FAST 'FRIENDS'

When sitcom king Tim Allen's The Santa Clause ho-ho-ho'd its way past the $100 million mark last Christmas, Hollywood took note: TV stars can make hit movies. So it's no wonder that cast members of NBC's freshman sensation Friends are discovering just how, well, friendly the movie business can be: David Schwimmer (Ross) has signed on to Miramax's dark comedy The Pallbearer, playing an architect who must lead the funeral service of a school friend he cannot remember. Matt LeBlanc (Joey) will play a pitcher on a baseball team whose third baseman is a chimpanzee in Ed (distribution negotiations are under way with Universal). Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) will, according to her publicist, play best friend to a restless soul in the indie film Dreams for an Insomniac (she was also on the short list for the female lead in John Woo's next film, Broken Arrow). Monkey (Marcel), the popular primate, made her debut in Outbreak and has filmed Paramount's June release Congo. ''The onus has been taken off television,'' says casting director Jeff Greenberg. ''(It's no longer) a place where you languish.'' Whatever the reason, Schwimmer and company are pleased with their newfound friendships. ''Fortunately, because of the ridiculously fast success of the show, (our) worth is higher,'' he says. ''Luckily, we're more bankable. If that opens more doors, so be it.''