AFI ponders future of film

GOOD MORNING: It should no longer be called the American Film Institute -- the word "film" is now "generic," admits Jean Firstenberg. And movies will probably not be shown on film in 10 years, predicted AFI chairman Tom Pollock of things to come (and already here). Thursday's 30th commencement exercises of the AFI boasted only its second graduating group of -- Digital Media Artists. Meanwhile it's television that comes to the aid of the American Film Institute again with its second CBSpecial. Airing Tuesday, 8-11 p.m., is "100 Years ... 100 Stars," which follows last year's successful "100 Years ... 100 Movies"; it's hoped another special will air next year. When the NEA cut its grant to the AFI to $20,000 from $2 million, they were faced with a giant annual deficit. It is now almost removed -- thanks to the deal made by the AFI's Fred Pierce (former ABC prez) with CBS where AFI bought the three hours -- then (via Stan Moger) sold it to sponsors like GM and Blockbuster. Despite the successes in TV specials, Pollock reminds, "We are not in the TV production business." Meanwhile, Gary Smith who exec produced the first two, three-hour specials, certainly makes it look like they are in the TV biz -- and successfully! The upcoming "100 Stars" show boasts 50 stars participating in the presentation of the 100 legends (50 women, 50 men), their films, their times and their accomplishments. Shirley Temple, who hosts, is of course one of the 50. But she found out she is not in the top 10. Temple learned she's further down the line when she received the show's script. When she read her intro into the top 10, the script read, "I can't tell you how happy and proud I am to have been chosen one of the 25 legendary actresses." Temple taped her seg at Palo Alto's restored Stanford Theatre whose marquee was flashing: "Shirley Temple in 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm' and 'Curlytop.' " Last week, Temple was commencement speaker at her granddaughter Teresa Falachi's high school graduation in Woodside.

JACK LEMMON IS ANOTHER of the "100 Stars" hosts -- but he is not eligible as one of the legends -- the list includes only those whose screen debut occurred on or before 1950 "or whose death has marked a completed body of work." For that reason, Lemmon also names these ineligible, "Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman, Jack Lemmon and some guy named Walter Matthau." Of the 50 legends, nine are living ... There are 350 film clips, a theme song, "Without You," written by Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch and sung by Liza Minnelli, with all royalties going to the AFI. All players, studios, guilds, unions participated gratis for the AFI show. Votes were made by 1,800 industryites -- and it will be interesting to see how their choices match with those of the moviegoing public. There were, of course, some disagreements with their choices on "100 Years ... 100 Movies" -- but, following the TV'er, film rentals of the classics boomed (like No. 1 "Citizen Kane" whose rentals increased by 1,600%), and reissues of all the Columbia pix proved everybody out there loves movies -- thanks to their rebirth on the television special ... As for the AFI's annual Life Achievement Award, the one honoring Dustin Hoffman, taped Feb. 18, did not air on ABC April 22 as skedded -- the network pre-empted it for specials on the Columbine massacre -- but will now air July 1. Next year's show shifts to CBS with the honoree, producer and date to be set when the AFI board meets again in Oct. ... "100 Stars" exec producer Gary Smith's next challenge is to set performers around the globe for a 22-hour-plus millennium TV show for ABC -- from ABC's new N.Y. studio and tying in with stars performing in time zones from Australia and New Zealand to London and Las Vegas and N.Y., with Dick Clark on Times Square. Peter Jennings hosts.

THE HOMELESS AND FAMILY-LESS CHILDREN of Kosovo who are now awaiting transport back brings to mind another time in history -- the 60th anniversary of Kindertransport Children. The anniversary of the organization -- which brought otherwise doomed children of Europe to England -- will be celebrated Tuesday-Thursday in London with the final celebration hosted by Richard Attenborough whose family took in children during WWII. Winging there from L.A. to perform Wednesday at Logan Hall of the University of London, are famed pianists Renee and Mona Golabek and Renee's 12-year-old daughter, Michele. Their mother (and Michele's grandmother) Lisa escaped death at the hands of the Nazis in Vienna 60 years ago, escaping through Kindertransport. She later married Michel Golabek, a recipient of the Croix de Guerre and senior Jewish officer of the French Resistance. During the upcoming London visit, the Golabeks say they'll walk the London Willesden Lane where Lisa lived the war years... And Wednesday at Elaine's, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, will be honored for her fundraising for 10,000 family tents in refugee camps in Albania through her "Chances for Children." She's raised enough money for 2,000 of the needed 10,000 tents. A celeb turnout is expected at Elaine's to accentuate the continuing need ... Today is the 20th anni of John Wayne's death, and the big attraction at the Paris Air Show is "The Duke" a stealth helicopter dedicated in his honor.