By OLIVIA HEMARATANATORN

HOLLYWOOD -- At the post-Variety unspooling sesh for "Phantom of the
Opera," Gerard Butler explained how he was in tune with the Phantom during
filming.

"I was miserable most of the way through," he said, noting that the rest of
the cast seemed to have more fun. "I struggled through this because I wasn't
a singer before, so I had to be off every morning with a singing coach."

"It's tough being a movie star," helmer-scribe Joel Schumacher remarked.
"It's just not all blowjobs and sunglasses."

Pic's Minnie Driver, Emily Rossum and Patrick Wilson also took part in the
Nov. 15 ArcLight sesh moderated by Variety's Timothy M. Gray.

Date in print: Tue., Nov. 23, 2004