Movies - April 30, 2000

BUDDY SYSTEM

John Cusack and Jeremy Piven met when Cusack was a student at the Piven Theatre Workshop, a prestigious Chicago-area acting school run by Jeremy’s parents, Byrne and Joyce. (Fellow Illinoisans Aidan Quinn and brother Paul were also students of the Pivens.) The clique is still tight: Cusack and Piven are pals, and Piven has had supporting roles in several of Cusack’s films (“Grosse Pointe Blank,” “The Grifters,” “Say Anything”). Paul Quinn was a story editor at Cusack’s New Crime Productions until he left the company to write and direct his own movie, last year’s “This Is My Father,” in which Cusack had a small role. Now Cusack and Piven hope to work together on a romantic comedy called “Serendipity,” a Tapestry Films project that is set up at Miramax. The hunt is on for a female lead. Maybe they should scout in Chicago.

THE HOLE TRUTH

The Hollywood diet mantra used to be “no fat.” Then it was “no carbos.” Now it seems to be “no guilt”--at least when it comes to the town’s obsession with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. A-listers munched on the deep-fried delights at the “Erin Brockovich” premiere. Next, model-actress Rachel Hunter served them at the birthday party she threw for fashion publicist Lara Schriftman. (The other “caterers” at Hunter’s party were In-N-Out Burger and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf--and they say models don’t eat.) The farewell bash for venerable KROQ-FM (106.7) deejay Richard Blade at the Palace on Friday also was sponsored by the popular doughnut chain.

SHIFTING SEASONS

In what may seem an odd move, at least thematically, MGM has moved its tear-jerker “Autumn in New York” to its summer schedule. The love story that pairs an older sophisticate (Richard Gere) with a winsome young woman (Winona Ryder) is Chinese-born actress Joan Chen’s second stint in the director’s chair. MGM will release the film Aug. 18.