Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Even as headlines that "A Mighty Heart's" Dan Futterman has quit acting circulate around the world via the Internet, the actor and Oscar-nominated screenwriter ("Capote") assures us he hasn't hung up his thespian career.

"I don't know what I said that got interpreted in such a strong way. It's true that I've been focusing on writing and I don't have the ambitions for acting that I once did," he says. "But if something as good as 'A Mighty Heart' comes up where I feel I can contribute and work with the best people, then of course I will."

Futterman portrays slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in the film, due in theaters Friday (6/22), with Angelina Jolie as his wife, Mariane Pearl. Futterman tells us that he and Jolie shot lots of footage in which they portrayed the couple's happy times. Director Michael Winterbottom then chose the shots that put across their entire relationship — while much more went unused. "Danny and Mariane had a lot of fun together, and we had a lot of fun recreating that," Futterman says.

Jolie was not part of the group that ventured to Pakistan for filming, and Futterman admits that going in, there were concerns about shooting such a potentially inflammatory subject in that dangerous part of the world. "I was there because nobody knows or cares about me," Futterman volunteers, "and Michael shot in such a pared down way, we were like a small documentary crew nobody noticed." He says he never felt endangered, though, and it turned out, "everyone was accommodating and welcoming."

He stresses that Pearl's tragic fate at the hands of terrorists is depicted "in a delicate and dignified way, from Mariane's point of view. While it is sad, it is also a heroic story in many ways. It's the story of an international group of people who came together to work in this desperate search, and it's the story of how Mariane rose above this terrible thing that happened to her. She, probably more than anyone, had reason to have anger and hatred in her heart, but she has none of that."

SUPREME BEING: One-time Supreme Mary Wilson is certainly revving up her career of late.

Not only does she take her "Up Close" cabaret act into Feinstein's at Loews Regency in New York City tonight (6/19) through June 30, she's in the midst of prepping an album of all new material for release in late summer.

Working with Motown collaborators Brian and Eddie Holland, Wilson says, "The mass public knows me from my 'oohs' and 'aahs' with The Supremes, but has no idea of what I sound like on my own. This new album will probably put me on the map in terms of showing my sound. It's not hip-hop. I'm not trying to compete with Mary J. Blige or Mariah Carey. I like them, it's just that I'm 63," and singing from the vantage point of one who understands the full richness of life.

Her club show consists of ballads in styles from jazz to Brazilian to blues and standards, a sort of autobiography of songs that winds up with Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."

Wilson is endorsing Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, and has already performed for the former first lady on several occasions. "The Women of Color Coalition had a fundraiser for her, and I was asked to speak and to sing, which I did. I was so proud. And we did another fundraiser at the home of Bob Johnson of BET." Did Sen. Clinton have any requests? "She loves the Supremes' songs, like 'Stop! In the Name of Love,'" according to Wilson. So, will there be a tune suitable for campaigning on the new record? "I'll have to think about that — maybe," she says with a laugh.

CASTING CORNER: They're adding recurring characters to James Woods' "Shark" for the coming season, including Sebastian Stark's former wife Claire, who remains the love of his life and best friend — fresh from divorcing her second husband. There'll also be a streetwise new assistant D.A. named Billy Lyons on Shark's team, and a new, highly political and manipulative district attorney with whom he'll lock horns. No doubt Woods would like his load lightened in season two after all those 14-hour days he put in last year.

And if you're a red-haired beauty between 5'6 and 5'11 and appear to be between 18 and 35, maybe "Deal or No Deal" has a place for you. The Howie Mandel hit game show is casting for new briefcase models this week, all ethnicities welcome. They're short on redheads, though.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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