Talk about French Fried...

France's worst heat wave on record has killed an estimated 3,000 people across the nation, as the government faced accusations that it failed to respond to a major health crisis.

I guess I shouldn't complain about how hot it's been here.

The personal papers of the notoriously private Ingmar Bergman, which got their first public airing, show how a stumbling actor and writer grew into one of the greatest film directors.

Just turned 85 and mostly ensconced on the remote Baltic Sea island of Faro, the director who rarely gives interviews handed over a jumble of notebooks, diaries, photo albums and film and theater scripts to the Swedish Film Institute for posterity.

The doodles and snapshots give a glimpse into the youthful imaginings of the creator of "Wild Strawberries," "The Seventh Seal" and "Fanny and Alexander," which won him an Oscar in 1982.

"Somewhere in the depths of my foolish soul I nurture one conceited notion: One day, perhaps -- one day -- something shining will be prised out of all this wretchedness," reads an excerpt from a black oilcloth notebook dated 1938.

"Ingmar Before Bergman," previewed for the media in the same cavernous studios where he shot much of "Fanny and Alexander," will accompany Bergman retrospectives in Helsinki, Paris, Rome and Turin until October. The huge archive will be available to researchers, and on the Internet.

I've been reading alot of his writing lately and remembering how as a kid he really influenced me.

Embedded reporters brought war zone action up close and personal, but a new video game series will bring it right into the living room.

Kuma Reality Games first title, "Kuma: War," integrates licensed "hot spot" video footage from the Associated Press, Reuters and ITN into the gaming action.

Additionally, through a relationship with the Department ofDefense, the game also will incorporate exclusive raw video shot by U.S. troops stationed in the relevant regions.

Former ABC News producer William B. Davis, who worked on "20/20" and "Peter Jennings Reporting," serves as Kuma's director of video services. He'll oversee the production of the game's TV news-style introduction to each mission, which will mirror the style of an MSNBC or CNN broadcast segment. An anchor will introduce the licensed video from a troubled area like Iraq, while retired Maj. Gen. Thomas Wilkerson of the Marine Corps will serve as one of the on-air military advisers, giving the player detailed information, as well as KH-11 satellite imagery, on the area and the mission. During Operation Desert Storm, Wilkerson was the special assistant to the commanding general, Marine Forces Central Command in Southwest Asia.

A subscription component keeps the action up to date with events in the real world. The initial PC game, due out in February, will come with eight to 12 missions in a traditional retail package for about $40. After that, players can choose to download an additional mission every week for a monthly fee of about $10.

Don't you think it's getting to be like "The Last Starfighter" where these games will actually be training tests for future warriors?

Hammer has Risen from the Grave...

Legendary horror production house Hammer Films is set to shoot its first film in almost 30 years under a joint venture with one of Australia's most prolific filmmaking outfits.

Under the deal, announced at the Australian International Movie Convention, six low-budget films are due to be made over five years, each targeting younger audiences and "designed to have strong potential in other media, especially DVD", said Hammer and Queensland-based Pictures in Paradise (PIP).

"A lot of people have tried to talk with Hammer about remakes, but I'm interested in working with them to create horror films in the 'new gothic' style, and that's what they've found interesting; that's their roots, their trademark. We're not talking about making slasher films," said PIP principal Chris Brown, an expatriate British producer.

Hammer chief executive Terry Illott said: "This deal gives us a terrific opportunity to deliver highly commercial, low-budget, English-language horror movies for a worldwide teen audience."

Development costs will be shared, with PIP taking primary responsibility for production, while Hammer will oversee financing and distribution. The majority of the films are expected to be produced in Australia.

While there are a few in-house projects under consideration, Brown said the search is on for other suitable titles to make up the slate. "Our doors are now open (to scripts)," he said.

Hammer's return to production -- its last film was the 1974 horror kung fu release "The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires" -- is part of a plan by Illott and partner Peter Naish to rebuild the entity as a production, distribution and finance label for genre horror movies.

Hammer was bought from previous owner Roy Skeggs at the beginning of 2000 by a team of investors that includes advertising guru Charles Saatchi, British Film Commission chairman Larry Chrisfield and former Warner Music UK chairman Rob Dickens.

Will it really be the same without the wonderful old Bray Studios?

And in Australia?