Jodie Foster

Actress Jodie Foster has pulled out as president of the jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, citing a clash with her filming commitments, organizers said Sunday. Foster said director David Fincher, known for his stylish and menacing films "Seven" and "Fight Club," had asked her at short notice to replace fellow actress Nicole Kidman, who was forced by a knee injury to pull out of Fincher's new project, "The Panic Room."

On the surface, Jodie Foster and Keith Gordon wouldn't seem to have much in common: She's a mainstream superstar, with major acting, directing and producing credits. He's a former actor ("Jaws" in 1975, "Dressed to Kill" in 1980) turned director best known for smaller indie projects such as "A Midnight Clear" and "Mother Night." But the pair--who both started in the business as child actors--worked together on the new film "Waking the Dead," which opens today.

Fractured fables and tall tales will be the theme of Children's Hospital of Orange County's fourth annual CHOC Follies on March 31 and April 1 at the 1,200-seat theater on the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. "Watch for hysterical twists on Mother Goose and Aesop," said Gloria Zigner, executive producer of the Follies. More than 125 potential cast members auditioned for roles in "Fabulous Fables and Twisted Tales" last week at the Sutton Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

A host of friends and co-stars headed for the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday night to honor Jodie Foster at the American Cinematheque's 14th annual Moving Picture Ball. "This isn't about lifetime achievement," explained executive director Barbara Smith. "It's a midcareer encouragement award."

The Scene: Coincidence could hardly explain the fact that 1,000 to 2,000 VIPs and screaming fans jammed the streets of Westwood on Monday night. No, this was the work of some shadowy operatives known as Warner Bros., which held the premiere of the Richard Donner action-comedy, "Conspiracy Theory"--starring Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Patrick Stewart and Cylk Cozart--at the Mann's Village and Mann's Bruin theaters.

In "Contact," a young scientist played by Jodie Foster never wavers from her search for extraterrestrial life. When a distant signal finally comes in, she prepares to take a space-hopping trip to a faraway galaxy. Rated PG. President Clinton isn't the only one complaining about "Contact." Kids, especially young ones, are shaking their heads over this long, thoughtful movie. The president is upset that his image is used frequently (and without his permission) throughout the film.

Whatever's Out There has always fascinated people Down Here, especially movie people. But these days, instead of watching the skies (as those 1950s films encouraged everyone to do), people are listening to them. "Contact" tells us what one woman heard and how the world reacted.

One of Robert Zemeckis' most vivid boyhood memories from the South Side of Chicago is of the crisp fall day in 1959 when the lowly Chicago White Sox won the American League pennant, their first title in 40 years. The city fathers were so excited that without warning, they switched on all the air-raid sirens, which blared across the city. "I can still remember my parents and all their friends rushing out into the street, wondering what was happening," he recalls.

The Monday night cocktail reception at the Argyle Hotel in Hollywood was one of those seemingly low-key affairs that practically screamed the presence of wealth. A lone pianist played in the background while the guests, most dressed in unflashy after-work attire, sipped wine and munched on Rosti potatoes with black caviar or fresh corn polenta with foie gras.