Apr 5, 2002 By Lou Gaul Calkins Media Film Critic 3 min read

The 54-year-old action star is putting “End of Days,” “The Sixth Day” and “Collateral Damage” behind him in a very big way. On April 15, he begins filming “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” and has already received a $30 million up-front payment. That amount could skyrocket if the third installment of the sci-fi series takes in anywhere near the $517 million worldwide gross of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.””End of Days,” “The Sixth Day” and “Collateral Damage” were all based on original scripts, but now, the bigger-than-life actor appears to be restricting himself and playing it safe by starring in either sequels or remakes.Then what? Get ready for another follow-up. Oscar-winner visits South Jersey

Moreno is one of the few performers to ever win an Academy Award (“West Side Story”), a Grammy Award (“The Electric Company’s” children’s album), a Tony Award (the Broadway version of “The Ritz”) and an Emmy Award (“The Muppet Show”).

‘E.T.’ book comes home

A detailed history of one of the most beloved films of all times is chronicled in “E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial: From Concept to Classic – The Illustrated Story of the Film and the Filmmakers” (Newmarket Press; $22.95).

The illustrated paperback is being distributed to coincide with the re-release of “E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary.” The informative book features Melissa Mathison’s complete screenplay (appearing for the first time in print), an introduction by director Steven Spielberg and a series of interviews with various cast and crew members written by Laurent Bouzereau.

Fans of the film hoping for a follow-up can forget about it, as Spielberg makes quite clear.

“Would there ever be a sequel to ‘E.T.?’ That’s been the most asked question,” Spielberg says in “From Concept to Classic,” “and I’ve had the same response for 20 years: ‘I’m not going to do it.’ A sequel would diffuse the memory of the first one.

“The positive impact that ‘E.T.’ had on audiences throughout the world was perhaps the most rewarding result of what became a phenomenon. Two examples drove that home.

“The first was a letter from Eunice Shriver of the Special Olympics. She recognized that our extraterrestrial, a creature who was different, represented the same spirit of overcoming challenges as demonstrated by the athletes of Special Olympics. The other was a note from a mother who said that her autistic child, who had not spoken, spoke his first words after seeing ‘E.T.’

“Something in that (creature’s) heart light reached out.”