News Briefs

• A very interesting story about actress Greta Scacchi who incidentally turned down the Sharon Stone role in Basic Instinct.

A determination to make her own choices has defined Scacchi's career, as well as a desire to be taken seriously as an actress. Her relationship with her looks is fractious - they got her some roles, but they also meant she was often typecast as eye candy. Acting her own age (Sydney Morning Herald)

• Director Chantal Ackerman at MIT (NY Times)

• The 61st Locarno International Film Festival has announced it will give its Excellence Award 2008 to actress Anjelica Huston.

• Mary Tyler Moore will join NBC's Lipstick Jungle playing Brooke Shields mother

• Penny Marshall will return from directing oblivion to direct episodes According to Jim the Jim, the Jim Belushi show that for some bizarre reason will return for its 8th season. (How is this possible?)

• 'Lioness' Tracks Female Soldiers' First Forays into Combat (audio)

• Courtney Hunt's Frozen River and Irena Salina's Flow: For the Love of Water won the audience awards at the Provincetown Film Festival.

• Living Proof the Lifetime film on the doctor who developed Herceptin is currently shooting in New Orleans. Awesome cast includes: Angie Harmon, Amanda Bynes, Bernadette Peters, Swoosie Kurtz, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Trudie Styler, Tammy Blanchard, John Benjamin Hickey Paula Cale and Harry Connick Jr.. Movie is executive produced by Renee Zellweger, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. (Hollywood Reporter)

• Tank Girl actress Lori Petty becomes a director. Lori Petty has a film of her own: 'The Poker House' (LA Times)

• Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, starring India.Arie and produced by Whoopi Goldberg, will begin previews Aug. 19 for a Sept. 8 opening at the Circle in the Square Theater. Show will be the Broadway debut for director Shirley Jo Finney. (Variety)