BILL DUKE / DIRECTOR

Poughkeepsie-born Bill Duke’s Hollywood career has spanned from a role in the 1976 disco classic “Car Wash” to directing the new ‘30s Harlem gangster tale “Hoodlum,” starring Laurence Fishburne, Andy Garcia and Tim Roth. Duke, 54, also has written two books (including the recent poetic inner quest “The Journey”) and has launched a company, Rawww, developing entertainment-based Internet programming.

THE BUZZ: “Everyone’s talking about the marriage of Bill Gates and Hollywood. How does this benefit the couch potato who is not necessarily into the Internet? How do you find a way to use the new technologies that’s not cumbersome and awkward and techie?”

NON-TECHIE BUZZ: “I know people are really looking forward to this new Denzel Washington-Spike Lee collaboration to see what it will be.”

SENSORY OVERLOAD: “This summer the box office suffered early with the big blockbusters. They had no legs because how many special effects can you withstand? Interesting to see that ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ stood up well--a human story people could relate to.”

HOLLYWOOD, GROUND ZERO: “It’s on the golf course these days. I want to learn how to play. I don’t smoke or drink. I’m not that trendy. I just want to work. So I’d like to learn how to play golf. I hear that’s very social, and could be fun.”

ROLE MODEL: “My favorite filmmaker is Frank Capra. He talked about the redemption of the human spirit--not the superhero, but the common man. I hope those stories will come back.”

RISING STARS: “Chris Brancado, who wrote my film, is a very talented writer. He comes from a TV background, and I really think--and I’m in a minority on this--but I think there is a hell of a lot of talent in TV that is overlooked.”

SURPRISE PICK: “Kim Fields, the actress, is directing now and doing some wonderful stuff. She’s been in the business since she was a kid, but now is producing and directing.”

AWAY FROM IT ALL: “I meditate twice a day, T.M., and do yoga and tai chi. I live in the Palisades, away from the city. I’m a very private person, not much of a party person. That’s how I keep my sanity.”

PHILOSOPHY: “My favorite quote is from Winston Churchill: ‘True power is an individual’s ability to move from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.’ I think he was right. It’s something to shoot for.”