MOVIES - Aug. 17, 1987

Talk about runaway production! A U.S.-Soviet joint venture to shoot $100 million worth of films in the Soviet Union over five years was announced last week. The deal--cobbled by New York entertainment lawyer Marc Jacobson on behalf of the venture’s American partner, Midwood Productions Inc. of Encino--calls for the use of American actors, writers, producers and directors. The Soviets will contribute sets, costumes, camera crews, extras, production facilities and some scripts. The first project: “Hartman,” an action drama about a young American man who pays for medical school by winning a dog sled race. The current version of the script has it set in North Dakota, but Jacobson said it would start shooting in Siberia in February . . .