Redford and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, eBay's founding president, appeared together at the San Jose Repertory Theatre to present the two-part series featuring 12 people who bring innovative solutions to social problems around the world. They were joined by a panel of speakers, including PBS CEO Pat Mitchell.

The series airs at 8 p.m. Tuesday and July 5 on KQED-Channel 9.

Global social activism seems to be on the minds of filmmakers these days. On Saturday, screenwriter/producer Richard Curtis ("Love, Actually," "Four Weddings and a Funeral") turns his lens to the G8 conference in the HBO film "The Girl in the Cafe."

Starting out as a romance between a lonely high-ranking British civil servant (Bill Nighy) and a beautiful young woman (Kelly Macdonald) he meets in a coffee shop, the film drives home the message that this should be the year when world powers seriously address world poverty.

Monday afternoon, Redford and Skoll held a phone conference to discuss their documentary as well as Redford's position on the Congressional proposal to reduce funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

"I see a divisiveness in my country, and it riles me. When I see any attempt by any group to corrupt democratic ideals, I know we (as a nation) are in trouble," Redford said about recent attempts by Congress to control PBS programming. "CPB belongs to the public. (PBS allows unfiltered programming), so propaganda can't overrule the truth."

Skoll agreed, saying "The New Heroes" wouldn't have seen the light of day if not for PBS.

"To have a venue like PBS that provides educational and inspirational programming (is important)," said Skoll. "We need to do more to protect it."

Redford said that PBS programs such as "The New Heroes" shows what can be done to help people in the long term.

In the first episode of the series, Moses Zulu has created a home and school for AIDS orphans and other children in Zambia to nurture their growth into productive adults.

In India, Kailash Satyarthi rescues brutally enslaved children and works to put an end to forced child labor.

And in San Francisco, Delancey Street runs a restaurant, a moving company and other businesses to provide stable jobs for drug addicts and others trying to create a new life.

"There are a lot of upsetting things going on (in the world)," Redford said. "But looking away is destructive."

Getting involved is the theme of "The Girl in the Cafe," which debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday on HBO.

"I've worked for years raising money for African charities," says screenwriter Richard Curtis. "I was presented with the reality of the fact that 2005 is a unique year in the battle against extreme poverty, with a G8 conference planned (in Scotland next month) that has been the issue at the top of the agenda.

"I remembered a storyline that I imagined over three years ago about a normal individual getting involved in the political process and thought this might be the time to write it."

The film tells the story of hard-working Lawrence (Nighy), whose life is changed when he asks to share a booth at a crowded coffee/tea shop with mysterious Gina (Macdonald).

Smitten by Gina, Lawrence impulsively invites her on a romantic holiday to the G8 Summit Meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland. The film is beautifully written and acted, as we are drawn into the lives of these two shy individuals. But make no mistake. This film pounds home a powerful point about getting involved. Gina seizes her opportunity to tell government leaders that they cannot shirk their responsibility by making compromises in their goals for political reasons.

"When I start talking about the G8, people either doze off or think I'm talking about a vegetable drink," says Curtis, a member of the Make Poverty History campaign. "I wanted to write a film that would give people a chance to understand what it is and how this year G8 could change the face of extreme poverty forever."

It's a testament to the power of Curtis' writing and the deft skill of his actors that we are entertained while being lobbied.

If you have any questions about TV, you can reach columnist Susan Young by calling (925) 416-4820, e-mail at syoung@angnewspapers.com, or fax at (925) 416-4874.