Terry Gross

Actor Pierce Brosnan. The actor who is the latest incarnation of James Bond has two new films: 1) "The Thomas Crown Affair" which is a remake of the original Steve McQueen film. It's also produced by Brosnan's production company, Irish Dream Time, and stars Brosnan and actress Rene Russo. 2) "The World is Not Enough" the latest 007 film, to be released in September. Brosnan is a native of Ireland. He was first noticed in the U.S. for his role on "Remington Steele."

Terry Gross's interview with French screenwriter and director Francis Veber. He's best known for his farcical french comedies "La Cage Aux Folles" and "The Tall Blonde with One Black Shoe" (which he collaborated on with the director). His latest comedy, "The Dinner Game," was a hit last year in France and is now in the U.S. This year VEBER was honored with a career tribute at the Cannes Film Festival.

Film translator Henri Behar is one of the most sought-after subtitlers in the business. He's subtitled over 100 films, mostly from English to French, but also from French to English. He's subtitled films by Woody Allen, David Mamet, and Spike Lee. Recently he subtitled "Shakespeare in Love," and "Halloween 2." For over 10 years he's also served as moderator at the Cannes Festival press conferences. And he co-wrote the book "Hollywood on the Riviera: The Inside Story of the Cannes Film Festival." (William Morrow, 1992).

Writer Andrew Smith has written a new book about the food that is a staple at movie theatres - popcorn. It's called "Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America" (University of South Carolina Press).

Human rights activist and pro-democracy leader in Sierra Leone, Zainab Bangura ("ZI-nahb Bahn-gurrah"). She's been threatened both by the government and by the rebels because of her outspokenness.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson. She is also former President of Ireland. Robinson visited Sierra Leone recently. She warned that the United Nations will not recognize the amnesty, brokered in the peace accord, as applying to gross violations of human rights.

Birder and naturalist Scott Weidensaul author of "Living on the Wind" (North Point Press) discusses the habits of migratory birds, what makes them do what they do, and how they're able to do it.

Julia Ericksen is the author of the new book "Kiss and Tell: Surveying Sex in the Twentieth Century" (Harvard University Press). Ericksen is Associate Professor of Sociology at Temple University.

Novelist A.M. Homes. Her new book is "Music for Torching" (Rob Weisbach Books/William Morrow). Her previous novels are "The End of Alice," "In a Country of Mothers," and "Jack." She teaches writing programs at Columbia University and the New School.

We feature a panel discussion about the cable-tv series "The Sopranos" recorded recently in L.A. at a Writers' Guild Foundation conference. The participants include show writers David Chase, Frank Renzulli, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess.The Sopranos is an HBO Original Series depicting the life and times of a modern-day Mafia family living in New Jersey. The series is created by David Chase ("I'll Fly Away"), who also serves as executive producer. It has been nominated for 16 Emmy awards this year including "Outstanding Drama Series."