Baldwin bristles over b'casting bans

GOOD MORNING: Alec Baldwin hopes "to tap as many relevant people (including independent filmmakers) as we can, to come to a symposium in the fall in advance of the first 'Banned by PBS Film Festival,' " which he would host mid-Oct. at the Pacific Design Center. Baldwin spoke to me from the steamy location in New Orleans for "Heaven's Prisoners," and he was steaming about what he claims is public b'casting's abandonment of its original mandate, per the Carnegie Commission report in 1967, which led to the creation of public b'casting "to help us see America whole in all its diversity -- to serve as a forum for controversy and debate -- and to provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise be unheard." Baldwin noted, "Three of the last four motion picture Oscar-winning documentaries were banned, at one time or another, by PBS: 'Defending Our Lives,' 'Panama Deception' and 'Deadly Deception.' " And, Mark Mori's Oscar-nominated "Building Bombs" was finally aired by PBS, "in an edited version." Mori founded the Coalition vs. PBS Censorship and says it will be joined by the Hollywood Policy Center and BAFTA at the festival. Baldwin reminded, "I give to KCET and NET -- this money is precious, but the Corp. for Public Broadcasting is still stacked with Reagan appointees." The outspoken Baldwin added, "The key for me is to get PBS to admit why they have abandoned their purpose"... Sunday night, Baldwin was joined in N.Y. by wife Kim Basinger at the Ziegfeld for the "The Shadow" preem, which benefited the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Fund (for human rights). Alec said he thoroughly enjoyed making "The Shadow" because of his relationship with producer Marty Bregman and Universal. Yes, he would be happy to do a sequel. He says the other film he really enjoyed making was "The Getaway" (even though it was a disappointment at the B.O.). "It made me interested in doing movies again. Working with my wife (Kim Basinger) was the best experience I ever had." Yes, they want to do another pic -- they also want to have a baby -- and to adopt one. Basinger's just finished "Pret-a-Porter" for Robert Altman. In September, her appeal is heard on the "Boxing Helena"$ 8.9 million judgment and the Baldwins are hopeful.

AFTER HER PRESS CONFAB, Faye Dunaway and I had a little chat about her ex-boss. We recalled she had "previewed" her "Sunset Blvd." singing, to me, here May 6. And now, her thoughts about Andrew Lloyd Webber: "I'm not saying he's the worst person in the world -- but he's unpredictable and capricious. I can't read the man's mind." Sure, she admits she's "heartbroken and dismayed," but she still believes she could have done a helluva job in "Sunset Blvd." She's got several jobs from which to pick, after she completes "Don Juan De Marco and the Centerfold" with Marlon Brando, whom she describes as "the best, a joy, a great artist, a poet -- with a great sense of humor." Among projects now coming back into action for Dunaway are: "Pearl Buck" and "Fortune's Child" with Christina Applegate, both teamed with Roxanne Messina Captor's banner. Also a TV franchise idea with Patsy Cornwell for Ruth Slauson and Robert Halmi plus a Polydor/Joan Tewksbury-directed Southern-set story which could start quickly ... The finale of James Michener's epic "Texas," filming for Aaron Spelling in Del Rio, Texas, had a day's delay when a tornado hit the site. No injuries to the company. The mini preems this fall on homevideo (Republic Pictures Entertainment), followed by four hours on ABC in '95 ... Sherwood Schwartz is now busier than ever in his long and successful career; his "Brady Bunch" feature is going before Par's cameras July 6 and the "Bunch" will be honored at the Montreal Comedy Festival, soon followed by the bigscreen start of Schwartz's "Gilligan's Island.""Gilligan's" is currently legit'ing in San Diego.

BUD YORKIN'S ALL IN THE FAMILY: he's a first time grandfather thanks to daughter Nicole and her husband Tim Shaheen, who welcomed son Julian S. Thursday at Santa Monica Hospital -- and Bud's wife Cynthia Sikes is expecting their second child at year's end; they have a 19-month-old daughter, Jessica ... Patricia Lawford (Mrs. Daniel Stewart) placed her collection of late husband Peter Lawford's personal photos -- including those with President Kennedy and Hollywood stars -- with the Bettmann Archives in N.Y. to prevent (further) swipings ... Jules Feiffer packed the Mark Taper auditorium at the L.A. Central Library's first "American Comix" series, the brainchild of screenwriter Gary Ross (Oscar-nominated for "Dave"). Next are Paul Conrad, July 20 and Art Spiegelman, Nov. 30 ... Brillstein/Grey (Bernie/Brad) move into new 17,000 sq. ft. offices in BevHills over the long July 4 weekend.