'Man on the Moon' lands at CSULB

By Michelle Fithian, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 2, 1998

Universal Pictures is borrowing George Allen Field and the Carpenter Performing Arts Center for two days to film a scene from "Man on the Moon," starring Jim Carrey, Courtney Love and produced by Danny DeVito. The filming has transformed the Carpenter Center into an early 1980s college auditorium filled by a sea of extras sporting afros, tight jeans and high-heeled sandals in every imaginable hue.

Directed by Milos Forman ( "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest," "The People vs. Larry Flint"), the movie depicts the life of comedian Andy Kaufman, who died of cancer in 1984. Kaufman was best known for his role on "Taxi," as the heavy-accented naive mechanic Latka.

"He was the first performance artist, a dadaist," said Spookie Stevens, publicist for the film. Kaufman's unconventional attitude shines through in the scene being filmed at the Carpenter Center.

Played by Carrey, Kaufman enters the auditorium filled with extras portraying Arizona college kids screaming and chanting for their favorite television immigrant.

What they get, in true Kaufman style, is a cover-to-cover recital of "The Great Gatsby."After today, filming will continue throughout Los Angeles and will conclude in New York later this year.