Little Screen to Big Screen

    There was a time when TV actors and movie actors were two separate creatures.

     If an actor received some television success, the first thing he did was attempt to enter the feature film world. Conversely, when an actor's film career was lagging, television became the alternative.

     Even as recently as four years ago, when David Caruso became an instant TV star on "NYPD Blue" and left to make films, did this phenomenon occur.

     As we approach the Millenium, things have changed. With cable and expanded television programming, there are more roles available and the line between TV and film actor becomes fuzzy.

     John Goodman may have been one of the trailblazers who changed the rules. He maintained his role as a regular on "Roseanne," and appeared in films during his hiatus. During his tenure on the hit series (1988-1996, ABC) Goodman appeared in 17 films, including: "Always," "Sea of Love," "Stella," "Arachnophobia," "King Ralph," "Barton Fink," "The Babe," "Matinee," "Born Yesterday," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Pie in the Sky," and "Mother Night."

     Following is a look at upcoming film projects for many television stars.

JASON ALEXANDER - ("Seinfeld") Stars in "Denial," which is directed by Adam Rifkin ("The Chase", "Psycho Cop Returns")

TIM ALLEN - ("Home Improvement") Reprises the role of Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story 2."

GILLIAN ANDERSON - ("The X-Files") Costars in the indie film "Chicago Cab," (aka "Hell Cab") along with John Cusack ("Con Air"), Laurie Metcalf ("Roseanne") and Julianne Moore ("The Big Lebowski"). Anybody who watches Fox also knows that Anderson stars in "X-Files: The Movie." She'll also appear, along with Sharon Stone, Gena Rowlands, Harry Dean Stanton and Meat Loaf, in "The Mighty," a family drama.

JENNIFER ANISTON - ("Friends") Plays a girl who falls in love with a gay man (Paul Rudd) in "The Object of My Affection." She's also been cast as the lead in Mike Judge's ("Beavis & Butthead," "King of the Hill") live-action film, "Office Space." Aniston will play a waitress whose boyfriend (Ron Livingston) and his cronies wage a battle of corporate politics at a software company. Shooting begins in May in Los Angeles.

DAN AYKROYD - ("Soul Man") Plays the voice of "Wasp #1 in "Antz," an animated feature starring the voice of Woody Allen. Will also star in "Ghostbusters III," which, though slated to premiere in 1999, will probably begin advertising in theatres any day now.

SCOTT BAIRSTOW - ("Significant Others") Stars in "Delivered," a comedy thriller that also stars Ron Eldard ("Men Behaving Badly") and David Strickland ("Suddenly Susan").

CHRISTINE BARANSKI - ("Cybill") Stars in "The Odd Couple II," with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau. Directed by Howard Deutch ("Grumpy Old Men" and hubby to Lea Thompson of "Caroline in the City"). Also in "Bullworth" as Constance Bullworth; directed by Warren Beatty.

MARIA BELLO - ("ER") "Permanent Midnight" also stars Janeane Garofalo ("The Larry Sanders Show"), Elizabeth Hurley ("Austin Powers"), Ben Stiller ("Flirting With Disaster"). Stars in "Payback," a crime thriller action thing as Rosie opposite Mel Gibson. Directed by Brian Helgeland, who wrote "The Postman," "Conspiracy Theory" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master."

RICHARD BELZER - ("Homicide") Plays Mariano in "Deadly Pursuits," a thriller directed by Felix Enríquez Alcala (also directed on "Profiler," "Sliders" "ER", "Space: Above and Beyond," "Michael Hayes")

PETER BERG - ("Chicago Hope") Directs "Very Bad Things," a thriller about a group of friends who head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, but things go wrong and a woman is killed, then the friends find themselves turning against one another as the coverup builds. Also stars Cameron Diaz, Jon Favreau, Christian Slater.

ZACHERY TY BRYAN - ("Home Improvement") Plays a wealthy, mean-spirited high school football player in United Artists' horror thriller "Carrie II," which also stars Jason London and Amy Irving. "Carrie II" will be directed by Robert Mandel and produced by Paul Monash from a script by Rafael Moreu.

YANCY BUTLER: - ("Brooklyn South") Appears in "The Treat" (Men Are Scum), which costars Daniel Baldwin ("Homicide"), Seymour Cassel ("Trees Lounge"), Patrick Dempsey ("Mobsters"), Julie Delpy ("American Werewolf in Paris"), Vincent Perez ("Indochine") and Michael York ("Cabaret"). Directed by the writer of "Mars Attacks!" - Jonathan Gems.

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