3/20/01

LC010320

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOVIE-MAKING TRADITIONS IS ABOUT TO GO THE WAY OF THE DOLLAR MATINEE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEY STILL MAKE MOVIES THE WAY THEY USED TO, BUT THAT WILL ALL CHANGE IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

DOUGLAS WELLMAN>> WELL, MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THE FUTURE OF FILM IS VERY LIMITED, I WOULD THINK. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAYS, WITHIN FIVE YEARS, DIGITAL WILL REPLACE IT.

VAL>> AND IT TOOK JUST ONE DAY OF WARM WEATHER TO PLUNGE US INTO THE DARK. ARE WE WORSE OFF THAN WE'VE BEEN TOLD? WE'LL HEAR THE ENERGY PRODUCER'S SIDE OF THE STORY IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> ALSO, TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL. THAT'S THE QUESTION OF CONCERN TO PATT MORRISON.

PATT>> TELLING TALES AND PAYING THE PRICE. IMMUNITY FOR TATTLERS, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND THEY'RE SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED IN ALL THE OSCAR HOOPLA, BUT SOME OF THE BEST WORK IN THE INDUSTRY GOES INTO THE MAKING OF DOCUMENTARIES. WE'LL TALK WITH A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER WHO COULD BE DAYS AWAY FROM WINNING AN OSCAR.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, THE FUTURE OF FILM. THE STATE OF THE ART IN MOVIE-MAKING TOOK A GIANT LEAP FORWARD THIS MONTH WITH THE OPENING OF A NEW COMPLEX AT USC. IT IS CALLED THE ROBERT ZEMECKIS CENTER FOR DIGITAL ARTS.

VAL>> THE CENTER AND THE TECHNOLOGY INSIDE IT ARE CHANGING THE WAY TOMORROW'S FILMMAKERS WILL PLY THEIR CRAFT. AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THE FUTURE OF FILM MAY BE A SHORT SUBJECT.

PHILIP>> TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, IT MAY LOOK LIKE A HOME MOVIE IN THE MAKING, BUT IN FACT, IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES, A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF HOW THE MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS IS FACING A MAJOR REVOLUTION STARTING WITH THESE STUDENTS AT USC. THEY CALL IT FILM CLASS, BUT THIS STUDENT PRODUCTION IS TOTALLY DIGITAL. THEY'LL SHOOT THEIR PROJECT ON A DIGITAL CAMERA, TRANSFER IT INTO A COMPUTER AND THEN EDIT THE MOVIE WITHOUT EVER PHYSICALLY TOUCHING ONE FRAME OF VIDEO. AND IF YOU THINK THIS IS JUST KID STUFF, CONSIDER THAT USC HAS ALREADY PRODUCED SOME OF THE BIGGEST FILMMAKERS IN THE BUSINESS.

ELIZABETH DALEY>> THE CLASS THAT'S ON HERE RIGHT NOW IS A CLASS FONDLY KNOWN AROUND USC AS CINEMA II 90, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING PRODUCTION CLASS, THE SAME CLASS THAT GEORGE LUCAS TOOK, THAT BOB ZEMECKIS TOOK.

PHILIP>> THAT'S ELIZABETH DALEY, DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF CINEMA AND TELEVISION. THIS IS HER LATEST PRIDE AND JOY, A DIGITAL ARTS CENTER THAT MAY DO FOR MOTION PICTURES WHAT THE HOME COMPUTER DID FOR THE INTERNET. IN SHORT, THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE DIRECTORS OF TOMORROW CAN LEARN HOW TO MAKE MOVIES WITHOUT FILM, A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY ALTER THE WAY MOVIES ARE MADE AND SHOWN.

ELIZABETH DALEY>> WE KNOW THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THINGS IN AN IMAGE THAT BEFORE WERE JUST IMPOSSIBLE. YOU COULD IMAGINE THEM, BUT GETTING THEM ON FILM WAS REALLY VERY, VERY DIFFICULT UNLESS YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR FILM BUDGET.

>> AND ACTION!

PHILIP>> THE EQUIPMENT HAS GOTTEN BETTER, BUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF MOVIE MAKING HAS BARELY CHANGED FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS WITH FILM AS THE MEDIUM AND 35MM CAMERAS ARE THE WORK HORSE. IMAGINE ALL THIS BEING REPLACED BY A MUCH SMALLER DIGITAL CAMERA THAT COULD INSTANTLY PLAY BACK A SCENE THE WAY YOUR HOME VIDEO CAMERA DOES. IT'S NOT ONLY FASTER, BUT IT'S ALSO CHEAPER AND MORE CONVENIENT.

[FILM CLIP]

PHILIP>> AND THEN THERE'S THE SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE WAY FORREST GUMP KEPT POPPING UP AT KEY MOMENTS IN HISTORY. THAT WAS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY HELPING THE DIRECTOR BUILD A NEW REALITY. BUT SOMETIMES THE EFFECT CAN BE AS SUBTLE AS A MAN PONDERING HIS FATE ON A DESERTED ISLAND.

ELIZABETH DALEY>> YOU LOOK AT A FILM LIKE "CASTAWAY", WHICH NO ONE WOULD THINK OF AS A SPECIAL EFFECT FILM. THERE'S A LOT OF SHOTS IN THERE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.

PHILIP>> FOR USC, THE TECHNOLOGY CAME AS A GIFT FROM SOME OF THE FILM INDUSTRY'S GIANTS: SPIELBERG, LUCAS, ZEMECKIS. THEY'RE AMONG THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN A DIGITAL FUTURE AND THEIR MILLIONS HELPED CONVERT A FURNITURE WAREHOUSE ON THE EDGE OF CAMPUS INTO GROUND ZERO FOR THE DIGITAL AGE OF FILMMAKING, A PLACE WHERE USC STUDENTS CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON THE TOOLS OF TOMORROW.

STEVEN SPIELBERG>> I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE ON EARTH THAT GIVES YOU ALL THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAIN ON THEM AND, IF THERE IS AN ARTIST INSIDE YOU, THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO FIND IT THAN HERE.

PHILIP>> EARLIER THIS MONTH, OPENING NIGHT WAS A GLITZY AFFAIR AND MOST OF THE GUESTS DIDN'T NEED NAME TAGS. AT THE TOP OF THIS "A" LIST WAS A USC ALUM WHO MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE, DIRECTOR ROBERT ZEMECKIS OF "BACK TO THE FUTURE" AND "CASTAWAY" FAME. ZEMECKIS GAVE USC $5 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD THE CENTER THAT THE SCHOOL NAMED IN HIS HONOR. IT'S NOT ABOUT GADGETS, HE SAYS, BUT ABOUT STORYTELLING. ZEMECKIS SAYS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS FILMMAKERS TO CREATE VIRTUALLY ANYTHING THEY CAN DREAM.

ROBERT ZEMECKIS>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE IN OUR LIVES.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY CRUDE, BUT YOU CAN GET THE IDEA.

PHILIP>> SO YOU'RE TAKING OUT THESE WIRES?

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

PHILIP>> ONE BIG IMPACT IS HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY MAKES IT SO EASY TO MANIPULATE IMAGES AND TO CREATE A REALITY THAT WAS NEVER THERE, LIKE ERASING THESE WIRES THAT HELP THE ACTORS PERFORM SUPERHUMAN ACROBATICS. PLUS, A SCENE THAT WAS SHOT INSIDE CAN EASILY BE MOVED OUTDOORS WITH A PUSH OF A BUTTON. FROM HERE, THE INDUSTRY IS ONLY A FEW MOUSE CLICKS AWAY FROM CREATING ENTIRE MOTION PICTURES ON A COMPUTER CHIP.

DOUGLAS WELLMAN>> MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO WOULD DISAGREE WITH ME, BUT MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THE FUTURE OF FILM IS VERY LIMITED, I WOULD THINK. I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAYS, WITHIN FIVE YEARS, DIGITAL WILL REPLACE IT.

PHILIP>> WHEN THAT DAY COMES, MOVIES WILL NO LONGER BE SHIPPED ON BIG REELS AS THEY ARE NOW. THEY'LL BE ZAPPED TO THE THEATERS BY WAY OF A SATELLITE OR A PHONE LINE. NO MORE FILM, JUST A HARD DRIVE OR MAYBE A DVD. SAY YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE MOVIE ENDS? THE DIRECTOR CAN TACK ON A BRAND NEW ENDING AND TRANSMIT THE CHANGED VERSION OVERNIGHT TO ONE THEATER, TEN OR 10,000.

>> AND ACTION!

PHILIP>> THE STUDIOS WILL SAVE MILLIONS SINCE THEY'LL NO LONGER HAVE TO MAKE THOUSANDS OF PRINTS AND SHIP THEM ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT THEATER OWNERS ARE WORRIED THAT THEY'LL GET STUCK PAYING FOR IT SINCE THEY'LL HAVE TO GET RID OF THEIR OLD PROJECTORS AND UPGRADE THE DIGITAL HARDWARE.

DOUG FREED>> THE COST IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE OVER $100,000, PROBABLY OVER $150,000 PER SCREEN. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR A MULTIPLEX OF, YOU KNOW, SEVEN TO TEN SCREENS, THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WHICH, IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT FOR EXHIBITORS, MOST OF WHOM ARE IN BANKRUPTCY AND MOST OF WHOM ARE GOING THROUGH VERY TOUGH TIMES IF THEY'RE NOT IN BANKRUPTCY, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ACTUALLY BRINGING MORE PEOPLE IN THROUGH THE DOORS AT THIS POINT.

PHILIP>> MONEY ASIDE, THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS TO NOT LET THE TECHNOLOGY GET AHEAD OF THE ART OF FILMMAKING.

ELIZABETH DALEY>> DO I THINK WE'LL NECESSARILY GET MORE GREAT FILMS? WELL, WE DIDN'T GET MORE GREAT NOVELS BECAUSE OF WORD PROCESSING. YOU KNOW, FINALLY, IT STILL REMAINS AN ISSUE OF TALENT, SO WHAT WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR IS THAT TALENT THAT COULD NOT HAVE EMERGED WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO.

JESS>> PHIL, WILL FILM PURISTS EVER ACCEPT IT?

PHILIP>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS OUT THERE INVESTING IN THIS FUTURE, SO EVENTUALLY I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES. BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, ALL THESE PEOPLE, ZEMECKIS, SPIELBERG, LUCAS, THEY'RE ALL STILL SHOOTING FILM.

VAL>> WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS WHEN YOU SAID THAT THEY COULD CHANGE THE ENDING REALLY QUICKLY? I MEAN, LITERALLY, IF THEY COULD FIND OUT IF A MOVIE DID POORLY AND THEN CHANGE IT? (LAUGHTER)

PHILIP>> WELL, WHEN YOU MAKE A MOVIE ON DIGITAL, I MEAN, IT'S BASICALLY LIKE VIDEOTAPE AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT WILL BE, ONLY EVENTUALLY PROBABLY NO TAPE AT ALL, JUST DIRECTLY INTO A HARD DRIVE. YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY CHANGE IT. YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS. YOU CAN TACK IT ON AND, SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SHIPPING OUT A PHYSICAL COPY OF THE FILM, YOU CAN ZAP IT OUT OVER SATELLITE, MICROWAVE, PHONE LINES, MAYBE EVEN INTERNET SOMEDAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS.

JESS>> BUT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEATER OWNERS ARE, SOME OF THEM, FACING BANKRUPTCY, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO GET THEM TO GEAR UP FOR DIGITAL.

PHILIP>> THAT'S A BIG BONE OF CONTENTION RIGHT NOW AND, IN FACT, SOME OF THE STUDIOS ARE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY GOING IN AND PAYING THE PRICE OF UPGRADING THOSE PROJECTORS. THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

VAL>> PHILIP, THAT WAS REALLY FASCINATING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IN OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, A STRIKE THREAT IS CASTING A PALL ON THE NORMALLY FESTIVE SEASON.

LEAH SANDERS>> WITH THE OSCARS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WONDER IF A WRITERS STRIKE IS GOING TO PUT THEM OUT OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> WE ARE IN A MARRIAGE. WE ARE MARRIED TO WRITERS AND THEY ARE MARRIED TO US. WE WILL MAKE A DEAL.

VAL>> HOLLYWOOD'S LABOR PAINS. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO FORGET THE POWER CRISIS FOR A FEW MONTHS, THE START OF WARM SPRING DAYS BRINGS ROLLING BLACKOUTS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> THE BLACKOUTS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO NEARLY EVERYONE. WE'VE BEEN HEARING NEWS OUT OF SACRAMENTO THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE WERE MAKING PROGRESS IN RESOLVING THIS ELECTRICITY CRISIS, BUT THROUGH IT ALL, ONE MAN HAS CONTINUED TO SOUND THE ALARM. JOINING US NOW IS GARY ACKERMAN. HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE WESTERN POWER TRADING FORUM. THAT IS A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS ELECTRICITY GENERATORS AND MARKETERS. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

GARY ACKERMAN>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THAT'S A GROUP THE GOVERNOR, I THINK, DESCRIBES AS GOUGERS AND PROFITEERS?

GARY ACKERMAN>> YEAH. IN HIS KINDER MOMENTS, THAT'S WHAT I THINK HE REFERS TO US AS. BUT I THINK WE'RE SHOWING THAT WE'RE MEETING UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF DELIVERING ELECTRICITY WHEN CALIFORNIA MOST NEEDS IT. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN IT GETS WARM OUTSIDE, PEOPLE WANT MORE THAN WE CAN PROVIDE.

VAL>> TELL US WHAT'S IN STORE. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT BLACKOUTS ARE GOING TO BE A WAY OF LIFE HERE OVER THE SUMMER?

GARY ACKERMAN>> THERE'S TWO REASONS. ONE, WE HAVEN'T BUILT ANY NEW GENERATING PLANTS HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THAT'S ALSO TRUE THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN STATES. THE SECOND REASON, OF COURSE, IS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN DEMAND. PEOPLE WANT MORE ELECTRICITY FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT. BUT THE THIRD ONE THAT NO ONE COULD CONTROL, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DISAGREE, IS THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT FELL IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. IT'S SO LOW RIGHT NOW. IT'S ABOUT 55 PERCENT OF NORMAL, AND WE DEPEND ON THAT EVERY SUMMER TO GET THROUGH OUR SUMMER. WHETHER THERE WAS DEREGULATION OR BEFORE DEREGULATION, WE NEEDED WATER IN THE NORTHWEST TO MAKE IT.

VAL>> TO FUEL THE HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS BASICALLY FROM WASHINGTON AND OREGON THAT HELP US OUT?

GARY ACKERMAN>> THAT HELP US OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

JESS>> BUT HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION RESPOND TO THE ACCUSATIONS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN DELIBERATE REDUCTIONS OF POWER AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA? THAT THEY'VE BEEN HOARDING SUPPLIES OF POWER? IS THAT MARKET HEDGING OR IS THAT GOUGING?

GARY ACKERMAN>> NO, IT'S NOT GOUGING, AND THERE'S BASIC BUSINESS PRINCIPLES WHICH REQUIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR UNITS DOWN WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING OR WHEN THEY NEED MAINTENANCE, AND THAT'S THE SIMPLE FACT OF LIFE --

JESS>> -- OR WHEN THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT?

GARY ACKERMAN>> WELL, THEY WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE FOR THEIR COMPETITORS AND NOT THEMSELVES, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT IRRATIONAL TO TAKE DOWN YOUR PLANT AND LOSE MONEY AND LET YOUR COMPETITOR MAKE MONEY. THINK ABOUT IT. IT JUST DOESN'T ADD UP.

VAL>> WELL, THEY'RE SAYING, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS A PATTERN ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, SO YOU'RE HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.

GARY ACKERMAN>> NO, WE DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT PRICES, BIDDING STRATEGIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SUGGESTION -- THE PROPOSAL -- AND THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT CALIFORNIA WOULD BUY THE POWER GRID, THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION GRID, THAT MOVES ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE STATE?

GARY ACKERMAN>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IN ITS ONE SHAPE OR FORM, IT'S OKAY, BUT IT'S REALLY A BAD POLICY. I MEAN, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF MOVING ELECTRONS AROUND. THAT SHOULD BE BEST PUT IN THE HANDS OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITIES WHO OWN THOSE POWER LINES. ALL THAT PLAN IS ABOUT IS RETIRE THE UNDER-COLLECTION WHICH HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS THAT THE UTILITIES HAVE HAD TO BEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO RAISE CONSUMER RATES. IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A RUSE TO GENERATE MONEY.

JESS>> OTHERS WILL SAY THAT IT'S JUST AS APPROPRIATE FOR THE STATE TO OPERATE THAT GRID, MAYBE EVEN TO OWN THE PRODUCTION FACILITIES FOR ELECTRICITY, AS IT IS FOR THE STATE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CALIFORNIA WATER PROJECT OR THE STATE TO BUILD HIGHWAYS.

GARY ACKERMAN>> AND I THINK THE MISTAKEN NOTION THERE IS THAT, SOMEHOW OR OTHER, PEOPLE HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE POWER PLANTS IF THEY OWN THE TRANSMISSION GRID OR THE PLANTS THEMSELVES. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, NEITHER OF TWO THINGS ARE TRUE BECAUSE IT'S REGULATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT. WHOLESALE POWER IS UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT IS AT THE EXCLUSION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT. THAT'S ONE.

THE SECOND THING THAT DOES, JUST BY EVEN TALKING ABOUT IT, IT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE MONEY TO COME INTO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUILD POWER PLANTS, BUILD NEW TRANSMISSION LINES. THEY LOOK AROUND, THEY SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND THEY SAY "I THINK MY CHANCES ARE BETTER MAYBE IN CHINA, MAYBE IN BRAZIL, MAYBE IN WESTERN EUROPE."

JESS>> YOU TALK ABOUT FEDERAL CONTROL. CLEARLY, THERE IS GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE PRICES PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR POWER, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO CONCERN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ABOUT THAT CRISIS, OR LITTLE CONCERN.

GARY ACKERMAN>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT REGULATES THIS PART OF THE BUSINESS, JUST CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING OF ALL THE WESTERN STATES ON APRIL 6 IN BOISE, IDAHO. I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS RESPOND TO A LOT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT THE CALIFORNIA CAUCUS IS PUTTING ON THAT PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT ALSO, I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT, THAT THE PRICES WE'RE LOOKING AT IN CALIFORNIA ARE LOWER THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR ELECTRICITY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND IN THE SOUTHWEST. A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE. WE'RE PAYING WHAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL OUTRAGEOUS PRICES NOW, YET FOR THIS SUMMER WHERE THE PRICES ARE BEING POSTED, WE SEE AS MUCH AS $100 PER MEGAWATT HOUR DIFFERENCE HIGHER IN THE NORTHWEST, HIGHER IN THE SOUTHWEST --

JESS>> -- THEN THEY SHOULD JOIN THE REVOLUTION TOO.

GARY ACKERMAN>> WELL, THEY HAVE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SILENT. THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY CALIFORNIA'S WHINING, QUITE FRANKLY, ABOUT THE RATES THAT WE'RE PAYING DOWN HERE WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY PASSING THROUGH 40, 50 AND EVEN HIGHER PERCENT INCREASES IN THEIR POWER RATES.

VAL>> WELL, I WANT TO RETURN TO BUYING THE GRID. MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT THAT IN FACT IF CALIFORNIA WERE TO BUY THE GRID, WE WOULD GET A LOT MORE CONTROL OVER THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN THE STATE AND WREST IT AWAY FROM THE FEDS?

GARY ACKERMAN>> YEAH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FALSE BECAUSE THE RULES OF ACCESS FOR ANY TRANSMISSION LINE ARE STRICTLY UNDER CONTROL OF THE FEDERAL REGULATORS AND THERE IS OPEN ACCESS RULES WHICH DO NOT ALLOW ANY DISCRIMINATION. FURTHERMORE, THESE WHOLESALE POWER PLANTS THAT ARE AT THE OTHER END OF THOSE TRANSMISSION LINES ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IN THE FORM OF THEIR ABILITY TO TRANSACT POWER ANYWHERE THEY WISH. IT'S WHOLESALE POWER AND THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THEIR RIGHT TO SELL POWER EITHER WITHIN THE STATE OR ACROSS STATE LINES.

JESS>> COULD THE STATE NOT SEIZE THE GRID AND ALSO POWER PLANTS?

GARY ACKERMAN>> THEY COULD POSSIBLY SEIZE THE POWER PLANTS AND SEIZE THE GRID AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. AND IF THEY DO THAT, WHAT YOU'LL FIND OUT IS THAT THE STATE WILL BE PAYING ITS WELL-EARNED SURPLUS FOR WHAT WE CALL THE DOGS OF THE FLEA AT THE OLD POWER PLANTS.

JESS>> IT'S PAYING IT EVERY DAY NOW.

GARY ACKERMAN>> IT'S GOING TO PAY IT EVEN MORE, AND WHAT YOU'D BE DOING IS SAYING TO THOSE PLANT OWNERS, "HERE'S A BIG CHECK. GO AWAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OVER THESE POWER PLANTS." AND I CAN TELL YOU WHAT MY MEMBERS WILL DO WITH THAT CHECK. THEY'LL BUILD NEW AND CLEAN POWER PLANTS ELSEWHERE, COMPETE WITH THE OLD POWER PLANTS THAT NOW THE STATE WOULD OWN AND JUST DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.

VAL>> GARY ACKERMAN, MANY MORE QUESTIONS WE'D LOVE TO PUT TO YOU, SO I HOPE YOU JOIN US AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM MENLO PARK TO JOIN US.

GARY ACKERMAN>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON. MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU BUY THE ARGUMENTS WE'VE HEARD? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> AND NOW PATT MORRISON MARKS A SHIFT IN THE WAY WE VIEW INFORMERS, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> IT USED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST NAMES ONE CHILD COULD CALL ANOTHER: A TATTLER. NOW IT'S TAKING ON A DIFFERENT MEANING: SAMARITAN. IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS FROM WEST PADUCAH, KENTUCKY TO COLUMBINE TO SANTEE, SOMEONE, SOMETIMES SEVERAL SOMEONES, HEARD THREATS LONG BEFORE ANYTHING CAME OF THEM. IN HINDSIGHT, THE STUDENTS SAY THEY WISH THEY'D TOLD SOMEONE ABOUT THEM.

SCHOOLS HAVE BEGUN SETTING UP HOTLINES FOR REPORTING THREATS AND GUNS. FOUR STUDENTS IN SANTEE WERE TRANSFERRED FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY FOR NOT TURNING IN ANDY WILLIAMS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HIS THREATS WERE JOKES. BUT ALTHOUGH MORE STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING TO DROP A DIME ON FELLOW STUDENTS, OTHERS SAY THEY'RE AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM IF THEY DO. AFTER AN IOWA HIGH SCHOOL GIRL REPORTED A NINTH GRADER'S REMARK THAT HE'D SHOOT EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOL, THE BOY WAS ARRESTED AND THE GIRL WAS COMMENDED AT THE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY, BUT ANONYMOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES TO NAMING HER.

IN ANTELOPE VALLEY, NOT LONG AFTER THE COLUMBINE SHOOTING, A HIGH SCHOOL GIRL REPORTED A CLASSMATE TOLD HER THAT HE WANTED TO KILL PEOPLE. THE BOY WAS ARRESTED AND EVENTUALLY SENTENCED TO SIX MONTH'S PROBATION FOR INTIMIDATING A WITNESS AND MAKING TERRORIST THREATS. BUT HIS FAMILY SUED THE GIRL'S FAMILY FOR SLANDER, INVASION OF PRIVACY AND FALSE ARREST. EVEN THOUGH A JUDGE THREW OUT THE SUIT, HE COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE OTHER PRICE TAG, THE GIRL'S $40,000 LEGAL BILL FOR DOING WHAT THE SCHOOL WANTED HER TO DO.

THAT'S WHY ASSEMBLYMAN, GEORGE RUNNER, A LANCASTER REPUBLICAN, IS PUSHING A NEW LAW THAT DOES FOR STUDENT TATTLERS WHAT THE GOOD SAMARITAN LAW DOES FOR, WELL, GOOD SAMARITANS. IT PROTECTS THEM FROM BEING PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. NOW ANY SUCH LAW NEEDS PRECAUTIONS AND SAFEGUARDS. STUDENTS MAY USE THE LAW'S SHIELD AS A TOOL FOR REVENGE AGAINST SOMEONE WHO'S JUST MADE THEM MAD. AND IF SCHOOLS WERE TO TURN IN EVERY TEENAGER WHO SAID SOMETHING DUMB, WE'D HAVE CELLBLOCKS AND NOT CLASSROOMS.

EVIDENCE WHAT HAPPENED IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL, NOT IN CALIFORNIA. A STUDENT REPORTED OVERHEARING OTHERS TALKING ABOUT GUNS, GOING FOR GUNS, GETTING GUNS. IT TURNS OUT THEY WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT GUNS AT ALL, BUT ABOUT DUNN'S, THE NAME OF A LOCAL BAKERY.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, ALL THE BUZZ THIS WEEK IS ABOUT THE OSCARS FOR THE BEST PICTURE AND BEST DIRECTOR. BUT FILMMAKERS IN TWO OTHER CATEGORIES ARE JUST AS NERVOUS, THE NOMINEES FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY.

JESS>> THERE'S A TOTAL OF TEN DOCUMENTARIES NOMINATED THIS YEAR, FIVE SHORT SUBJECTS AND FIVE FEATURES. ALL THE NOMINATED FILMS WILL BE SHOWN THIS SATURDAY AT "DOCUDAY". IT'S A SPECIAL PRE-OSCAR EVENT AT PARAMOUNT STUDIOS. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO INCLUDES A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE FILMMAKER AFTER EACH SCREENING.

VAL>> AND JOINING US IS DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER, CHUCK BRAVERMAN, WHOSE FILM "CURTAIN CALL" IS UP FOR AN OSCAR AS BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECTS. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

JESS>> LET'S SEE A LITTLE BIT OF "CURTAIN CALL" SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> GREAT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ALL-DESERVING OF A CURTAIN CALL.

VAL>> SO THAT'S YOUR MAIN CHARACTER? TELL US ABOUT HIM.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> WELL, THIS IS BERNARD FLOOD, WHO'S 93 YEARS OLD. HE WAS FASCINATING TO LISTEN TO, TO TELL STORIES ABOUT GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES. HE JUST GOT INTO A FRIEND'S CAR AND DROVE TO NEW YORK AND, AS HE PUT IT, STARTED SWINGING IN BANDS AROUND THE WORLD FROM THEN ON AND HAD A GREAT LIFE.

VAL>> AND HOW DID YOU COME TO THINK OF DOING A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HIM?

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> WELL, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT HIM. THERE ARE HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE AT THE ACTOR'S FUND RETIREMENT HOME IN ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, AND HE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE PROFILED THERE. ACTUALLY, IT WAS JUST SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THIS MIGHT MAKE A GOOD DOCUMENTARY AND I IMMEDIATELY WARMED TO THE SUBJECT. AFTER DOING A FEW DAYS OF RESEARCH, I SAID YES, AND WE SPENT A YEAR THERE GOING BACK AND FORTH A FEW DAYS HERE AND A FEW DAYS THERE AND GAINING THE CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE LIKE BERNARD SO WE COULD SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND HE'D TELL US ABOUT HIS LIFE.

JESS>> YOU'VE DONE IT ALL, FEATURE FILMS, SHORT SUBJECTS. WHAT CAUSED YOU TO RETURN TO DOCUMENTARIES?

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> WELL, ACTUALLY, A CONVERGENCE OF THINGS. WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. DIGITAL CAMERAS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT GEORGE LUCAS IS GOING TO USE IN FEATURE FILMS, BUT THEY'RE NOW SMALL THREE-CHIP BROADCAST CAMERAS THAT ARE TWO AND A HALF POUNDS. AND INEXPENSIVE NON-LINEARLY EDITING ALLOWS ME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A HANDS-ON AND DO THE KIND OF THING THAT I WAS DOING WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE BUSINESS, BUT I CAN DO IT FROM BEGINNING TO END AND HAVE A LOT MORE CONTROL AND MORE FUN.

VAL>> YOU ALSO WON A DIRECTOR'S GUILD AWARD FOR YOUR FILM "HIGH SCHOOL BOOT CAMP". TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> THIS IS A SCHOOL FOR AT-RISK TEENAGE BOYS IN RURAL FLORIDA OUTSIDE WEST PALM BEACH. THEY'VE VOLUNTEERED TO GO HERE, BUT THEY GET A BIT OF A SURPRISE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CLIP YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW, BUT WE'LL SEE IF --

VAL>> -- WE'LL SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WHOA, THAT LOOKS INTENSE.

JESS>> YEAH, A LITTLE TOUGH. NOW THE COMPETITION IS TOUGH THIS YEAR TOO, ISN'T IT? "ON TIP TOE: GENTLE STEPS TO FREEDOM" IS YOUR OPPOSITION, I GUESS?

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> WELL, THERE ARE FIVE FILMS IN EACH CATEGORY. THE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS AND THE DOCUMENTARY SHORTS, THE DIVIDING LINE BEING ABOVE AND BELOW 40 MINUTES. HAVING SEEN ALL THE DOCUMENTARY SHORTS, I WOULD SAY THAT EACH OF THEM IS VERY GOOD AND THE REPUTATION OF THE FEATURE FILMS IS QUITE GOOD AND I WISH THERE WAS MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE FILMS LIKE THIS SATURDAY AT PARAMOUNT "DOCUDAY".

VAL>> SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM ONE OF THE COMPETITORS CALLED "ON TIP TOE: GENTLE STEPS TO FREEDOM".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> TOTALLY DIFFERENT SUBJECT. TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WIN AN OSCAR FOR A DOCUMENTARY? DOES IT JUST LAUNCH YOU INTO FILM STARDOM OR NOT QUITE?

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> NO, IT DOESN'T, BUT I THINK IT IS -- YOU KNOW, I'VE SAT AND WATCHED THE OSCAR SHOW FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND YOU THINK, "JEEZ, WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET UP THERE MYSELF AND WIN AN OSCAR?" AND IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A FANTASY. I DON'T THINK IT REALLY LAUNCHES YOU, BUT IT DOES OPEN A FEW DOORS. THERE'S LOTS OF MEETINGS HAPPENING AND LOTS OF POSSIBILITIES IF YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

JESS>> HOW DOES DOCUMENTARY DIFFER FROM FEATURE, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE DOCUMENTARY IS NOT FICTION?

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> WELL, FOR ONE, THE CREW FOR THE DOCUMENTARIES THAT I MADE CONSISTED OF ME AND MY WIFE DOING SOUNDS. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE AND THERE WERE NO SUITS BEHIND US TELLING US WHAT TO DO.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> LIKE THOSE PRODUCTION COSTS.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> AND THE PRODUCTION COSTS ARE A LOT LESS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE RISK INVOLVED IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

JESS>> CONGRATULATIONS.

CHUCK BRAVERMAN>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> CHUCK BRAVERMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JESS>> YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER OR CHECK THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES PROGRAM, OR "DOCUDAY".

VAL>> GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GREAT FILMS.

[213-534-3600]
[WWW.DOCUMENTARY.ORG]

VAL>> THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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