Superstar in the making Shia LaBeouf speaks out for the first time on how Steven Spielberg had him prepare for his role in the hugely anticipated, May 22-opening "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."

The filmmaker — who was also responsible for LaBeouf's casting in last year's "Disturbia" and "Transformers" — transported the 21-year-old actor back to another era.

"Spielberg gave me movies to watch to help derive my character," says Shia, who plays young renegade Mutt Williams — the character who gets Indiana involved in the quest for the powerful and mysterious Crystal Skull of Akator. "He gave me 'Red River' for Montgomery Clift, 'The Wild One' for Marlon Brando and stressed 'Blackboard Jungle' for Sidney Poitier. He wanted me to study the mannerisms."

Adds Shia, "It was the most fun homework I ever had in my life!"

WE'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU: Haylie Duff has a few choice words for embattled peer Miley Cyrus, still reeling from the backlash of her Vanity Fair scandal.

"You have to realize this is the position you're in and you're fortunate to be in that position," says Haylie noting that her sister Hilary always took her position as a role model "very seriously."

"You don't have to live your life for other people, but you do owe it, to a certain extent, to be above reproach," says Haylie about Cyrus's responsibilities. "Especially in a time when there aren't many female role models for girls, you have to step up and be the role model."

She adds, "I think she's in a wonderful position to do that. She does in a lot of ways, but she's also a baby, and she's going to make mistakes, and she's allowed to."

Haylie, like many celebrities, feels the recent Cyrus photo scandal has been blown out of proportion. "I don't know if I thought it was the most risqu? photo I've ever seen, but some people did. If she was comfortable and happy to do it and felt beautiful, or whatever the situation was, then it was her choice to make. People should respect that and be able to hold their opinions about it."

The former "Hairspray" star has been busy as of late helping girls get the chance to be on Broadway in the new MTV series "Legally Blonde: The Search for the New Elle Woods," premiering June 2.

Haylie is serving as host and executive producer of the show, which follows 10 women as they vie for the opportunity to replace the original Elle Woods of Broadway, Laura Bell Bundy. "You'll see a group of girls that are so ambitious and driven and want this more than anything. The things they put up and deal with are pretty incredible," she notes. "It was great getting to see these girls participate in something that could possibly change their lives."

REALITY GAVE HER A ROLE: "Paradise Hotel 2" is nearing its end for the season, with Monday night's (5/12) semi-final show, the "Top 25 Wildest Moments of Paradise Hotel 2" show, and the May 19 finale coming up. Hostess Amanda Byram hopes to continue into "Paradise Hotel 3." Notes the Dublin-born beauty, "I've done such a wide variety of shows — early morning business and politics, zany live shows, and reality, which, of course, is bubblegum for the brain. It's so addictive to see people's strategies unfold before your eyes." Byram, also known for hosting the Game Show Network's "Grand Slam" with Dennis Miller, as well as "The Swan," also notes that the perks in "Paradise" have a big allure. "Who can beat a month or so on a tropical location, given the role of matriarch/rule-giver for a bunch of kids?"

THE BIG-SCREEN SCENE: Actor John Reardon says he welcomed the change of pace provided by the big-screen sci-fi horror/comedy "Hunter" that he's currently shooting. "I've done dramatic roles for a while, so I thought this would be kind of cool," says Reardon, who most recently starred in the Hallmark Channel miniseries "Son of the Dragon." He says "Hunter" "is about an alien life form that feeds off people and takes different forms, like a car at one point. I play a meathead weight-lifting freak who's pretty lazy. Although he lifts weights all day, he's always complaining about his sore back, and that's why he can't go out and get a job."

Meanwhile, Reardon stars with Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the upcoming feature "Make It Happen" about an aspiring young dancer (Winstead) in a small town. He's the big brother standing in the way. "I'm just very protective of her," says Reardon of his character. "I don't want her to get her hopes up and fail at a dream. They lost their parents when they were younger, and because they've grown very close I think he's also a little bit scared of her going off to the big city and forgetting him."

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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