Film

Don Opper, writer of "Slam Dance," the new film directed by Wayne Wang. Opper, also an actor, appears in the film.

Terry Jones, a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python. Jones did much of the writing for the troupe. He directed most of their movies, often appearing as one of the Python women. Jones now writes children's books in England. He also directed the recent film "Personal Services."

John Boorman, British film director. His new film is titled "Hope and Glory" set in London during the Blitz in World War II. The film looks at war from the vantage point of a child, who saw in the chaos a non-stop party.

Henry Mancini, who's had a long career writing scores for movies and TV. He has composed some classic songs, such as "The Pink Panther," "Moon River," "The Days of Wine and Roses," and the themes for "Peter Gunn" and "Mr. Lucky." He had just done the music for the new film version of "The Glass Menagerie."

Rock musician Marshall Crenshaw. Best known for the songs "Whenever You're on My Mind," "Someday, Someway" and "Mary Jean," Crenshaw's new album is titled "Mary Jean and 9 Others." Crenshaw played the part of Buddy Holly in the summer's hit movie "La Bamba."

Film maker Alan Rudolph. Rudolph made his break into movies working for director Robert Altman. His film credits include "Remember My Name," "Welcome to LA," "Choose Me" and "Trouble in Mind." His new film, "Made in Heaven," stars Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis.

Photographer Bruce Weber, who does the fashion ads for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. He recently finished a documentary movie about young boxers. It's titled "Broken Noses" and opens at the upcoming New York Film Forum.

Crime writer Patricia Highsmith. Her first novel, Strangers on a Train, was later made into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Her new novel, her 19th, is titled Found in the Street.

Character actor Ned Beatty. He spent 15 years in theater before making his film debut in "Deliverance." Since then, he's played everything from a sinister executive in "Network" to a clownish sheriff in the Burt Reynolds film "Stroker Ace." In all, Beatty has acted in 37 feature films, and 44 television movies or series.

Hanif Kureishi, a Pakistani-Briton, wrote the screenplay for 1985's surprise hit "My Beautiful Laundrette," which explored the oppression of Pakistanis in England. His new film is titled "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid."