newsmakers

newsmakers

Gibson plans film on Jewish hero

LOS ANGELES

Mel Gibson, who reportedly made anti-Semitic remarks during a drunken-driving arrest five years ago, is now producing a film about the life of Jewish hero Judah Maccabee.

Gibson’s publicist, Alan Nierob, told The Associated Press on Friday that Gibson is working on a deal with Warner Bros. to develop the film through his company, Icon Productions.

Nierob said the studio also would like Gibson to direct, but Gibson will decide whether he wants to do that once a script is finished.

The movie is being written by Joe Eszterhas of “Basic Instinct” and “Flashdance” fame.

‘Glee’ DVD maker gives $1M to schools

NEW YORK

The maker of the “Glee” DVDs is donating $1 million to school arts programs across the country.

Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment announced the donation Friday, saying it will work with the National Association for Music Education to get the money to schools. The company says 73 schools will receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Fox’s popular series is centered on a high-school singing group.

Eligible high schools are being asked to submit videos about why their schools deserve a grant. There will be a public vote to winnow the competition, and education association officials will make the final vote.

Bono says he’ll be a proud American

TORONTO

As the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks draws near, U2 frontman Bono admits he’s “a very proud American on 9/11.”

He says “it’s just too big a moment in all our lives. Even if you’re not American, everyone became an American that day.”

The Irish-born rocker made the comments on the red carpet for the U2 documentary “From the Sky Down,” which opened the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday night.

The film chronicles the band’s recording of their seminal 1991 album “Achtung Baby.”

Associated Press