SEE FIRSTHAND.

[FILM CLIP]

MUSIC FROM CUBA, DISABILITY AND LIFE BEHIND BARS, ALL SUBJECTS OF THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINATED DOCUMENTARIES. 

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA. WARREN OLNEY HAS THE NIGHT OFF. HE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

OUR TOP STORY, THE TENANTS WHO WOULDN'T BUDGE. THEY DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK IN THE FACE OF POSSIBLE EVICTION. WHY? BECAUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN SUCH SHORT SUPPLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, FOR EVERY ONE AFFORDABLE APARTMENT, THERE ARE FOUR FAMILIES WAITING TO GET IN. THAT'S WHY EVERY BUILDING COUNTS, AS PHILIP BRUCE EXPLAINS.

PHILIP>> TAKE A LOOK AT THIS OLD HOUSE IN THE PICO-UNION AREA JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. BACK IN THE 30'S, THIS SINGLE-FAMILY HOME ON WESTLAKE AVENUE WAS CONVERTED TO ELEVEN TINY APARTMENTS. AT FIRST GLANCE, THE VICTORIAN STRUCTURE CATCHES YOUR EYE, BUT CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWS LOTS OF PROBLEMS. THE PAINT IS PEELING, THE BACK STAIRS ARE COLLAPSING AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF RECENT MAINTENANCE.

INSIDE, CONDITIONS ARE EVEN WORSE. WALK INTO THE FIRST APARTMENT UNIT. THE KITCHEN CEILING IS MISSING. CHECK OUT THE BATHROOM IN THE UNIT DOWN THE HALL. THE PLUMBING LEAKS AND THE FLOORS AND WALLS ARE FALLING APART. A CITY HOUSING INSPECTOR HAS BEEN HERE AND NOW OFFICIALS ARE GOING AFTER THE OWNERS. BUT THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER SLUMLORD STORY. THIS IS A TALE OF HOW AN UNLIKELY GROUP OF THIRTEEN TENANTS FACING EVICTION HAVE BANDED TOGETHER TO TRY TO RESCUE THIS PLACE THEY CALL HOME. INSTEAD OF LEAVING, THEY INTEND TO BUY THE BUILDING THEMSELVES.

JULIA GARCIA>> [INTERPRETED] OLDER PEOPLE HERE, A CHANGE OF LIFE WOULD AFFECT THEIR HEALTH. THEY CAN'T THINK ABOUT LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE. ALSO, WE HAVE A FEELING OF FAMILY. WE LIVE IN THIS PLACE LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY.

ROSARIO MUNOZ>> [INTERPRETED] I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND I DON'T THINK I COULD LIVE AS COMFORTABLY ANYWHERE ELSE. YES, THE CONDITIONS ARE BAD, BUT I'VE LIVED HERE QUITE PEACEFULLY.

ANA PALACIOS>> [INTERPRETED] THE TRUTH IS, IT'S VERY BAD LIVING HERE. WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE, THOUGH. WE'RE FINDING WAYS WE CAN STAY HERE.

PHILIP>> LAST FALL, THE TENANTS ALL RECEIVED EVICTION NOTICES. THE BUILDINGS OWNERS HAD STOPPED PAYING THE MORTGAGE AND THE BANK HAD TAKEN OVER THE PROPERTY. SO THE TENANTS TURNED TO THE LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LA. ATTORNEY ELENA POPP WAS PUT ON THE CASE.

ELENA POPP>> GENERALLY, BANKS LIKE TO, WHEN THEY FORECLOSE, VACATE THE BUILDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THAT ISN'T EVEN QUESTIONED. THEY SERVE THEIR NOTICES, MOST OF THE TENANTS LEAVE, THE FEW REMAINING TENANTS MIGHT BE OFFERED RELOCATION ASSISTANCE. THEY'LL LEAVE ALSO AND THEN THE PROPERTY IS PUT ON THE MARKET OR SOMETIMES JUST BOARDED UP.

PHILIP>> BUT THE TENANTS OF 746 WESTLAKE AVENUE WEREN'T READY TO GIVE UP. THEY TOLD POPP TO FIGHT BACK.

ELENA POPP>> IT'S ACTUALLY VERY UNUSUAL FOR A LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY TO CALL A BANK AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S GOING AND, NO, THEY DON'T REALLY WANT THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE EITHER. THEY WANT TO STAY AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE BUILDING."

PHILIP>> WHEN SHE FIRST MET WITH THE TENANTS, POPP INTENDED TO TELL THEM THAT THE BUILDING WAS IN SUCH CONDITION THEY SHOULD MAKE OTHER PLANS. BUT THEY WERE SO ADAMANT ABOUT WANTING TO BE TOGETHER, SHE STARTED BELIEVING THEY COULD DO IT.

ELENA POPP>> IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE. THERE'S THREE ELDERLY WOMEN, THERE'S A GAY COUPLE, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN, THERE IS A MALE-TO-FEMALE TRANSGENDERED PERSON LIVING IN THE BUILDING, THERE ARE TWO FAMILIES. THEY'RE ALL LATINOS. WITH THEM BEING LATINOS, THEY HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY AND THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE OPENNESS ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.

PHILIP>> BUT HOW DOES A GROUP OF THIRTEEN LOW-INCOME PEOPLE MANAGE TO GET THROUGH THE COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE PAPERWORK, FINANCING AND REPAIRS. WELL, THE SAME WAY ANOTHER GROUP OF TENANTS SUCCEEDED IN BUYING A DILAPIDATED BUILDING THEY CALL CAMBRIA COMMUNITY. EVEN BEFORE POPP BECAME INVOLVED, THE TWO GROUPS HAD COMPARED NOTES. AT ONE TIME, THE CAMBRIA COMMUNITY PROPERTY WAS IN FAR WORSE SHAPE THAN THE WESTLAKE HOUSE.

PAUL SMITH>> THE BUILDING WAS A SCARY, SMELLY PLACE. WE HAD SEWAGE PIPES BROKEN AND POOLING IN THE BASEMENT, ROACHES, RATS, DRUG DEALERS. THE BUILDING WAS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION.

MARIA CONTRERAS>> [INTERPRETED] HERE IN THE FRONT, IT WAS TOTALLY FULL OF GARBAGE, FULL OF THE BOTTLES FROM ALL THE DRUNKS WHO WERE HANGING AROUND.

PHILIP>> WHEN THE LANDLORD WHO OWNED THE BUILDING WALKED AWAY, THE TENANTS EVENTUALLY WERE ABLE TO FORM A NON-PROFIT ENTITY TO TAKE OVER AND RESTORE THE BUILDING. THEY, TOO, WERE HELPED BY LEGAL AID, AMONG OTHERS.

FRANCISCO BAXA>> WHAT'S KEY IS THAT THERE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE WHO REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THEIR HOME, WHO HAVE PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO MAKING THIS WORK.

PAUL SMITH>> WHEN WE WERE EVICTING SOME OF THE DRUG DEALERS FROM THE BUILDING, THERE WERE THREATS ON PEOPLES' LIVES. AND AFTER HAVING DONE THAT, THERE'S A REAL COMMITMENT TO BEING HERE.

PHILIP>> BACK ON WESTLAKE, CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN CHECKING OUT THE BUILDING TO ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS AND RESTORATION. THE MORTGAGE BANK THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY IS BASED IN FLORIDA. ITS ATTORNEY HERE IN NEWPORT BEACH DECLINED AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED OVER THE PHONE THAT HE WAS IN FACT NEGOTIATING WITH ELENA POPP.

BUT THERE'S A COMPLICATION. THE CITY IS CONSIDERING FILING CHARGES AGAINST THE OWNER BECAUSE THE HOUSE VIOLATES SO MANY BUILDING CODES. POPP FEARS THIS COULD ENCOURAGE THE BANK TO SOLVE ITS PROBLEM QUICKLY BY KICKING OUT THE TENANTS AND BOARDING UP THE BUILDING.

ELENA POPP>> ABATING MEANS TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I SUPPOSE YOU CAN ABATE IT BY FIXING THE PROBLEM, SO YOU CAN ABATE IT BY EVICTING THE TENANTS. AND, TO SOME EXTENT, IT'S SPEEDIER FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE BANK TO ABATE IT BY EVICTING THE TENANTS.

PHILIP>> POPP BELIEVES SHE'S CONVINCED THE BANK'S ATTORNEY THAT EVICTION ISN'T A GOOD IDEA. SHE AND THE TENANTS SEEM CONFIDENT THEY'LL PREVAIL. IT'S A SMALL VICTORY THAT COULD HAVE LARGER MEANING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ELENA POPP>> ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES IS TO SORT OF PLANT THESE SEEDS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE PICO-UNION AREA WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH DILAPIDATED HOUSING, IN THE HOPES THAT WE WILL BE -- NOT ONLY ARE WE DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ALSO IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

PHILIP>> SEEING THIS BUILDING TODAY AND REALIZING HOW POOR THE TENANTS ARE, IT MAY BE HARD TO IMAGINE THEM AS PROPERTY OWNERS. BUT THEN, IT WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS AGO THAT THE CAMBRIA COMMUNITY, NOW REGARDED AS A BIG SUCCESS, LOOKED EVEN WORSE THAN WESTLAKE.

VAL>> THAT IS QUITE A TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS. BUT MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH ARE THEY SELLING THE WESTLAKE HOUSE FOR?

PHILIP>> YOU KNOW, NOBODY REALLY KNOWS AT THIS POINT. THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO FLUX AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. THAT SECOND BUILDING YOU SAW, THE CAMBRIA BUILDING? WHEN THAT FIRST WENT ON THE MARKET, WHEN THE OWNER WAS FORCED TO SELL IT, THE ASKING PRICE WAS $1.2 MILLION. NOW THAT'S AMAZING FOR A DILAPIDATED BUILDING, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE WAS ASKING. AND A LOT OF THESE SLUMLORDS ARE WAITING UNTIL THEY CAN JACK THE PRICE UP AS MUCH AS THEY CAN AND SELL IT. HE WOUND UP GETTING HALF THAT AFTER THE CITY SAID WE'LL GIVE YOU THIS MONEY AND WORKED OUT THIS DEAL WITH THE TENANTS. THE BIG QUESTION IS, WHERE DO THESE PEOPLE GET THAT KIND OF MONEY?

VAL>> EXACTLY. THE TENANTS IN THE WESTLAKE BUILDING, THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY COME UP WITH A BIG DOWN-PAYMENT.

PHILIP>> WHATEVER THE PRICE TAG IS GOING TO BE, YOU CAN BET IT'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BECAUSE, AS BAD AS THAT BUILDING IS, IT'S STILL A MATTER OF THE PROPERTY BEING WHERE IT IS. THEY'LL COME UP WITH THE MONEY THE SAME WAY THE OTHER RESIDENTS DID, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FACTORS. YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE PUBLIC MONEY, CITIES ARE WILLING TO GIVE MONEY TO TENANTS IN THESE SITUATIONS BECAUSE, IN EXCHANGE, THEY GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO REHABILITATE A BUILDING AND TRY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN THROUGH LOANS AND PUBLIC MONEY.

VAL>> BUT THEY'RE AT THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES. THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.

PHILIP>> AND THIS IS NOT REALLY SOMETHING THAT IS OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY EITHER. THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS.

VAL>> IT'S A LONG HAUL. WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK BACK IN SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR FROM NOW AND SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.

PHILIP>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> PHILIP, THANK YOU.

TIME NOW FOR THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO, FELIPE LOPEZ WAS AN ILLITERATE IMMIGRANT. TODAY, HE'S A PHD STUDENT WHO HAS ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SOME SCHOLARS ONLY DREAM OF. HE HAS SAVED A LANGUAGE FROM VIRTUAL EXTINCTION. THE LANGUAGE IS ZAPOTEC AND IT'S SPOKEN BY INDIAN PEOPLES IN THE STATE OF OAXACA, MEXICO. BUT RECENTLY, IT'S BEEN UNDER SIEGE FROM SPANISH AND THAT'S WHERE LOPEZ COMES IN. HE IS CO-AUTHOR OF THE FIRST EVER ZAPOTEC DICTIONARY. I TALKED WITH THIS SOFT-SPOKEN SCHOLAR FOR TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

YOU HAVE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE REALLY. AT AGE SIXTEEN, YOU CAME ACROSS THE BORDER ILLEGALLY IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR AND NOW YOU'RE 37, 38 AND YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR PHD FROM UCLA IN URBAN PLANNING.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> YES.

VAL>> THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> WHAT WAS THE KEY MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR YOU, THAT SET YOU ON THE COURSE TO EDUCATION?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> I DIDN'T WANT TO FALL INTO WHAT PEOPLE PERCEIVED ME TO BE.

VAL>> WHICH IS WHAT?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WHICH IS, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M ZAPOTEC. IT'S A MINORITY GROUP IN OAXACA IN MEXICO. IN MEXICO, THE PERCEPTION OF BEING INDIGENOUS IS SORT OF BEING AWKWARD, NO EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T SPEAK SPANISH. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I CONFRONTED HERE WITHIN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITY.

VAL>> SO IN MEXICO, WHEN YOU'RE ZAPOTEC, YOU'RE CONSIDERED LOW ON THE SOCIAL LADDER?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> CORRECT, YEAH.

VAL>> SO WHEN YOU COME HERE, THAT SAME PREJUDICE CONTINUES WITHIN THE MEXICAN COMMUNITIES?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT, YES. IT SORT OF ACCUMULATED AND IT STARTED TO BOTHER ME. I REALIZED THAT, IF I GOT AN EDUCATION, I WILL BE GETTING BETTER JOBS, SO --

VAL>> SO YOU LEARNED ENGLISH AND, BY AGE 22, YOU'D GOTTEN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY. BY AGE 34, YOU HAD YOUR MASTERS IN LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES FROM UCLA AND A YEAR LATER YOU BECAME A U.S. CITIZEN. BUT THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR IS THIS DICTIONARY. WHY DON'T YOU TELL US, WHAT IS THIS DICTIONARY ALL ABOUT?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WELL, THIS DICTIONARY ACTUALLY WAS BORN OUT OF ALL THIS EXPERIENCE AS I REALIZED WITHIN MY COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE FELT ASHAMED OF SPEAKING ZAPOTEC.

VAL>> EVEN THOUGH IN YOUR VILLAGE ZAPOTEC WAS THE DOMINANT LANGUAGE?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S ALL WE SPEAK IN MY COMMUNITY. BUT HERE, COMING TO THE STATES, AND ENCOUNTERING DISCRIMINATION OR --

VAL>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> -- WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT. PEOPLE ARE ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT THEY SPEAK A ZAPOTEC LANGUAGE AND THEY START TEACHING THEIR KIDS SPANISH HERE IN THE STATES. SO ZAPOTEC WAS BEING LOST GRADUALLY HERE.

VAL>> SO ZAPOTECANS WHO CAME HERE TO THE UNITED STATES, AND THERE'S ABOUT 800 OF THEM, WERE LOSING THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

VAL>> TO SAVE IT.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT, AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRITTEN BEFORE.

VAL>> IT'S ONLY ORAL?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT, YEAH.

VAL>> SO IF IT HAD BEEN LOST, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO RECORD AT ALL?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT. SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS. I FIGURED IF IT'S GOING TO BE LOST, WELL, AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE A RECORD OF IT.

VAL>> HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT -- HOW DO YOU EVEN BEGIN TO WRITE A DICTIONARY?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WELL, WHEN I FIRST BEGAN TO TRY TO WRITE THE LANGUAGE, I WAS LOOKING AROUND FOR WHO WOULD HELP ME OUT WITH IT. I MET PROFESSOR PAMELA [MORROW] WHO IS A LINGUIST AT UCLA AND SHE HAS EXTENSIVE WRITING. NOT ZAPOTEC, BUT OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN DICTIONARIES. SO WE WENT TO A DIALOGUE AND TALKED ABOUT HOW TO REPRESENT WORDS BECAUSE IT'S A TONAL LANGUAGE --

VAL>> VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FROM ENGLISH.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> SO WE NEEDED TO REPRESENT TONE, YOU KNOW. FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEEDED TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN, SAY, "[EYA, EYA, EYA]" --

VAL>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> [EYA] MEANS TONE, [EYA]: DRINK.

VAL>> DO YOU MEAN THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WORDS YOU JUST SAID?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> ACTUALLY, IT'S THREE WORDS.

VAL>> I COULDN'T EVEN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> [ ] IS WHAT IT'S CALLED IN SPANISH. SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OUR GOAL WAS TO HAVE KNOWN ZAPOTECS HAVE ACCESS TO THE DICTIONARY AND TO UNDERSTAND --

VAL>> THAT'S WHY IT'S ZAPOTEC, SPANISH, ENGLISH, IS THAT CORRECT? A THREE-WAY DICTIONARY?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> RIGHT, YES.

VAL>> NOW I ACTUALLY FOUND IT REALLY WONDERFUL TO BROWSE THROUGH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME WORDS IN ZAPOTEC THAT SIMPLY DON'T EXIST IN ANY WAY. YOU KNOW, A SINGLE WORD IN ENGLISH. ONE IS THAT SAYS -- THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE VERY HANDY IN LOS ANGELES -- "SAYS THINGS TO MAKE SOMEONE LOOK BAD". THERE'S ONE WORD THAT HAS THAT WHOLE IDEA IN IT. IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL. ANOTHER ONE IS, "SICKNESS OF HAVING LOST THE SOUL THROUGH A BAD FRIGHT".

FELIPE LOPEZ>> YEAH.

VAL>> COULD YOU SAY THAT PHRASE FOR US? IT'S LIKE [ ], SOMETHING OR OTHER. R-H-C --

FELIPE LOPEZ>> [ ].

VAL>> SAY THAT AGAIN? AND THAT MEANS SICKNESS OF HAVING LOST THE SOUL THROUGH A BAD FRIGHT.

VAL>> WE'D NEVER HAVE THAT IN ENGLISH.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY COMMON CONCEPT. THE LOSING OF YOUR SOUL TO A FRIGHT AND THEN YOU GO THROUGH VARIOUS STEPS IN ORDER TO TRY TO REGAIN YOUR SOUL. YES, IT DOESN'T EXIST IN WESTERN CONCEPT.

VAL>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. FINALLY, THERE IS A WAY TO COMMUNICATE IN ZAPOTEC THAT'S WHISTLING. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WELL, IT'S BEEN LOST. IT'S MORE OF A TRADITIONAL WAY OF COMMUNICATING THROUGH WHISTLING, WHICH KIDS NOWADAYS ARE NOT USING AS MUCH. SO IT'S BEEN LOST AT LOT. IT' SORT OF A SMALL CONVERSATION LIKE GREETINGS OR --

VAL>> TELL US A SITUATION UNDER WHICH YOU'D WHISTLE.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> WELL, IF I SEE A FRIEND OF MINE GOING, YOU KNOW, I SEE HIM FAR AWAY AND PERHAPS JUST TO SAY HI.

VAL>> AND WHAT WOULD THAT SOUND LIKE?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> [WHISTLE]

VAL>> AND THAT MEANS?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> A SORT OF HI.

VAL>> VERY GOOD. WELL, HOW DO YOU SEE THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ZAPOTEC?

FELIPE LOPEZ>> [ ].

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FELIPE.

FELIPE LOPEZ>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND NOW PATT MORRISON FINDS REASON TO CELEBRATE THE CAPPING OF A CRIMINAL CAPER IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> WHAT A DEVASTATING HUMAN HORROR IT'S BEEN, BUT AT LAST WE CAN CANCEL THE PRAYER VIGILS. AT LAST WE CAN RELAX. TO QUOTE PRESIDENT GERALD FORD AT THE END OF ANOTHER NATIONAL TRAGEDY KNOWN AS WATERGATE, "OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER." THE STOLEN OSCARS HAVE BEEN FOUND.

THEY WERE TAKEN FROM A SHIPPING DOCK IN THE LOS ANGELES SUBURB OF BELL, THE SAME CITY WHERE 4,000 MISSING ACADEMY AWARD BALLOTS TURNED UP JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. BETWEEN THEM, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST NEWS IN BELL SINCE THE CARD CLUB WAS SHUT DOWN NEARLY TEN YEARS AGO.

IT WAS A CRIME THAT LED THE NEWS NOT ONLY HERE, BUT AROUND THE WORLD. IT WAS A CRIME THAT COMMANDED A JOINT TASK FORCE, BELL POLICE, LAPD, FBI. I WAS WONDERING WHAT WAS KEEPING INTERPOL AWAY. EVEN THE LAPD'S ART THEFT EXPERT WAS CONSULTED. AND ALL FOR WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A GLORIFIED BOWLING TROPHY. FRANKLY, I HAVE MY DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER MERYL STREEP COULD TAKE A 7-10 SPLIT.

AS A RESULT OF THE MEDIA MEGAPHONE, A CRATE OF PLUTONIUM WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A HOTTER PIECE OF STOLEN GOODS, AND MOST OF THE TROPHIES WERE FOUND ABANDONED IN A KOREATOWN DUMPSTER. THE OVERBOARD REACTION TO THE THEFT IS A GOOD REMINDER THAT MOST OBJECTS ARE ONLY AS VALUABLE AS WE WISH THEM TO BE AND HOW FAR OUT OF WHACK THAT VALUE MAY BE. WOULD THE SAME EFFORT HAVE BEEN MOUNTED TO FIND A HUMAN HEART BEING SHIPPED FOR TRANSPLANT? WHAT IF THE NOBEL PRIZES, THE AWARDS FOR THE NOBLES OF HUMAN ENDEAVORS, HAD GONE MISSING? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. NOT ONLY ARE A BILLION PEOPLE NOT WATCHING THE NOBEL AWARDS CEREMONIES, I DON'T THINK IT'S TELEVISED.

PERHAPS THE MOST REDEEMING ASPECT OF THIS IS THAT THE MAN WHO FOUND THE MISSING AWARDS MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN LA WHO DIDN'T KNOW THEY'D BEEN STOLEN. WILLIE FULGEAR MAY BE GETTING THE $50,000 REWARD, BUT I'D ALSO BET HE'LL RECEIVE HIS OWN INVITATION TO THE OSCAR TELECAST. AND AT LAST, WHEN THE WINNERS GET AROUND, AS THEY INVARIABLY DO, TO THANKING ALL THE LITTLE PEOPLE, ONE OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE MIGHT BE RIGHT THERE AMONG THEM.

VAL>> THANK YOU, PATT.

WELL, AS PATT MENTIONED, THE ACADEMY AWARDS ARE COMING UP THIS SUNDAY. NOW "AMERICAN BEAUTY" AND "THE CIDER HOUSE RULES" ARE GETTING ALL THE BUZZ, BUT YOU HEAR VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE BEST FILM NOMINEES IN TWO OTHER CATEGORIES. THEY ARE LONG- AND SHORT-FORM DOCUMENTARIES. WE'LL SEE A SAMPLE IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> BOY, THAT IS A HARD LITTLE CLIP TO WATCH. JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS DAVID HAUGLAND. HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> IT'S NICE TO BE HERE. THANKS.

VAL>> WHAT DID WE JUST SEE?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO BAD THE CLIP ISN'T LONGER BECAUSE THIS TRULY IS ONE OF THOSE AMAZING FILMS ABOUT AN EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL. THE FILMMAKERS ACTUALLY SPENT THIRTEEN YEARS FOLLOWING DANNY WHO HAS CEREBRAL PALSY. THEY FOLLOWED HIM FROM ABOUT AGE TWELVE OR IN HIS EARLY TEENS UP UNTIL HIS MID-TWENTIES. WE SEE HIS ENTIRE LIFE UNFOLD AND IT'S A STRUGGLE. I MEAN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE'S GOT TO DEAL WITH LIVING IN A WHEELCHAIR, WHEN HE GOES INTO HIS SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE MOVES OUT OF HOME SO HE CAN LEARN TO LIVE ALONE SO HE CAN GO TO COLLEGE INDEPENDENTLY LATER ON. HE PAINTS. HE EXPRESSES HIMSELF THAT WAY AS WELL AS --

VAL>> AND INTELLECTUALLY, HE IS HEALTHY?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> INTELLECTUALLY, HE IS JUST LIKE YOU OR ME, BUT HE'S PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. IT'S INTERESTING. AT THE FRONT OF THE FILM, HE DEFINES WHAT THE WORD "GIMP" MEANS. THE TITLE IS ODD, IN AND OF ITSELF, "KING GIMP". HE SAYS MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOMEONE LIMPING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. HE SAYS IT HAS MUCH MORE TO DO WITH THE SPIRIT.

VAL>> WOW. THIS IS ONE OF HOW MANY FILMS IN THE LONG-FORM?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> THIS IS IN THE SHORT-FORM.

VAL>> THIS IS SHORT?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> THIS IS ONE OF THREE NOMINEES IN THE SHORT-FILM CATEGORY.

VAL>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT THEY FOLLOWED HIM FOR ALL THESE YEARS --

DAVID HAUGLAND>> YES.

VAL>> -- AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT IT IN SHORT-FORM?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> I KNOW. THE MASSIVE EDITING ROOM, RIGHT? NO, IT'S AMAZING. AS A RESULT, IT REALLY IS COMPELLING. IT'S JUST UNDER FORTY MINUTES LONG, WHICH IS THE CUTOFF FOR SHORT FILMS.

VAL>> I SEE.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> IT'S BRILLIANT. I MEAN, IT'S SO EXCITING TO -- WELL, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS DO THIS ANYWAY. THEY TAKE YOU SOMEPLACE YOU CAN'T GO. NONE OF US COULD SPEND 13, 14 YEARS FOLLOWING THIS GUY AROUND, ALTHOUGH HIS MOTHER IS WITH HIM THROUGHOUT ALL OF IT. WE MEET HER AS WELL IN THE FILM. BUT WE GET THE PRIVILEGE NOW, ONCE THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS COME OUT, OF EXPLORING DIFFERENT WORLDS. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WORLDS WE GET TO GO INTO AS WELL AS THE WORLDS THAT THE OTHER FILMS TAKE US TO.

VAL>> ANOTHER WORLD THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PEEK AT WAS SHOT AT A LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY IN ANGOLA. IT CENTERS AROUND THESE PRISONERS WHO, ONCE A YEAR, PUT ON A BIG RODEO SHOW.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> AND HERE IS ONE INTERVIEW FROM ONE OF THE INMATES WHO'S TAKING PART IN THAT.

[FILM CLIP]

DAVID HAUGLAND>> CONVICT POKER.

VAL>> CONVICT POKER?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> SO THEY COME UP WITH VERY UNCONVENTIONAL EVENTS.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> WELL, BUT, THEY ALSO HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL EVENTS. I MEAN, YOU SEE THEM DOING THE BAREBACK RIDING AND ALL OF THE NORMAL RODEO EVENTS AS WELL. BUT WHAT THEY ARE IS, THEY'RE ALL PRISONERS IN THE FARM WHICH, YOU'LL REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR, WAS A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY NOMINATED --

VAL>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> -- ABOUT THE SAME PRISON.

VAL>> IS THIS BY THE SAME FILMMAKER?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> BY THE SAME FILMMAKER, JONATHON STACK, AGAIN, BUT WITH A SHORT FILM ABOUT THIS RODEO THAT HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AS YOU SEE IN THE FILM, THE CONVICTS ARE SORT OF BEHIND THIS FENCED AREA EXCEPT FOR WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE ACTUALLY COMPETING IN THE RODEO EVENTS. IT'S PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY. AGAIN, A PLACE MOST OF US WOULD NEVER GET TO BE UNLESS WE HAPPEN TO BE IN THAT PART OF THE SOUTH WHEN THEY DO THE RODEO AND STOP BY.

VAL>> THAT IS INCREDIBLE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER QUICK LOOK AT ANOTHER CLIP. THIS IS FROM A DOCUMENTARY CALLED "ON THE ROPES". IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT A BOXING CENTER. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE BOXERS IS A WOMAN. SHE WAS BROUGHT ON DRUG CHARGES BEFORE A JUDGE AND THIS IS HER STATEMENT TO THE JUDGE.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> SO TELL US A BIT ABOUT HER.

DAVID HAUGLAND>> WELL, SHE'S ONE OF THREE AMAZINGLY ENGAGING CHARACTERS, BUT SHE WINS OVER EVERYBODY'S HEART WHEN THEY SEE THIS FILM, SIMPLY BECAUSE -- THE FILMMAKERS FOLLOWED HER FOR A YEAR. SHE GOES THROUGH THE STRUGGLES. SHE'S REALLY WORKING HARD AS A YOUNG MOTHER --

VAL>> AND A BOXER?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> -- AND A BOXER TO BECOME A GOLDEN GLOVES CHAMPION. SO YOU SEE HER TRAINING, YOU SEE HER IN HER BOUTS, YOU SEE THE HEARTBREAK, THE HARDSHIP OF ALL OF THAT. BUT IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE OF A RAID ON THE HOUSE THAT SHE LIVES IN, SOME DRUGS ARE FOUND, SHE'S BROUGHT ON CHARGES AND THIS IS ONE OF THE SCENES IN THE COURTROOM WHEN SHE'S MAKING HER APPEAL. THIS IS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY AS SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE HER WAY UP THE RANKS IN THE GOLDEN GLOVES. AGAIN, IT'S FILMMAKERS FOLLOWING SOMEONE FOR A YEAR AND GETTING A COMPELLING PERSONAL STORY.

VAL>> MY APOLOGIES. WE'RE OUT OF TIME. REAL QUICK MENTION, RECEPTION THIS THURSDAY?

DAVID HAUGLAND>> THURSDAY EVENING AT THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES IN BEVERLY HILLS. THERE'S A RECEPTION FOR THE FILMMAKERS NOMINATED IN BOTH THE FEATURE AND SHORT DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. WE SHOW CLIPS AND YOU MEET THE FILMMAKERS AT THE RECEPTION AFTERWARDS AND THEN DOCU-DAY AT THE DG ALL DAY SATURDAY.

VAL>> DAVID HAUGLAND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. AGAIN, YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO SEE SOME OF THESE OSCAR-NOMINATED DOCUMENTARIES. THEY ARE SPECTACULAR AND THEY DON'T GET THE ATTENTION THEY DESERVE. THE SCREENING IS THIS SATURDAY AT THE DIRECTORS GUILD THEATER.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

TOMORROW, THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH WHAT SHE SAYS, BUT DO GAY AND LESBIAN GROUPS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP DR. LAURA OFF THE TUBE? THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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FOR ALL OF US HERE, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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