5/21/02

LC020521

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

HE'S A BARBARIAN AT THE BOX OFFICE, BUT DOES ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAVE A FUTURE AT THE BALLOT BOX?

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> YES, IT IS TRUE THAT I SMOKE CIGARS AND I INHALE THEM, UNLIKE PRESIDENT CLINTON (LAUGHTER). YES, IT IS TRUE THAT I WAS NOT MARRIED AND WAS PREGNANT (LAUGHTER). AND IT IS TRUE THAT I AM AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE SLEEPING WITH A KENNEDY. THAT'S ALL TRUE.

JESS>> HE HAS ONE OF THE SHARPEST PENS IN TOWN AND NO ONE IS SAFE FROM HIS WRATH. THAT INCLUDES GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS AND THE POPE'S MAN IN LOS ANGELES, CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY. TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH THE MAN WHO'S SHAKING UP L.A.'S MOVERS AND SHAKERS, LOS ANGELES TIMES COLUMNIST STEVE LOPEZ.

PLUS, A FILMMAKER FROM A FAMOUS FAMILY LAUNCHES HIS FIRST FULL-LENGTH FEATURE.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ROMAN COPPOLA, SON OF FRANCIS FORD, HAS JOINED THE FAMILY BUSINESS. TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH HIM ABOUT DIRECTING HIS FIRST FULL-LENGTH FEATURE, "CQ".

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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 ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

JESS>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JESS MARLOW. VAL HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

HIS NAME WOULD BARELY FIT ON A BUMPER STICKER, BUT ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAS NO NEED TO WORRY. THE WORLD ALREADY KNOWS WHO HE IS AND HIS FAME COULD BE A HUGE ASSET IF HE DECIDES TO TRADE ACTING FOR POLITICS. ONE POSSIBILITY, A RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA. RIGHT NOW, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IS KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN AND, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, HE'S LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW THERE'S MORE TO HIM THAN JUST BEING A MOVIE STAR.

GAY YEE>> ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAS PLAYED MANY ROLES IN HIS LIFETIME. HIS LATEST? AS SPOKESMAN FOR THE AFTER-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND SAFETY PROGRAM ACT, AN INITIATIVE DESTINED FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT THAT HOPES TO IMPROVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

ARNOLD HAS POURED A MILLION DOLLARS OF HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE CAMPAIGN. HE SERVES AS ITS CHIEF SPONSOR AND HEAD CHEERLEADER IN BETWEEN FILM SHOOTS FOR HIS UPCOMING "TERMINATOR 3". RECENTLY HE SPOKE BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVE INVESTED EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD IN OUR CHILDREN? NO. THAT'S BOGUS.

GAY YEE>> SCHWARZENEGGER HAS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF FITNESS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR A DECADE, BUT OBSERVERS WHO HAVE TRACKED HIS EFFORTS KNOW HE'S A HEAVY LIFTER WITH HEAVY DREAMS.

JOHN MARELIUS>> I THINK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS ATTACH HIMSELF TO AN ISSUE SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BEGIN TO THINK OF HIM IN SOME CONTEXT OTHER THAN BEING AN ACTOR.

CONAN NOLAN>> THEY WANT TO COUCH HIM, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, NOT AS AN ACTOR TURNED POLITICIAN, BUT AN ACTOR TURNED ACTIVIST, SOMEBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN ISSUES. AND IN THAT CONTEXT, MAYBE HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RUN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HIS OWN.

GAY YEE>> LIKE THE RELENTLESS CYBORG CHARACTER IN "TERMINATOR", ARNOLD IS KNOWN FOR HIS DETERMINATION. HE WAS THE YOUNGEST MR. UNIVERSE IN HISTORY BEFORE BREAKING INTO MOVIES AND BECOMING ONE OF THE HIGHEST-PAID ACTORS IN HOLLYWOOD, AND HE'S THE LONE REPUBLICAN AMONG THE KENNEDY CLAN. HE MARRIED TV JOURNALIST, MARIA SHRIVER. NOW SCHWARZENEGGER IS TESTING HIS STRENGTH IN POLITICS, BUT THIS WORKOUT REQUIRES DIFFERENT MUSCLES.

AS AN ACTOR, SCHWARZENEGGER HAS BEEN TREATED GENTLY BY THE MEDIA AND AS AN ACTIVIST, FOR THE MOST PART, HE'S BEEN TREATED WITH KID GLOVES. BUT IF HE MAKES A RUN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE, THE GLOVES COME OFF.

JOHN MARELIUS>> WELL, HE GOT A LITTLE TASTE OF IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN HE WAS STICKING HIS TOE IN THE WATER AND JUST CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AND DAVIS'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER CIRCULATED FAR AND WIDE SOME VERY UNFLATTERING ARTICLES ABOUT HIM.

GAY YEE>> DID YOU GET ONE?

JOHN MARELIUS>> SURE.

GAY YEE>> WHAT DID IT SAY?

JOHN MARELIUS>> OH, IT HAD JUST VARIOUS UNSEEMLY ALLEGATIONS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TRUE. THEY DENIED THEM, BUT THE POINT IS THAT THIS IS WHAT HE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO.

CONAN NOLAN>> AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT IS THAT HE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE WHO SAID, LISTEN, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, BEFORE YOU RUN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, THE VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S AN ACTIVIST.

GAY YEE>> AND THAT APPEARS TO BE JUST WHAT SCHWARZENEGGER IS DOING. REPORTER CONAN NOLAN OF NBC 4 SAYS THE ACTOR IS ON SAFE GROUND WITH A POPULAR ISSUE LIKE EDUCATION.

CONAN NOLAN>> THIS IS AN APPLE PIE AND MOTHERHOOD KIND OF ISSUE. EVERYBODY'S IN FAVOR OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SO HE'S NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF TOUGH QUESTIONS.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> KIDS NEED ATTENTION AROUND THE CLOCK. I MEAN, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD. WE HAVE READ THAT. I USUALLY DON'T QUOTE HILLARY CLINTON....

GAY YEE>> IT'S ALSO A WAY TO WIN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IF HE MAKES A RUN FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR IN 2006 AS MANY PREDICT, ALTHOUGH ARNOLD WILL TELL YOU THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER FROM HIS MIND.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> I'LL TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NO POLITICAL ROLE RIGHT NOW. I'M THINKING ONLY OF THE CHILDREN RIGHT NOW.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> ARNOLD SEEMS TO BE TAKING HIS ROLE AS A POLITICIAN-IN-TRAINING IN STRIDE, EVEN POKING FUN AT REPORTERS LOOKING TO DIG UP DIRT.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> YES, IT IS TRUE THAT I SMOKE CIGARS AND I INHALE THEM, UNLIKE PRESIDENT CLINTON (LAUGHTER). YES, IT IS TRUE THAT I WAS NOT MARRIED AND WAS PREGNANT (LAUGHTER). AND IT IS TRUE THAT I AM AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE SLEEPING WITH A KENNEDY. THAT'S ALL TRUE.

GAY YEE>> IN THE MEANTIME, THE ACTOR SAYS HIS ONLY CAMPAIGN IS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. BUT YOU CAN BET AFTER HE'S DONE WITH THIS POLITICAL WORKOUT, SCHWARZENEGGER WILL BE SAYING --

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER>> "I'LL BE BACK."

JESS>> JOINING US NOW ARE TWO VETERAN POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, ALLAN HOFFENBLUM WHO'S WORKED MOSTLY WITH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, AND JOE CERRELL, A VETERAN LOS ANGELES DEMOCRAT. WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.

JOE CERRELL>> HOW YOU DOING, JESS?

JESS>> ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. IS HE GOING TO BE A HARD SELL?

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> NO. I MEAN, SPEAKING AS A REPUBLICAN, WE DON'T HAVE A VERY DEEP BENCH THERE, JESS. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MOST OF YOUR AUDIENCE WATCHING TELEVISION BEING ASKED TO NAME THREE ELECTED REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS, I THINK THEY'D HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME DOING SO.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE HAVE COMING UP IN 2004, BARBARA BOXER IS COMING UP FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED TO GET A STRONG REPUBLICAN TO GO AGAINST HER. THEN IN 2006, SHOULD GRAY DAVIS BE RE-ELECTED -- AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT HE IS GOING TO GET RE-ELECTED --

JOE CERRELL>> -- BUT YOU IMPLIED.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> NO, NO, NO, I'M NOT IMPLYING ANYTHING. THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WOULD BE WIDE OPEN, BUT ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF TALK THAT DIANNE FEINSTEIN MAY NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION, YOU KNOW, AND THAT COULD BE AN OPEN SEAT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WELL-KNOWN REPUBLICAN, YOU KNOW, TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE.

JESS>> JOE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

JOE CERRELL>> WELL, DIANNE HAS HER FIRST FUNDRAISING COMING UP, SO WE CAN PUT THAT ONE TO REST. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF CALIFORNIA'S READY FOR THE TERMINATOR OR THE BARBARIAN, AS THE CASE MAY BE. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS DON'T TREAT MODERATE CENTRISTS VERY WELL. SCHWARZENEGGER WAS A BIG FAN FOR DICK RIORDAN. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO RIORDAN BECAUSE THEY REALLY TEND TO GO FOR THE MORE CONSERVATIVE. SCHWARZENEGGER HIMSELF, BY THE WAY, HAS SAID THAT CONSERVATIVES CAN'T WIN IN CALIFORNIA.

SO HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 2006 WHEN WE REALLY HAVEN'T FINISHED THE 2002 CAMPAIGN. ONE ADDITIONAL POINT, REPUBLICANS HAVE SPENT REALLY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEATING UP ON THE KENNEDYS. WELL, OF COURSE, NOW YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY WHO'S PART OF THE KENNEDY CLAN. I THINK THERE'S SOME REAL PROBLEMS THERE.

JESS>> BUT IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO HAVE A CANDIDATE WHO'S ONE PARTY AND A SPOUSE OF ANOTHER.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> NO, IT'S NOT. IN FACT, WHEN KATHLEEN BROWN, THE DEMOCRAT, RAN FOR GOVERNOR, HER HUSBAND WAS A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN. IN FACT, I THINK BILL SIMON'S WIFE IS A DEMOCRAT.

JOE CERRELL>> WELL, NANCY RIORDAN IS A DEMOCRAT.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> BUT, ANYWAY, THIS MODERATE CONSERVATIVE -- LISTEN, PETE WILSON WAS NOMINATED TWICE AND HE WAS A POLITICAL MODERATE FOR GOVERNOR. NOW TOM CAMPBELL WAS OUR CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATOR AND HE WAS A POLITICAL MODERATE, SO --

JOE CERRELL>> -- HE LOST TO BRUCE HERSHENSON.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> NO, HE WAS OUR NOMINEE LAST TIME OUT. HE RAN A WEIRD CAMPAIGN, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. RIORDAN LOST BECAUSE HE DIDN'T RUN AGAINST BILL SIMON, HE RAN AGAINST THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS WHO RAN A $10 MILLION DOLLAR NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM AND, LET'S BE HONEST, IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.

JESS>> WHAT WOULD SCHWARZENEGGER'S DOWN-SIDE BE AS A CANDIDATE, JOE?

JOE CERRELL>> WELL, HE HAS TO WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY. NOW, HE'S FOR CHOICE, HE'S FOR GUN CONTROL, HE'S FOR GAY ADOPTIONS. I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICANS WOULD ACCEPT THAT. THAT APPEALS TO DEMOCRATS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT RICHARD RIORDAN HAD. HE STARTED OUT AS THE OVERWHELMING FAVORITE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO WITH THE LIBERAL OR THE CENTRIST OR THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN. THEY GO FOR THE -- IN SCHWARZENEGGER'S OWN WORDS, BILL SIMON IS THE VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE AND THAT'S WHY HE SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK SIMON CAN WIN.

JESS>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GREATEST PLUSES ARE, OTHER THAN HIS IDENTITY FACTOR? I MEAN, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO HE IS.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S TOO SOON TO TELL. THE ONLY THING I COULD SAY, HE'S DOING THE RIGHT THINGS NOW. HE'S GETTING HIMSELF OUT BEFORE THE PUBLIC. HE HAS PUT TOGETHER A SEASONED AND VETERAN REPUBLICAN POLITICAL CONSULTING TEAM NOW TO ADVISE HIM. HE'S ACTUALLY HOSTING POLITICAL FUNDRAISERS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HERE IN CALIFORNIA. AND HE'S GETTING KNOWN. REPUBLICANS AREN'T THAT IDEOLOGICAL, JOE. THIS IDEA THAT A MODERATE COULD NEVER WIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, I JUST GAVE YOU EXAMPLES WHERE IN FACT A POLITICAL MODERATE DID.

JOE CERRELL>> BUT THEY DON'T GO ON TO WIN.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> AH, PETE WILSON DID.

JOE CERRELL>> RUNNING AS A CONSERVATIVE.

ALLAN HOFFENBLUM>> ANYWAY, BUT HE'S DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH AND SEE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR, HE HAS THE PERSONALITY AND THE DRIVE AND THE AMBITION TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE THAT'S REQUIRED.

JESS>> AND BEING A MOVIE STAR, HE HAS A COUPLE OF PREDECESSORS THAT HE COULD POINT TO. GEORGE MURPHY, RONALD REAGAN.

JOE CERRELL>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> DOES THAT NOT HAVE SOME DRAWBACKS, THOUGH?

JOE CERRELL>> BUT RONALD REAGAN, NOT BECAUSE HE'S ILL, RONALD REAGAN WAS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SELL -- JESS, YOU KNOW THAT THE POLITICAL PRESS CORPS IS NOT LIKE THE HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS. I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT UP ON HIM PRETTY GOOD. BUT I STILL COME BACK TO THE FACT THAT HISTORICALLY -- FOR THE MOST PART, MR. HOFFENBLUM, FOR THE MOST PART -- REPUBLICANS GO WITH THE MORE CONSERVATIVE PERSON.

NOW MAYBE THERE'LL BE NOBODY ELSE OUT THERE. I REPEAT. DICK RIORDAN STARTS AS THE OVERALL FAVORITE AND GETS CLOBBERED. I MEAN, HE'S LUCKY THAT BILL JONES DIDN'T BEAT HIM. THEY DON'T DO WELL AND, OF COURSE, SCHWARZENEGGER WAS A CLONE, OR A PROTÉGÉ, OF DICK RIORDAN AND I THINK HE'D SUFFER THE SAME CONSEQUENCES.

JESS>> BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION WE'LL BE SEEING A CAMPAIGN IN THE MAKING.

JOE CERRELL>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. JOE CERRELL AND ALLAN HOFFENBLUM, THANKS VERY MUCH.

JOE CERRELL>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A TOPIC THAT MIGHT INTEREST ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. IT'S THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR "ETHICS PROJECT". THIS TIME WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE ETHICS OF HOLLYWOOD.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD WANT TO BE A FILMMAKER WHO WENT TO MY GRAVE SAYING THAT THE ONLY THING I DID IN LIFE WAS TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO GO HOME AND TAKE A SHOWER.

JESS>> HIS FATHER IS A FILM LEGEND AND NOW ROMAN COPPOLA, SON OF FRANCIS FORD, IS TRYING HIS HAND AT THE FAMILY BUSINESS. ROMAN, A DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS, HAS NOW WRITTEN AND DIRECTED HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM, "CQ". IT'S THE STORY OF AN EARNEST YOUNG FILMMAKER WORKING ON A FUTURISTIC SCI-FI FLICK IN 1969. WE'LL BE TALKING WITH ROMAN COPPOLA IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST A LOOK AT "CQ".

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ROMAN COPPOLA, WELCOME.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

JESS>> YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS A MOVIE WITHIN A MOVIE.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YES, IT'S SORT OF A LOVE LETTER TO CINEMA.

JESS>> THIS IS A PRETTY AMBITIOUS FIRST UNDERTAKING, ISN'T IT?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> I GUESS SO. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MAKING A MOVIE FOR A LONG TIME, SO I'VE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO IT AND A LOT OF PREPARATION AND HOPEFULLY I'VE PULLED IT OFF.

JESS>> AFTER YEARS OF NYU'S FILM SCHOOL, INVOLVED IN COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS, BUT A LONG FAMILY HISTORY IN THE MOTION PICTURE BUSINESS, THIS IS NOT ALIEN TO YOU, THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT YOU'VE DESCRIBED IT YOURSELF AS A LITTLE BIT DISJOINTED AND A LITTLE BIT CRAZY.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> WELL, IT APPEALS TO A LOT OF MY INTERESTS. ON THE ONE HAND, THE MOVIE HAS A VERY PLAYFUL, ALMOST SILLY, SORT OF SCI-FI EPIC TO THE TUNE OF "BARBARELLA" GOING ON AND THEN, CONVERSELY, THE MAIN CHARACTER IS ALSO MAKING A VERY PERSONAL MOVIE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HE PUTS ALL HIS HEART INTO, SO IT'S A JUXTAPOSITION OF THOSE TWO WORLDS.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> IT'S SURE GOING TO POPULARIZE PINK LEATHER.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YEAH, I HOPE SO.

JESS>> WHAT KIND OF REVIEWS -- HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY YET?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> IT'S JUST STARTING TO UNFOLD. PEOPLE SEEM TO BE ENJOYING IT, SO I'M EXCITED. YOU KNOW, IT'S A UNIQUE MOVIE THAT I THINK CERTAIN PEOPLE WILL REALLY LIKE. IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE INCLINED TOWARDS IT WILL GET THEMSELVES IN THE SEATS IN THE THEATER.

JESS>> IT WAS SET IN 1969, AN INTERESTING PERIOD, TO SAY THE LEAST. BUT YOU USED 1960'S EUROPEAN FILM EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THE FILM. WHY THAT? DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> I TRIED TO. YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T EXCLUSIVELY USE OLDER EQUIPMENT, BUT I DIDN'T USE A VIDEO MONITOR AND I DIDN'T USE A STEADY CAM AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE COMMON IN MAKING A CONTEMPORARY FILM. I THOUGHT IF I COULD WORK WITHIN THE STYLE OF HAVING MADE A FILM IN THOSE DAYS THAT IT WOULD INFUSE ITSELF INTO THE FILM AND BRING IT A TRUE STYLE.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME MORE.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> IT HAS A COPPOLA LOOK ABOUT IT. (LAUGHTER) HOW MUCH ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY YOUR FATHER'S WORK?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> IT'S HARD TO SAY. YOU KNOW, I'VE GROWN UP AROUND MOVIEMAKING AND I'VE WORKED WITH MY DAD SO MUCH. HE'S BEEN A MENTOR TO ME AND I'VE WORKED ON MANY OF HIS FILMS IN ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES.

JESS>> YOUR EXPERIENCE IS RATHER WIDE TOO. YOU WORKED AS A SOUND MAN ON ONE OF THE FILMS, AN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> DEFINITELY. A CASTING ASSISTANT, A MAKEUP ASSISTANT, ALL ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IN ESSENCE, BEING RAISED IN OUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE A TRADITION OF APPRECIATING THE ARTS AND MY COUSINS ARE PERFORMERS. SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY ARE INVOLVED WITH FILMMAKING OR OTHER BRANCHES OF THE ARTS AND IT'S JUST LIKE A NICE TRADITION. IT'S LIKE A CIRCUS FAMILY. WE ALL SORT OF HELP EACH OTHER AND PARTICIPATE IN IT AND IT'S KIND OF FUN.

JESS>> ALL THIS WAS FILMED IN EUROPE?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> IT WAS.

JESS>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE. I'M EXCITED TO BE FINISHED WITH THIS AND I FEEL IT'S SORT OF MY JOB TO GET THE WORD OUT AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO SEE THE FILM. I'M CURRENTLY DOING SOME MUSIC VIDEOS AND OTHER COMMERCIALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I'LL TAKE A LITTLE TIME OFF TO COOK UP MY NEXT PROJECT.

JESS>> THIS HAS SOME OF THAT QUALITY THAT WE'RE SEEING IN MUSIC VIDEOS TOO. THE TWO ARE PRETTY CLOSELY RELATED?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> FILMS NOW AND VIDEOS?

JESS>> YEAH.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YEAH, THERE ARE MANY FILMS NOW BEING MADE BY DIRECTORS THAT COME OUT OF MUSIC VIDEOS, SO IT'S LIKELY THE STYLE IS SOMETHING THAT'S CONNECTED WITH THAT.

JESS>> AND VICE VERSA. DIRECTORS WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED FILM CREDENTIALS DOING MUSIC VIDEOS.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YEAH, AND DOING COMMERCIALS.

JESS>> THERE MUST BE MONEY IN IT. (LAUGHTER)

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YEAH, I WONDER. I HAVEN'T SEEN SO MUCH.

JESS>> YOU WOULD EXPECT TO CONTINUE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK AS WELL?

ROMAN COPPOLA>> I LOVE DIVERSITY. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIALS AND VIDEOS I'VE DONE, SO I LOVE HAVING THE EXPERIENCES. WHEN YOU DO A MUSIC VIDEO OR A COMMERCIAL, YOU CONCEIVE THE IDEA AND IT'S ON THE AIR A FEW WEEKS LATER. IT'S FUN TO HAVE --

JESS>> -- IT'S GOT ALL THE ELEMENTS. THE ACTION FLICK IS IN THERE, THE CHOREOGRAPHY IS THERE, THE STUNTS ARE THERE.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> YEAH, IT WAS A GOOD TRAINING. I SORT OF LEARNED A LOT DOING THOSE CLIPS.

JESS>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. WE WISH YOU SUCCESS. ROMAN COPPOLA, PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

ROMAN COPPOLA>> WELL, THANKS VERY MUCH. PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> "CQ" OPENS THIS FRIDAY IN SELECT THEATERS.

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JESS>> STEVE LOPEZ HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT HIS COLUMN IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS BECOME A DAILY MUST-READ. RECENTLY LOPEZ TOOK GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS TO TASK FOR OVER-ZEALOUS FUNDRAISING, EVEN SUGGESTING THAT DAVIS SHOWS SOME OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE TRAITS. THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, DISAGREES WITH THAT ASSESSMENT OF HIS MOTIVATION.

GRAY DAVIS>> NOT EVERYONE IS LIKE BILL SIMON, WHO INHERITS WEALTH FROM HIS FATHER. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK THEIR WAY UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND RAISE MONEY. WE REPORTED ACCURATELY AND WE REPORTED IN A TIMELY FASHION. WHAT IT GETS RIGHT DOWN TO IS A RACE BETWEEN ME AND BILL SIMON.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS STEVE LOPEZ, COLUMNIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AND THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL BOOKS. THE LATEST ONE JUST OUT, A MYSTERY NOVEL CALLED "IN THE CLEAR". WELCOME, STEVE LOPEZ. YOU DON'T MINCE WORDS. YOU CALLED GOVERNOR DAVIS A "SHAMELESS MONEY-GRUBBER".

STEVE LOPEZ>> THAT WASN'T IN MY COLUMN NOW, WAS IT? (LAUGHTER) WELL, IT'S ALMOST -- I FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY ABOUT GETTING PAID TO WRITE A COLUMN IN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO EASY SOMETIMES. THERE'S SO MUCH TO TAKE A LOOK AT, WHETHER IT'S IN SACRAMENTO OR HERE IN LOS ANGELES. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT AND I'M LEARNING MY WAY AROUND LOS ANGELES. SO FAR, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. IT'S BEEN A YEAR --

JESS>> -- WELL, CALIFORNIA IS NOT ALIEN TO YOU.

STEVE LOPEZ>> I'M FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT I'VE SPENT MOST OF THE LAST FOURTEEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS ON THE EAST COAST.

JESS>> PRIOR TO THAT, THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, AS I RECALL, AND --

STEVE LOPEZ>> -- THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE AND SEVERAL OTHER NEWSPAPERS UP NORTH.

JESS>> ONE OF THE TRADITIONS -- THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAS NOT HAD A TRADITION OF STRONG COLUMNISTS AND YOU SEEM TO BE MAKING A MARK VERY EARLY. ARE THEY PLEASED?

STEVE LOPEZ>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK THEM. BUT I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH YOU. I MEAN, I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PAPER FOR YEARS.

JESS>> FOR A LONG TIME, WE HAD JACK SMITH, WHO WAS WONDERFUL.

STEVE LOPEZ>> JACK SMITH AND BILL BOYARSKY AND PATT MORRISON AND AL MARTINEZ AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I'M PROBABLY FORGETTING THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE --

JESS>> -- I KNOW, BUT THOSE ARE ALL FAIRLY RECENT TOO. MAYOR HAHN. YOU DESCRIBED HIM -- WELL, YOU CALL HIM "SLIM JIM". YOU'RE NOT A FAN OF THE MAYOR'S?

STEVE LOPEZ>> "SLIM JIM" BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE EVEN LESS THERE THAN MEETS THE EYE. AND I THINK THAT SECESSION IS MAYBE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, WITH SECESSION, NOW THAT'S A GREAT ONE TO WRITE ABOUT AND I'VE JUST BEGUN THIS VALLEY DIARY THAT I'M GOING TO BE WRITING PERIODICALLY IN THE COLUMN TO SEE IF I CAN FIND OUT IF THERE IS A COMPELLING ARGUMENT ON EITHER SIDE BECAUSE, SO FAR, I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE. I HAVEN'T HEARD A GOOD ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THE VALLEY OUGHT TO SECEDE AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A GOOD ARGUMENT FROM CITY HALL AS TO WHY THEY OUGHT NOT TO SECEDE.

JESS>> IS A BOROUGH THE ANSWER?

STEVE LOPEZ>> I KIND OF LIKE THE BOROUGH SYSTEM. I MEAN, IF IT'S ANYTHING LIKE THE EAST COAST BOROUGH SYSTEM, THERE'S A LOT MORE CORRUPTION AND MORE TO WRITE ABOUT.

JESS>> POLITICIANS ARE FAIR GAME, PARTICULARLY FOR COLUMNISTS, BUT IT'S A LITTLE EDGY, YOUR CRITIQUE OF THE CARDINAL'S HANDLING OF THE RECENT SITUATION WITH THE CHURCH. ROGER MAHONY MUST NOT BE A BIG FAN OF YOURS.

STEVE LOPEZ>> WELL, FOR A WHILE HE WAS. FOR A WHILE, HE E-MAILED ME REGULARLY AND INVITED ME ON PERSONAL TOURS OF THE CATHEDRAL --

JESS>> -- BUT WITH RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU COULD TALK ABOUT OR ASK ABOUT?

STEVE LOPEZ>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY. YOU KNOW, WHEN HE FIRST INVITED ME, I THOUGHT, HEY, I'VE GOT A NEW PAL IN LOS ANGELES. THIS MIGHT WORK TO MY ADVANTAGE. WHEN I SAID, WELL, THAT'S GREAT, I'LL BE RIGHT OVER, I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK, THEN I HEARD A DIFFERENT TUNE FROM CARDINAL MAHONY. HE SAID, NO, ONLY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW CATHEDRAL. MY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, I'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HE'S HANDLED THE SCANDAL HERE IN LOS ANGELES.

JESS>> THE TIMES IS UNDER DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP NOW. COULD YOU HAVE WORKED FOR THE TIMES DOING THE KIND OF COLUMN YOU DO NOW WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP OF THE TIMES?

STEVE LOPEZ>> OH, I THINK SO. I KNOW A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE. THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE NOW AND THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE THEN. YOU KNOW, MAYBE I WRITE A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT KIND OF A COLUMN. MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE MORE OF A TWO-FISTED KIND OF AN EAST COAST COLUMN, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT I DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BE TOUGH ON THESE POLITICIANS BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT AT THE PAPER.

JESS>> WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT. BOYARSKY COULD BE VERY TOUGH TOO.

STEVE LOPEZ>> RIGHT.

JESS>> MAYBE HIS LANGUAGE WASN'T QUITE AS COLORFUL AS YOURS, BUT (LAUGHTER)

STEVE LOPEZ>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THAT IT OFTEN IS. BILL HAS BECOME A FRIEND AND AN ADVISER, ACTUALLY. I CALL BILL FOR SOME ADVICE OCCASIONALLY ON HOW TO GO AFTER THESE GUYS.

JESS>> HE CERTAINLY KNOWS THE TERRITORY. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

STEVE LOPEZ>> HE KNOWS IT BETTER THAN ANYONE.

JESS>> THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA AND THE LOS ANGELES AREA ARE PRETTY PROFOUND AND ESPECIALLY WHERE NEWSPAPERS ARE CONCERNED, DON'T YOU FIND?

STEVE LOPEZ>> YES, WELL, YOU KNOW, I WORKED FOR TWO BAY AREA NEWSPAPERS, ACTUALLY THREE OR FOUR OF THEM. I FIND LOS ANGELES -- WELL, NOT ONLY IS THIS A FAR SUPERIOR NEWSPAPER, BUT I FIND THIS A SUPERIOR NEWS TOWN. SAN FRANCISCO, IN MANY WAYS, IS A ONE OR TWO STORY TOWN. HERE, LOS ANGELES IS SORT OF RE-INVENTING WHAT CITIES ARE. YOU HAVE THIS CONFLUENCE OF LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA AND NORTH AMERICA AND ALL OF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES THAT GO WITH THAT. IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE TO WRITE ABOUT.

JESS>> ARE THERE LIMITS AT ALL? THE LIMITS THAT YOU SET ON YOURSELF, DO YOU EVER CROSS THE LINE IN PUSHING THE ENVELOPE AS YOU DO?

STEVE LOPEZ>> I THINK THAT IT'S MAYBE IMPORTANT TO PUSH IT, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T CROSS THAT LINE. I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WANT TO DO ANY NAME-CALLING AND I THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A FOUNDATION OF REPORTING AND REAL SUBSTANCE TO WHAT YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT. THEN MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE SOME SHOTS. BUT YOU CAN'T JUST GRATUITOUSLY GO AFTER PEOPLE, SO I'VE TRIED TO MAKE REPORTING A FOUNDATION OF MY WORK SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

JESS>> WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE OF LOS ANGELES THEN?

STEVE LOPEZ>> DO YOU MEAN POLITICALLY WHAT DO I SEE? WELL, I DON'T SEE MAYOR HAHN INSPIRING ANY GREAT TURNOUT IF HE WERE TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION. AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHO IS ON THE HORIZON AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY. YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO SEE NOT JUST ARNOLD, BUT HIM RUNNING AGAINST ROB REINER? (LAUGHTER) I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THAT IN THE NEWSPAPER.

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) IT WOULD BE A COLUMNIST'S DREAM.

STEVE LOPEZ>> YEAH.

JESS>> WOULD ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY?

STEVE LOPEZ>> I DON'T KNOW THAT --

JESS>> -- CONSULTANTS CLEARLY TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.

STEVE LOPEZ>> YOU KNOW, A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, MARK [BERRABACK], WHO IS A POLITICAL WRITER FOR THE TIMES, WROTE A MAGAZINE PIECE RECENTLY ABOUT ARNOLD. PEOPLE LIKE TO COMPARE HIM TO RONALD REAGAN, AS THIS GUY WHO JUST COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH AN ACTING BACKGROUND AND RUNS FOR OFFICE.

AS MARK POINTED OUT, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WITH RONALD REAGAN. RONALD REAGAN LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A MUCH LONGER TIME THAN SCHWARZENEGGER HAS BEEN AND IT WAS SIX OR EIGHT YEARS OF IT. HE DIDN'T JUST COME OUT OF, YOU KNOW, SOME PRODUCTION STUDIO AND SAY, HEY, I THINK I WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE. SO I THINK MAYBE ARNOLD'S GOT A LITTLE MORE WORK AHEAD OF HIM.

JESS>> AS A COLUMNIST, YOU CAN LAY CLAIM TO SOME REAL VERSATILITY TOO. YOUR BOOKS ARE DOING VERY WELL.

STEVE LOPEZ>> WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DONE ON THE SIDE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. I'VE WRITTEN THREE NOVELS AND THE LATEST ONE IS CALLED "IN THE CLEAR". IT'S SET IN NEW JERSEY, BUT IT'S KIND OF A UNIVERSAL STORY ABOUT A GUY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME ESSENTIAL THINGS: WHO AM I AND WHERE DO I LIVE AND WHAT KIND OF A PLACE DO I WANT TO LIVE IN?

JESS>> SHERIFF WORKING AS A SECURITY CHIEF FOR A CASINO?

STEVE LOPEZ>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> THANKS, STEVE LOPEZ. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

STEVE LOPEZ>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

JESS>> ONCE AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "IN THE CLEAR". STEVE WILL BE SIGNING COPIES THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00. THAT'S AT BARNES & NOBLE BOOK STORE AT "THE GROVE", THE NEW SHOPPING CENTER NEXT TO FARMERS MARKET.

BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO MARK THE PASSING OF A VETERAN NEWSMAN AND AN OLD FRIEND, JERRY DUNPHY.

JERRY DUNPHY>> "HELLO, JERRY DUNPHY HERE. WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE PREMIER OF PRIME NINE NEWS. IT'S AN IMPORTANT NIGHT FOR US AND WE HOPE IT WILL BE FOR YOU TOO."

JESS>> JERRY PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY. HE ADMITTED TO BEING AT LEAST EIGHTY YEARS OLD, BUT HE RARELY LOOKED OR ACTED HIS AGE. JERRY IS MORE THAN JUST A FAMILIAR FACE. HE WAS A SURVIVOR IN A BUSINESS THAT IS FAMOUS FOR CASTING PEOPLE ASIDE. HE LEFT A LASTING MARK ON THIS BUSINESS AND ON THIS TOWN. HE WILL BE MISSED.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, GOOD EVENING.

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