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CNN Live At Daybreak

Government Calling on Hollywood

Aired December 13, 2001 - 05:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: During WWII, Hollywood stars often helped to boost morale and promote bond rallies. Well, today the government is once again calling on Hollywood.

And as CNN's Casey Wian reports, the stars are answering the call.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNNFN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hollywood has a long tradition of entertaining the military during wartime, and the war on terrorism is no exception.

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: We're going to get on a plane and go over there and give them Julia Roberts.

WIAN: The cast of `Oceans Eleven' this week flew to Turkey to show the film and visit U.S. troops.

ANDY GARCIA, ACTOR: I think it's important to show our support overseas, you know, to something that, to people who are representing us in such an extraordinary way.

MATT DAMON, ACTOR: It'll be a nice diversion for a couple hours, you know, for these guys. Because they're not going to be able to come home for Christmas, so it's a little piece of home.

WIAN: After several meetings between the White House and studio executives, both sides say there are no plans to alter entertainment content, but Hollywood has agreed to help rally the troops abroad and spread patriotism at home.

(on camera): The Friday before Christmas, more than 9,000 U.S. movie theaters will begin showing a three minute patriotic trailer with clips from more than 100 classic American movies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a holiday salute to our brave troops overseas.

WIAN: Television networks are running patriotic public service announcements featuring their stars. Universal Studios, Sea World and Disney are offering military personnel free admission to their theme parks, while Disney's ABC Network devoted two episodes of ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' to servicemen. ROBERT IGER, PRESIDENT, COO, WALT DISNEY: These actions to support our country, to support our military personnel have nothing to do with profits or commercial motives at all. This is done solely, in effect, out of the goodness of our heart as citizens of America and citizens of the world.

WIAN: But the war is influencing some entertainment business decisions. MGM, for example, delayed the release of its World War II themed movie ``Wind Talkers.'' While Sony has announced an early release for its upcoming ``Black Hawk Down,'' based on a 1993 battle between the U.S. Marines and Somali warlords. Fox also hurried its $40 million film, ``Behind Enemy Lines,'' to theaters this month. Set against the backdrop of the Bosnian war, it earned $31 million at the box after just 10 days.

Casey Wian, CNN Financial News, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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