Obama to keep Hollywood busy this summer
CAUSE CÉLÈBRE
There's plenty of fundraising work to do this year.
HOLLYWOOD usually shuts down for the summer. After all, private beaches in Italy and the French Riviera await. But this year, anyone with even a fleeting interest in Democratic politics is being urged to stay in touch and keep the checkbook close at hand. It's going to be a long, hot, money-raising summer here for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The Democratic contender will make a quick trip to Los Angeles on June 24 for a star-studded event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Then he'll be back for more events (perhaps another large soiree in Santa Barbara, this time at producer Jon Peters' ranch?).
And stand by for the list of musical talent: Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder are already supporters of the Illinois senator. Talks are underway to get longtime Clinton supporter Barbra Streisand singing as well.
You can visit David Geffen's giant yacht at its various tony ports of call; just make sure your cellphone has satellite service and Obama's Hollywood fundraiser extraordinaire, Nicole Avant, is on speed-dial.
Jay Leno, meanwhile, mused in one of his monologues this week about Hillary Rodham Clinton's future. "A big question people are asking . . . what is she going to do next? Where will she go? Where will she end up? Is she going to retire?" He paused and added: "I'm sorry, that's what they keep asking me. I'm sorry, I forgot."
'Lord of War's' legal maneuvers
Call it an example of art imitating life imitating art.
This week a small cadre of Hollywood activists are on alert for updates about the fate of Russian gun runner Viktor Bout, dubbed the "Merchant of Death" for his role in covert international arms trade. Bout, who was the inspiration for Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 film "Lord of War," is being detained in Thailand awaiting extradition to the United States, where he will face terrorism charges in connection with a conspiracy to sell missiles to members of a Colombian rebel group.
Officials at Global Witness, a human-rights group based in London, were staying closely in touch with industry execs involved in the production of "Lord of War" as international officials weigh Bout's fate.
