Hear And Now: OMC and Gwen Stefani Hit the Stage

Rockin' and Reelin'
Not only did video kill the radio star, but it's helping to spawn a proliferating pop hybrid: the musician who thinks he or she can act (or direct, or produce, or do all three). Consider: OMC's Pauly Fuemana is set to star in two upcoming movies, the Matthew Modine-directed If...Dog...Rabbit, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Once Were Warriors; No Doubt's Gwen Stefani is being considered for a role in the hip-hop drama Belly, the first feature film from much-imitated music-video director Hype Williams; Joey Ramone and Sebastian Bach (late of the Ramones and Skid Row, respectively) have wrapped work on the indie film Final Rinse; and Cracker singer-guitarist David Lowery costars in River Red, which recently had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. (Says Lowery of the acting experience: "It was pretty fun, but I'm not sure I'd want to [make a living as an actor]. It would be really stressful, and you'd have to do a lot of shitty stuff.")

Meanwhile, in the apples-and-oranges matchup of the year, country superstar Garth Brooks and R&B baron Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds are said to be in discussions to produce a movie together. A spokesperson for Babyface says "the talks are moving along rather quickly, and it looks like it's going to happen." The unlikely teaming was initiated by Brooks, who is said to feel Edmonds' involvement will add a touch of soul to the project. No word yet on what the nascent film will be titled. (We hate to break it to you, fellas, but Urban Cowboy is already taken.)

(with additional reporting by Jeff Gordinier)