hFor film by actor Garcia, the Cuban flag is flown

hFor film by actor Garcia,the Cuban flag is flown
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- The Cuban flag was hung from a balcony of the Dominican National Palace for the benefit of actor Andy Garcia.
The building was being used Saturday in the filming of "The Lost City," which the Cuban-born Garcia is both acting in and directing.
Explosions were detonated inside the palace to recreate a failed assault on Cuba's presidential palace during the revolution that eventually led to Fidel Castro's triumph in 1959.
The 48-year-old Garcia, whose family left the island nation when he was 5, has been a staunch critic of Castro's.
The Dominican government has allowed the filmmakers to use its facilities in an effort to boost the country's film industry.
Filmmakers were paying about $2,300 in fees for the use of streets and monuments, officials said.
Garcia said the film focuses on the transition in Cuba from President Fulgencio Batista's rule to Castro's takeover. Garcia's character, a cabaret owner, eventually leaves the country to go into exile in New York.
Garcia's other acting credits include "Ocean's Eleven," "The Untouchables" and "The Godfather: Part III."
Dole at Clinton School?Ex-rival's in talks to talk
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Bob Dole, who lost his bid for the presidency to Bill Clinton in 1996, could become the first lecturer at the new Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas.
The Republican former senator is in talks with the school to give a speech Sept. 18.
"He's got great credentials to do this, to help us let the world know this is a nonpartisan school," said the school's dean, David Pryor, himself a former senator.
Dole would be returning a favor to Clinton, who opened a lecture series at the University of Kansas' Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics earlier this year.
"If it goes according to plan, we'll open [the school] with the biggest Republican we know," Pryor said.
Clinton and Dole also faced off on "60 Minutes" last year, giving political commentaries.
For charity, Gray decidesshe'll just wear her Choos
LONDON -- Eccentric singer Macy Gray has come up with an interesting way to raise money for charity -- she'll perform naked.
The R & amp;B star said she'll appear in nothing but a pair of Jimmy Choo heels at her London gig today, reports Ananova.com.
Gray will reveal all to raise cash for the Elton John Aids Foundation.
"Never before has a major artist gone so far in aid of a good cause," a spokesman for the singer said. "Macy was invited to be part of a celebrity auction in which photographs of stars wearing Jimmy Choo shoes will go under the hammer. She wanted to do something special for it so decided that in her photograph she would be naked onstage. It is a very sexy statement."
The gig will take place at The Coronet in Elephant and Castle, south London. It's Gray's first U.K. gig in two years.
Notable death
John Cullen Murphy, the illustrator best known for the "Prince Valiant" cartoon strip for more than three decades, died Friday, his son said. He was 85.
Murphy drew "Prince Valiant" until a few months before his death. He retired in March, turning over his strip over to his chosen successor, illustrator Gary Gianni of Chicago.
Today's birthdays
Actress Katherine Helmond is 70. Actress Shirley Knight is 68. Singer-musician Robbie Robertson is 61. Julie Nixon Eisenhower is 56. Rock star Huey Lewis is 54. Baseball pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage is 53. Country musician Charles Ventre (River Road) is 52. Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn is 45. Actress Edie Falco ("The Sopranos") is 41. Rapper RZA is 35. Rhythm and blues singer Joe is 31. Rock musician Bengt Lagerberg (The Cardigans) is 31. Actor Dale Godboldo is 29. Rapper Bizarre (D12) is 26. Rock singer Jason Wade (Lifehouse) is 24.
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