Terry Gross

Irish screenwriter and novelist Shane Connaughton co-wrote the screenplay for "My Left Foot." Now he's written the screenplay for the new film "The Playboys," starring Aidan Quinn and Albert Finney.(Samuel Goldwyn) He also has a new novel out called "The Run of The Country." (St. Martin's Press)

Architect Joe Spear. He was the principal designer of the Baltimore Orioles new ballpark. He's also worked on many other football and baseball stadiums.

Comedian Jon Lovitz. He played the pathological liar on Saturday Night Live, among many other characters, such as Annoying Man and Harry Chanukah. Now he's got a comedy special coming up on May 17th on the Fox Television Network (right after "Married With Children").

Sue Halpern has written the new book "Migrations to Solitude," which explores the other side of privacy: seclusion. She visited a monastery in Kentucky, whose monks have vowed a life of silence, a prisoner in solitary confinement, and others, drawing out what it's like to be inescapably alone, and how people's versions of privacy differ. (Pantheon Books)

Neal Jimenez wrote and co-directed the new film "The Waterdance." (Samuel Goldwyn) It's about the five months Jimenez spent in the hospital following a hiking accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. Jimenez is now in a wheelchair, as is the main character in the film, played by Eric Stoltz. Jimenez also wrote "River's Edge" and co-wrote "For the Boys," starring Bette Midler.

Filmmaker Paul Cox. He was born in Holland, and then settled permanently in Australia. You might remember his 1981 film "Lonely Hearts," which brought him international acclaim and somewhat of a cult following. His latest film, which he wrote and directed, is called "A Woman's Tale." It's about an 80 year old woman who has cancer, and in fact, it was played by an actress with cancer. Since the film was made, the woman who plays the lead, Sheila Florance, passed away. (Orion Classics)

Terry talks with film critic Stephen Schiff about the late director Satyajit Ray from India. Ray died yesterday at the age of 70. His work was internationally acclaimed.

Novelist Toni Morrison. She has a new novel "Jazz," (published by Knopf) and a new book of essays, "Playing in the Dark," (by Harvard). Her novel, "Beloved," won a Pulitzer prize. She's written six novels in all.

Writer David Marc. He's the co-author of the new book, "Prime Time Prime Movers," about how TV's producers are the ones who most influence its creative and ideological direction. They cite such examples as Stephen Bochco, the creator of "Hill Street Blues," and "L.A. Law," and "Cop Rock." (published by Little, Brown & Co.)

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the film, "Howard's End," the new Merchant-Ivory production. (Sony Classics; opens tomorrow)