Altman speaks on politics in his 'Prairie' film

Altman speaks on politicsin his 'Prairie' film
BERLIN -- Director Robert Altman says his big-screen adaptation of "A Prairie Home Companion" wasn't intentionally political, but "reflects the truth of what's going on in ourselves."
The film was in keeping with Garrison Keillor's tradition of weaving politics into his radio show, but not overtly so, Altman said.
"I don't think that you can make a piece of art -- or a song, or poem -- all of these reflect the kinds of feelings that rub off on us; reflect the truth of what is going on in ourselves," Altman said Sunday after a screening of the movie at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The film, a fictionalized account of the last broadcast of the 30-year-old radio show, tells the story of what happens when Keillor finds out he's been taken over by a big conglomerate.
Meryl Streep, Woody Harrelson and Kevin Kline star alongside Keillor in the film, which was shot on location at Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Minn., where the radio show is based.
Creed founder marries
NEW YORK -- Scott Stapp, former lead singer of Creed, has married former Miss New York Jaclyn Nesheiwat, People magazine reports on its Web site.
The couple exchanged vows Friday night at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an estate on the waterfront of Biscayne Bay in Miami, the magazine reports.
Stapp's 7-year-old son, Jagger, served as the best man.
The 32-year-old singer founded the rock band Creed and won a Grammy Award in 2000 for the song "With Arms Wide Open." He struck out on his own last year with the solo album, "The Great Divide."
Nesheiwat is the director of public affairs for the Scott Stapp Foundation, which promotes healthy parent-child relationships.
Today's Birthdays
TV personality Hugh Downs is 85. Actress-singer Florence Henderson is 72. Country singer Razzy Bailey is 67. Jazz musician Maceo Parker is 63. Movie director Alan Parker is 62. Journalist Carl Bernstein is 62. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is 59. TV personality Pat O'Brien is 58. Magician Teller (Penn and Teller) is 58. Cajun singer-musician Michael Doucet (Beausoleil) is 55. Actor Ken Wahl is 49. Opera singer Renee Fleming is 47. Actress Meg Tilly is 46. Singer-producer Dwayne Wiggins is 45. Actor Enrico Colantoni is 43. Actor Zach Galligan is 42. Rock musician Ricky Wolking (The Nixons) is 40. Tennis player Manuela Maleeva is 39. Rock musician Kevin Baldes (Lit) is 34. Rock singer Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty) is 34. Actor Freddie Highmore ("Finding Neverland") is 14.