A THREATENED Hollywood strike of writers, actors and directors in 2008 is already beginning to cause jitters in the industry and may ultimately have ripple on effects in Ireland, both in the movies we see and the international production that comes here. As with a previous strike scare in 2001, Hollywood has begun stockpiling by bringing production dates forward. Several stars are committing to back-to-back movies, the latest being Scarlett Johansson who has lined up three major roles. She's to join Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Connelly in the ensemble comedy He's Just Not That Into You, playing a would-be singer who has an affair with a married man. She then becomes the femme fatale Silk N Floss in Frank Miller's adaptation of the classic Will Eisner comic strip. After that she plays the title role in Mary Queen Of Scots, to be directed by John (The Painted Veil) Curran.

TAKING a cue from Julia Stiles, who made her directorial debut with a 20-minute short Raving at Sundance earlier this year, Jennifer Aniston and Bryce Dallas Howard both screened first shorts at the recent 2007 Palm Springs International Festival. Jennifer's short is called Room 10, while Orchids will mark Bryce's first step to follow in her dad Ron Howard's footsteps by making a move from acting to direction.

ALL IRELAND TOP FIVE (weekend 24-26 August)
1(1) The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass) 479,163 ( 2,301,493 to date)
2(-) Knocked Up (Judd Apatow) ( 377,567)
3(2) The Simpsons Movie (David Silverman) 114,467 ( 7,536,420 )
4(4) Rush Hour 3 (Brett Ratner) 98,895 ( 903,530 )
5(5) Bratz (Sean McNamara) 96,542 ( 491,019)
Compiled from Sunday Tribune industry sources

US TOP FIVE MOVIES (weekend 24-26 August)
1(-) Superbad (Greg Mottala) $18m ($68.6m to date)
2(3) The Bourne Ultimatum (Paul Greengrass) $12.4m ($185.1m)
3(1) Rush Hour 3 (Brett Ratner) $12.3m ($109m)
4(-) Mr Bean's Holiday (Steve Bendelack) $10.1m (-)
5(-) War (Philip G Atwell) $10m (-)