This week, tomorrow belongs to Hollywood.

How does a 29-year-old dreamer with no prior moviemaking experience land a $60m budget, distribution with Paramount, and Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow as leads? Well, Kerry Conran wrote a computer programme and a script – both sci-fi. The programme allows him to shoot the actors on bluescreen and place them in digitally altered settings based on archival footage. Those who’ve seen it report that Conran’s artistry with the images gives the film a dreamy, fluid feel that’s far from the Star Wars school of lifeless bluescreen acting. The “retro sci-fi” script set in the 30s stars Paltrow as an intrepid reporter who stumbles on (what else but?) an evil genius plotting to take over the world – Law is the ex-boyfriend who helps her conquer evil. Conran might change the way movies look, but you’ll have to wait until next year to see it. The World Of Tomorrow comes out in the summer of 2004.

Ryan Reynolds may not be as cerebral as Kerry Conran, but he’s nearly as rewarding to watch. Star of the secretly great Van Wilder, Reynolds looks disturbingly like Steve from MTV Real World: Las Vegas and had to fall for perennial party girl Tara Reid onscreen, but he showed a rare sense of funny that’s hard to find in a pretty boy. Van Wilder fizzled at the box office but I’m hoping that Reynolds will pull through with his next movie, a romantic comedy entitled Just The Two Of Us, which is just about to start shooting in LA.

Another favourite book is being adapted for the screen. This time it’s The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, the first of CS Lewis’ classic Narnia series. Several of the art and effects people involved with The Lord Of The Rings movies are working with this film – which means the creepy people-in-animal-costumes effect of the 80s BBC series will probably get an update. (Shame – Ed.)

Jade Chang 04 July 03

useful link: www.narnia.com