Guest Author - Judith Hodges

Monday was Columbus Day in the United States. We celebrate the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492. This helped the Europeans realize the Earth is not flat. He isn't the only Chris Columbus. Did you know there is a Chris Columbus that directs movies?

Chris Columbus, the director, was born in Pennsylvania in 1958. His first written work was Reckless, but we remember him for writing Gremlins, the fantasy about multiplying monsters taking over a town. He also wrote the screen plays for the Goonies, Nine Months, and Christmas with the Kranks. His first directing job was the teen movie Adventures in Babysitting. From there he directed Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone 2, Nine Months, and Stepmom. But many younger movie fans saw his work first with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Chris Columbus' next movie will be Rent. It is adapted from the critically acclaimed Broadway play. Sony Pictures' website announces the release date for Rent will be November 23, 2005. This could be another "instant" classic by Chris Columbus.