Remember all the trends in Hollywood about where to find film Directors...? Use to be videostore clerks, then special effects artists, then music video directors, then standup comics...

Well with Rob Marshall's Academy Award nomination for "Chicago" and his Directors Guild Award plus other honors -- the new trend for stage directors: big studios and independent producers are offering opportunities to direct for the big screen.

For example, Michael Mayer, a three-time Tony Award nominee for "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," and "A View From the Bridge," is in Toronto filming Michael Cunningham's novel "A Home at the End of the World."

Jim Simpson, who is the New York artistic director of the Flea Theater, however, he directed the film Anne Nelson's "The Guys," derived from the play he directed. Focus Features released the film last winter.

"The Dying Gaul," by playwright-director Craig Lucas, will be made into a film by Lucas. Susan Stroman will direct the musical "Contact" for USA Films.

Hollywood, always searching for new talent behind the lens is eyeing theatrical craftspeople to provide it.

This trend is more than just a year old, in the last dozen years at least nine directors identified with their stage work have successfully made their first feature films. That list would include Stephen Daldry "Billy Elliot", Scott Elliott "A Map of the World", Nicholas Hytner "The Madness of King George", James Lapine "Impromptu", Joe Mantello "Love! Valour! Compassion!", Sam Mendes "American Beauty", Julie Taymor "Titus", Matthew Warchus "Simpatico", and Jerry Zaks "Marvin's Room".

No word yet on the Film version of "Puppetry of the Penis".