A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : HOLLYTICS : Cutting Through These Lies With 16mm? Boy, Are They <i> Waaaay</i> Under-Gunned

Before Robert Downey Jr. becomes known to the world as the actor who took on the role of Charlie Chaplin, he’s donning another bowler--as documentary filmmaker.

Downey will be seen this week roaming the Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden with a camera crew (super-16 millimeter) doing interviews to be cut in later with others done at the Republican convention in Houston--and a Ross Perot convention, if there is one--as well as scenes from events such as pro-choice and anti-abortion rallies.

Tentatively titled “The Last Party,” it will be a full-length theatrical movie produced by independent Athena Films that the producers say they hope public television will air in a shorter form. Budget: under a million.

Producers Josh Richman and Donovan Leitch describe it as cross between Haskell Wexler’s “Medium Cool” (about the tumultuous 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago) and last year’s Madonna documentary “Truth or Dare.”

When asked to be more specific, the filmmakers said they hope to fill the screen with “the most wacky, obscure s---.” Like what? Like getting Downey Jr. and conservative California Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Long Beach) to go surfing together (it’s in the works). Like footage of conservative Republican Rep. John R. Kasich of Ohio, a known Deadhead, being yanked off the stage at a Grateful Dead concert in Washington last year. Like getting the point-of-view of self-described “Republican party reptile” (and Rolling Stone columnist) P.J. O’Rourke’s take on the parties’ parties.

“We want to cover all angles,” said Richman, 27, whose resume includes producing four music videos for Guns N’ Roses.

To add even more levity to the proceedings, concert footage from the Lollapalooza II concert tour featuring the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ice Cube will be used “serve as a kind of alternative campaign.” The producers claim 50,000 new voters have registered to vote at the Lollapalooza shows.

Downey, 27, has already interviewed Clinton and New York City Mayor David Dinkins. Press secretaries for President Bush and undeclared candidate Ross Perot have been approached for their interest as well. Also, the crew has been out and about in Manhattan doing man-on-street interviews with the homeless and, more recently, protesters who blocked the Holland Tunnel during a Women’s Action Coalition protest last week.

When edited, it is intended to come off “like an information mosaic,” said Richman. “Everyone realizes the youth market is very important. What we’ll try to do is cut through the lies and provide a place for the candidates to speak honestly.”

In politics or in Hollywood, a challenge for anyone.