Those Who Can, Teach
Those who can do ... and sometimes they teach. After a successful year of filmmaking, including directing credits on the hit High Fidelity and a tribute in his honor at the Toronto International Film Festival, and serving as President of the Jury at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Stephen Frears has decided to take a sabbatical. During his year of absence from filmmaking, the 59-year old Frears will teach for a year at the National Film School. He made the announcement at the San Sebastian Film Festival and commented that "every person over 50 should be forced to teach, not only so things get passed on, but to refresh your own mind... all the biggest miracles take place in classrooms. Nothing happens without teachers."

Polish filmmaker Wojciech Has Dies at 75
Wojciech Has was a distinguished Polish filmmaker whose film The Hourglass Sanatorium won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1973. He died October 3 at the age of 75, after suffering from diabetes and having undergone surgery twice ealier in the year. During his life, Has led the prestigious Lodz Film School in the 1900s and also directed The Loop in 1954, Shared Room (1959), The Doll (1968) and the The Saragossa Manuscript, which earned him a cult following.

Oliver Stone Presented at MOMA
Oliver Stone was the guest of honor this weekend at the Museum of Modern Art, which is presenting a mid-career retrospective of his work. He presented the director's cut of Any Given Sunday and recalled rushing to finish editing the film so that it could open in theaters in time for the December football season. He had cut the film four times already (including once for the Berlin film festival and once for the airline version) and decided to add more minutes to the MOMA version. He also announced that his forthcoming film Beyond Borders (which he is in the process of writing) will star Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie.

Billy Cudrup is Definitely Famous
In a casting move that proves his Hollywood clout, Almost Famous star Billy Crudup has signed to star opposite Cate Blanchett in a war drama to be directed by Gillian Armstrong. Based on a novel by Sebastian Faulks, the film will follow a young Scottish heroine (Blanchett) who joins the French resistance in order to find her love, a Royal Air Force pilot (Cudrup) after his disappearance. Shooting is slated to begin in February.

Actress Ann Doran Dies at 89
Having appeared in more than 500 films and 1000 television programs (according to the Internet Movie Database), veteran actress Ann Doran died this week at the age of 89. She began her career at the age of four, starring in silent films and launching a career that lasted for decades. Listed among her credits are appearances on "The Twilight Zone" television series and "The A-Team."

Goldie Gets "Sisterly" with Sarandon
Actresses Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon (who was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Deauville Festival) are in talks to star together in the upcoming comedy The Banger Sisters. The film follows two aging rock groupies whose lives have taken different paths: one is a waitress (Hawn) while the other is a yuppie schoolteacher (Sarandon). Their memories are revived when the two unite for a reunion, a la Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

Sampras Nets Partner in Actress
Tennis champion Pete Sampras has left the singles scene for actress Bridgette Wilson. The couple tied the knot in Beverly Hills this weekend, four months after their engagement. Wilson was recently seen in Billy Madison and I Know What You Did Last Summer, while Sampras was recently seen holding the Wimbledon trophy.