Around The Arts

Thornton to receive screenplay writing award\nNATCHEZ, Miss. -- Billy Bob Thornton will be honored Saturday with the Horton Foote Special Achievement Award for Screenplay Writing.\nThornton, who won an Academy Award for his 1997 film "Sling Blade" and has acted in such popular movies as "Armageddon" and "Primary Colors," will receive the award as part of the 14th annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration.\nThe event begins Wednesday and features writing seminars, screenings, signings and publishing tips.\nSaturday's award ceremony will end with a showing of "Sling Blade" and a question-and-answer session with Thornton.\nThe movie is about a man, played by Thornton, who is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has been since the age of 12 after murdering his mother and her lover. He returns to his childhood home to start a new life.\nGeorge Clooney proves to be a popular director\nLONDON -- Hollywood hunk George Clooney is proving as popular in the director's chair as he is onscreen.\nThe 41-year-old star arrived at the London premiere of his new movie Monday night to the delight of screaming fans.\nClooney graced a red carpet for his directorial debut "Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind," which just won the best actor award at the Berlin Film Festival for Sam Rockwell.\nThe former "ER" star signed autographs and shook hands with the crowd gathered outside the UGC Haymarket in Piccadilly, central London, to catch a glimpse of Clooney on a cold evening.\n"Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind," also starring Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore, tells the story of a legendary 1970s American TV producer and "The Gong Show" host Chuck Barris.\nThe film is based on Barris' autobiography in which he claims to have led an extraordinary double life as a CIA assassin -- fronting game shows by day and murdering government targets by night.\nAsked about his future plans, Clooney said: "I'll direct again if something interesting comes along"