People talk 3/13/02

Role as chopper pilot put Kinnear to the test

NEW YORK -- Greg Kinnear, who plays a helicopter pilot in "We Were Soldiers," says flying in a chopper is "so unbelievably loud and disorienting ... that you come out and you're a little woozy."

Kinnear plays Maj. Bruce Crandall in the film about Vietnam, which is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young." The film, now in theaters, also stars Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott.

"I could never hover," the 37-year-old actor told reporters. "That's the trickiest thing. It is like juggling 14 eggs at the same time."

Kinnear's previous films include "Sabrina," "As Good as It Gets" and "Nurse Betty."

Jazz festival will feature Grammy-winner Hill

CASTRIES, St. Lucia -- Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill will perform at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival in May.

Hill will be the headline act for the open-air show at Pigeon Island peninsula on May 11, the St. Lucia Tourist Board, organizer of the event, said last week.

Smokey Robinson, Stephanie Mills, Branford Marsalis and India.Arie also are scheduled to perform at the festival, which runs May 3-12.

Billy Joel/Elton John tour plans put on hold

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Billy Joel and Elton John postponed a concert in their "Face to Face" tour after Joel became ill.

The singer is suffering from "acute upper respiratory infection and laryngitis," and has been feeling under the weather for several days, said Max Loubiere, his tour manager.

Monday night's concert at the Ice Palace was scheduled as part of a national tour featuring the two artists.

Arena officials said the concert will be rescheduled, but no date was released. Ticketholders were advised to keep their tickets.

"We're trying to see what the schedule is, what Elton's schedule is," Loubiere told the St. Petersburg Times. "We'll just have to wait and see."

Joel's doctor advised against performing Saturday night, but the artist did so anyway, singing to a sold-out, 3 1/2-hour concert, Loubiere said.

Joel, 52, and John, 53, are scheduled to perform Friday night at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Casting call sent out for CBS series pilot

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Hundreds of extras are needed for a television project starring Andie MacDowell that will be shot in the Asheville area.

If the project becomes a weekly CBS series, the impact could be greater, say state film officials.

"This is hugely important," said Bill Arnold, director of the state Film Commission. "If a series starts there, (Asheville) would be a production hub."

The first wave starts this weekend, when makers of the MacDowell TV pilot "Jo" hold an open call for extras Saturday and Sunday at the Asheville Mall. All ages, types and races are needed, said Lisa Mae Fincannon of the casting company Fincannon & Associates. No previous experience is needed.

"It matters that (local residents) feel included as a part of what we are doing," she said.

MacDowell, who has lived here since 1998, will star as a veterinarian working in an Asheville animal hospital. The one-hour test episode will be filmed entirely in Asheville, April 9-22, said Fincannon.

Mike Newell, who directed MacDowell in the comedy "Four Weddings and a Funeral," will also direct the pilot.-- From wire reports