By MILAN PAURICH

By MILAN PAURICH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
UCHRIS COLUMBUS
The Champion native directed "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the most-anticipated -- and highest-grossing -- "event" movie of the year.
Columbus, who helmed such blockbusters as "Home Alone" and "Mrs. Doubtfire," had his biggest hit yet with "Sorcerer's Stone."
Since Columbus is now shooting "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" for release on Nov. 16, 2002, it looks as if the 1976 Warren JFK High graduate will be living in the fantasy world of J.K. Rowlings' boy wizard wonder for the foreseeable future. Since the release of "Sorcerer's Stone," James "Titanic" Cameron is no longer Tinseltown's reigning "king of the world." Columbus is.
UMARILYN LEVY
The 1955 Rayen High School alumnus wrote Paramount Classics' summer arthouse hit, "Bride of the Wind." Although it was only Levy's first produced screenplay, the former Youngstowner earned kudos for her lush period romance set in end-of-the-century Vienna. Levy is currently charging full-speed ahead with a bevy of future projects in tandem with her producer husband, Lawrence. Paramount is currently plugging "Wind" for Oscar consideration, and Levy hopes to bring her movie to the Youngstown area this spring for a special showing at the Butler Museum of Art.
UJACK LOGIUDICE
Boardman bred LoGiudice is busy at work on the third season of "Resurrection Boulevard," Showtime's acclaimed, Latino-themed dramatic series where he serves as co-executive producer and writer. "Idora Park," LoGiudice's play about growing up in the Mahoning Valley, is also getting closer to its first staging.
UMICHAEL MORLEY
Onetime Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Morley's movie plans are continuing to flourish. The Morley-produced "Martin and Orloff" starring Andy Richter and Janeane Garofolo was selected for both February's Aspen Comedy Arts Festival and Austin's prestigious South x Southwest Film Festival next spring. "90 Miles," a Morley-produced documentary about one young man's experiences after being boat-lifted out of Cuba in the 1980s, won the Best Documentary award at this month's Havana Film Festival.
UAUSTIN PENDLETON
One of the stage and screen's most dependable (and busiest) character actors, this Warren native can be seen in a supporting role in Ron Howard's odds-on Oscar favorite, "A Beautiful Mind." Pendleton's touring stage revival of "Finian's Rainbow" never made it to the Great White Way, however, because of a Broadway theater shortage.
UDOMINIC SENA
Despite the fact that Sena's John Travolta actioner "Swordfish" didn't make quite the splash that his 2000 summer popcorn flick, "Gone in 60 Seconds," did, he can be credited for bringing Travolta out of yet another box-office slump. Sena doesn't yet have a follow-up movie in the offing, but hopes to tackle something more personal and less special effects-driven than either "Swordfish" or "Seconds" the next time at bat.
If his electrifying nongenre 1993 debut film "Kalifornia" was any indication, the Niles-born Sena can tackle any genre he wants with the greatest of ease.