A Stone's throw to the right

'World Trade' pic unspooling for D.C. conservatives

By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

It's not often that Hollywood gets applause from conservatives. But don't underestimate the power of targeted pre-release screenings.

With an assist from a right-leaning PR firm, Paramount has been hosting invitation-only showings of "World Trade Center" for conservatives in D.C.

Pic, skedded for Aug. 9 release, is helmed by Oliver Stone, whose "JFK" and "Platoon" weren't exactly hits with the red-state brigade.

But as one conservative blogger wrote of the screening he attended, the audience looked like a who's-who of Washington's right.

Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas called the pic "world-class," worthy of Oscar, and urged everyone to see it.

Brent Bozell, crusader against what he has called pollution of the airwaves, said Stone has created "a masterpiece."

Yet another conservative leader said, "Stone may have redeemed himself."

Helping Par identify potential auds is Creative Response Concepts, whose previous clients include "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," the group that sledgehammered 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam War record.

"We're not just focusing on conservatives," says Paramount spokeswoman Nancy Kirkpatrick, noting screenings have been held for a wide range of groups across the country.

Mainly, though, "We're reaching out to both sides of the aisle to let them know this is not a political movie."