FILM/SNEAK PEEK : THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR A HATE-FREE MILLENNIUM.

Byline: -Valerie Kuklenski

For many, it is hard to imagine anything good could come from recent notorious acts of brutality such as the slayings of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. and the deadly shooting rampage at Columbine High School.

However, filmmakers Brent Scarpo and Martin Bedogne aim to deliver a positive, life-affirming message with their new documentary about these crimes, ``Journey to a Hate Free Millennium.''

Scarpo and Bedogne met late last year at a Los Angeles memorial vigil for Shepard, who was beaten and left for dead on a Wyoming fence because he was a homosexual. They resolved to join forces on a project that would address the emotions his killing stirred up.

Soon after they began production in Colorado, two students ran amok at Columbine High a few miles away. Then the family of James Byrd, the African-American man in Texas who was dragged to death behind a truck driven by white supremacists, learned of the ``Journey'' documentary and asked that his story be told as well.

T.J. Leyden, a former neo-Nazi who now works for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, offered to bring his point of view as an ex-hatemonger who speaks out against hatred. Celebrities such as Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Kathy Najimi and John Dye donated their time to the project.

The result is an 80-minute documentary that intends not only to remind us of the inhumanity of the acts but to find ways to prevent history from repeating itself.

``Journey to a Hate Free Millennium'' will be screened 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theater, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. The filmmakers will discuss the work after both showings. Tickets are $7. For more information, call [phone].

Celebrate Hollywood

Looking for something different to do with star-struck visiting relatives over the holidays? After the courtyard of the Chinese Theatre and before the landmark-heavy bus tour, check out ``Forever Hollywood,'' now playing at American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre.

It's an original, hour-long film celebrating 100 years of movie-making as told by narrator Sharon Stone and dozens of contemporary actors and directors, among them Warren Beatty, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, Annette Bening, Salma Hayek and Steven Spielberg.

``Forever Hollywood'' includes clips from 75 American movies, dating back to the earliest days of the industry, as well as behind-the-scenes images and stars' home movies. It was written and directed by Variety film critic Todd McCarthy.

The film is screened four times each day Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children under 12. For more information, call American Cinematheque at [phone] or go to www.americancinematheque.com on the Web.

Zanucks produce Oscar

Richard and Lili Fini Zanuck, first-time producers of the 72nd Academy Awards, have tapped into the experience of Michael B. Seligman, naming him the event's executive producer.

Seligman specializes in producing live television broadcasts and has been associate producer of the Oscars for the past 22 years. His other upcoming projects include ``America's Millennium,'' the live New Year's Eve production beaming from Washington's Lincoln Memorial.

The 72nd annual Academy Awards will be presented March 26, 2000, at the Shrine Auditorium and televised on ABC.