January 12, 2000

...Speaking of remakes: Ray Bradbury says his "Fahrenheit 451" pic, to be directed by Mel Gibson (redoing the 1966 Francois Truffaut film), is undergoing its "10th rewrite." Bradbury adds "Martian Chronicles" (1980 NBC mini) is also undergoing its "10th rewrite," to be feature-filmed at Universal. Bradbury, who will be 80 this year...continues to help creative causes - and lent his compliments and on-camera praise for "Amargosa," one of the 12 finalists in the Oscar feature docu race. He discovered dancer Marta Becket's Death Valley opera house/theater five years ago, "by accident," and has added his presence to the film by director/writer Todd Robison, producer Sidney Sherman. The pic will screen Jan. 14 at Raleigh and next week at Slamdance Film Fest...