CHRIS COLUMBUS - COLUMBUS: `RENT HAS A BIG AIDS MESSAGE FOR KIDS'

Director CHRIS COLUMBUS hopes teenagers dash out to see his new movie musical RENT because he's convinced it will put them off having unsafe sex and taking drugs and protect them from Aids.

The film, based on the hit Broadway show, focuses on a group of New York friends coping with the birth of Aids in the 1980s and Columbus feels sure his movie will act as a public service announcement for those trying to stamp out the killer disease.

He says, "Since Rent came out in 1996, we seem to have taken an enormous step backward.

"AIDS is a global epidemic and it's a bigger problem than it's ever been and it's a huge issue. It's still a disease that we haven't cured, we've only halted it.

"If I need to I'll carry this film door to door to make sure that people see it. It's that important."

And US censors have agreed that it's important teenagers see the film - they've decided not to give the movie a restrictive `R' rating.

Columbus explains, "The Motion Pictures Arts Association asked me to make some language cuts and about 30 picture edits. I refused to make the picture edits but made five language changes and they gave us a PG-13 (rating) because they felt it was important for kids to see."