Armyan Bernstein

Armyan Bernstein, an award-winning producer and co-founder of Beacon Communications, has entered into a five-year movie production deal with Walt Disney Co.'s Walt Disney Studios unit. Bernstein's films with Beacon include "Spy Game," "Bring It On," "The Hurricane" and "Air Force One," as well as the upcoming "Open Range" for Walt Disney Studios.

Here's a sampling of entertainment industry donations to presidential campaigns during the first nine months of 2003: President Bush $2,000 Chuck Norris, actor Dino De Laurentiis, producer Terry Semel, Yahoo CEO Richard Zanuck, producer Lili Zanuck, producer-director Amy Grant, musician Jami Gertz, actress Jeff Shaara, writer $1,000 Ben Stein, writer-actor * Former Illinois Sen.

Here's a sampling of entertainment industry donations to presidential campaigns during the first nine months of 2003: President Bush $2,000 Chuck Norris, actor Dino De Laurentiis, producer Terry Semel, Yahoo CEO Richard Zanuck, producer Lili Zanuck, producer-director Amy Grant, musician Jami Gertz, actress Jeff Shaara, writer $1,000 Ben Stein, writer-actor * Former Illinois Sen.

Armyan Bernstein, an award-winning producer and co-founder of Beacon Communications, has entered into a five-year movie production deal with Walt Disney Co.'s Walt Disney Studios unit. Bernstein's films with Beacon include "Spy Game," "Bring It On," "The Hurricane" and "Air Force One," as well as the upcoming "Open Range" for Walt Disney Studios.

The current summer hit "Air Force One" set some box office records and helped boost overall ticket sales in August to a new high. Its success could also help elevate the company behind the movie, Beacon Communications, to the Hollywood big leagues after surviving years in the independent trenches self-financing and producing smaller, more esoteric films like "The Commitments," "Princess Caraboo," "Sugar Hill" and the antiwar drama "A Midnight Clear."

It is late at night in the Oval Office. The president leans over his desk, wincing in pain. He steadies himself, cracks open a bottle of pills and pops a couple in his mouth. His appointments secretary casually hands him a glass of whiskey. After the president has washed down the pills, the aide pours him another shot. Red-eyed, disheveled, his back clearly killing him, the president stares grimly at his aide, then at his brother sprawled on a couch. The aide says what is on everyone's mind.

Entertainment: Comsat Corp., a Washington-based satellite communications company, has agreed to buy Los Angeles-based film and television producer Beacon Communications. Beacon, owned by Armyan Bernstein, Marc Abraham and Tom Rosenberg, produced the 1991 critical hit "The Commitments," as well as the upcoming Columbia Pictures release "The Road to Wellville." Bernstein and Abraham will remain with the company after the purchase is completed.

The Scene: Monday's benefit world premiere of Columbia's "Air Force One" at the Cineplex Odeon in Century City. This is the big midsummer Harrison Ford action film--as president he does a Rambo against those pesky terrorists infesting his plane. "It's a wonderful, entertaining film with a very strong thread of emotion that runs through it that dignifies the whole process," said Ford. "This film is as well-equipped to do well as any film I've ever made."

It is late at night in the Oval Office. The president leans over his desk, wincing in pain. He steadies himself, cracks open a bottle of pills and pops a couple in his mouth. His appointments secretary casually hands him a glass of whiskey. After the president has washed down the pills, the aide pours him another shot. Red-eyed, disheveled, his back clearly killing him, the president stares grimly at his aide, then at his brother sprawled on a couch. The aide says what is on everyone's mind.

The current summer hit "Air Force One" set some box office records and helped boost overall ticket sales in August to a new high. Its success could also help elevate the company behind the movie, Beacon Communications, to the Hollywood big leagues after surviving years in the independent trenches self-financing and producing smaller, more esoteric films like "The Commitments," "Princess Caraboo," "Sugar Hill" and the antiwar drama "A Midnight Clear."

Denzel Washington's career has not lacked for exceptional roles; he's been nominated for Oscars and even won one. But nothing really prepares us for what he does in "The Hurricane." With power, intensity, remarkable range and an ability to disturb that is both unnerving and electric, it is more than Washington's most impressive part, it sums up his career as well, encapsulating the reasons why he's one of the very best actors working in film today.

The Commitments (Beacon Communications). Shooting in Dublin. Alan Parker directs this ensemble piece focusing on a group of Irish working-class kids who form a band inspired by American soul musical artists. Executive producers Tom Rosenberg and Armyan Bernstein. Producers Roger Randall-Cutler and Lynda Myles. Screenwriters Ian LaFrenais and Dick Clement. Stars Robert Arkins, Angeline Ball and Johnny Murphy. Distributor Fox (domestic), Sovereign Pictures (foreign). Clifford (Dinosaur Films).