July 22, 2000 Saturday, CHICAGOLAND FINAL EDITION
News; Pg. 26; ZONE: N

IT WAS 'WEIRD,' BUT HART ENJOYED DIRECTING

By Jeanne Spreier
Dallas Morning News

Melissa Joan Hart was a little groggy, despite the noontime hour and her prime-time witchy powers. The star of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" had returned the previous day from directing an episode of "So Weird" for the Disney Channel. She was spending one day at home, regrouping before heading back to the studio to edit the episode.

Hart's latest stint as director of "So Weird's" "Snapshot" episode had worn her out. "It fries your brain," she says. "You're constantly thinking. The crew is constantly throwing questions at you. "It's insane but it's so much fun. It's like a good workout."

She says she appreciates the difficulties of being a director even more, now that she has done a project away from her home turf. Her directing debut was for a "Sabrina" episode that aired last season. "It was so fun to do Sabrina," she says. "Everyone was so supportive. I knew everyone, the cast, the sets."

Not true at "So Weird." Everything was so different, right down to the technical details. "They shoot single camera on location," she says. "Sabrina" uses three cameras on a set. Disney has some rules, she says, such as requiring kids to wear helmets during certain sports.

She had to know about camera lenses for "So Weird," something that wasn't an issue with "Sabrina." "I'm glad I didn't turn down the opportunity," she says, but is sure she'll keep her day job. "I'm not planning on quitting acting."

Not for at least two years anyway. Hart has a two-year commitment to continue with "Sabrina," now that it's moving to The WB this fall from its Friday night home on ABC. Sabrina is going off to college next season, but other than that, the stories will be much the same, Hart says. "We'll see more advertising, which will be great. WB will put up billboards and really promote it."

Playing a teenage witch appears to fit perfectly with Hart's personality. "I love to be funny and make people laugh," she says. "Sabrina is a real girl with extraordinary powers and some good lines."

But does she like being a goofy witch day in and day out? "Sabrina? I love it! It's the best job in Hollywood," she says, ticking off the qualities of steady work, a cast and crew who have fun together on the set and off, and a plot that isn't marked as cutting edge.

"The best compliment I've gotten from parents is, 'This is the only show we can watch with our kids."'

Television.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO: Melissa Joan Hart and her talking black cat are moving to The WB this fall.