MOVIES - Nov. 4, 1988

Despite a pending court hearing on maverick North Carolina film maker Earl Owensby’s claims of damage to his production facilities, “Alien Nation” producer Gale Ann Hurd has said that production of her feature “The Abyss” is “absolutely continuing on schedule” on location in South Carolina. The film, which is being described as an underwater “Star Wars,” with almost half of the footage being shot in a 7.5-million-gallon water tank, is scheduled for release in July. Owensby, who owns the production facility where “The Abyss” is being shot, had tried to evict the film company last month, but a federal judge placed a restraining order against him, prohibiting him from interfering with the film’s production. Owensby, who claims the company damaged one of his water tanks and used materials “that didn’t go with the deal,” called the dispute a “normal disagreement” that is merely part of a business deal and said he would be the first one to buy a ticket to “The Abyss,” which he predicted would be the biggest movie of 1989.