FIRST OFF . . .

Repudiating a history of production in the apartheid regime, executives of the Cannon Film Group announced Tuesday that they would stop filming in South Africa and thus avoid the wrath of a coalition of film industry and political groups opposed to the policyof racial separation. “In support of the United Nations’ call for the cultural boycott of South Africa,” Cannon said in a prepared statement, “the executive committee of Cannon Film Group Inc. resolved that the group and its subsidiaries will cease doing any business whatsoever, in or with apartheid South Africa.” Cannon officials would not comment beyond that, but a coalition spokeswoman said it was believed the company was attracted to South Africa by international tax incentives. Some of its latest releases at least partially shot in South Africa include “American Ninja I, II and III” and “Platoon Leader.”