Studios are rushing to finish comedies starring Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell before Hollywood's labor contract with actors expires on June 30.

Sandler's "Bedtime Stories" and Ferrell's "Land of the Lost" are among 68 films that have begun production since writers ended their strike and returned to work on Feb. 13. That represents a 62 percent increase over this time last year, based on permits issued by the agency that regulates filming in Los Angeles.

Studios are speeding production so they won't be stuck with incomplete movies in the event of an actors' strike. Formal talks have yet to begin between the producers and the unions representing film and prime-time TV actors.

Film production remained steady during the writers' strike because studios had stockpiled screenplays that were ready to shoot. The fallout would be greater if actors refuse to work because they can't be replaced quickly. (Bloomberg)

With opera buffs still buzzing over the Metropolitan Opera's simulcasting of Saturday matinee operas to movie theaters around the country (here at the Cinemark Theater at Pittsburgh Mills and at Showcase Cinemas West in Robinson), the San Francisco Opera has gotten into the act. It is presenting high-quality digital videos of some of its operas this season at select American theaters.

The showings are not simulcasts, and so there are multiple viewings to chose from. The theaters locally are run by Carmike: Galleria in Mt. Lebanon and the Cranberry 8.

The schedule is Saint-Saens' "Samson and Delilah" (1, 4 and 7 p.m. on March 29, 30 and 31 and April 1) with mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina and tenor Clifton Forbis; Mozart's "Don Giovanni" (April 12-15) with baritone Mariusz Kwiecien; and Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" (April 19-22) with soprano Patricia Racette and tenor Brandon Jovanovich. Tickets are $12; call 412-531-5720 for or 724-772-3180. (Andrew Druckenbrod, PG classical music critic)

"Secret Sunshine," the South Korean story of a widow's mental breakdown, took the best-picture prize as well as best director and best actress at the Asian Film Awards last week.

Best actor went to veteran Tony Leung Chiu-wai for his performance in the Ang Lee spy thriller "Lust, Caution."

In "Secret Sunshine," Jeon Do-yeon plays a widow who moves to her husband's hometown to start afresh after his death in a traffic accident. Instead, she has to face the kidnapping and murder of her son.

Jeon won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival last year for her performance.

Best supporting actress went to Joan Chen for "The Sun Also Rises" and Sun Honglei won best supporting actor for "Mongol."

In awards announced earlier, the lifetime achievement award went to Japanese director Yoji Yamada.

Organizers paid tribute to director Edward Yang by showing clips from his movies. Yang died in late June from complications from colon cancer.