Movie Testimony

Sheldon Teitelbaum’s article on “Flowers in the Attic” indicates an unprofessional and uninformed knowledge of contemporary film production (Outtakes, Nov. 15).

Since the beginning of the film-making process, producers have previewed their films and today practically all films are subjected to in-depth preview evaluation so that general audience reaction to a film can be clearly established.

To give the impression that “Flowers” is a flawed film because we took out the overt incest and made other changes is unfair.

When a substantial majority of the audience, 75% of whom have read V.C. Andrews’ book, object to incest on the screen, I think we have to deal with those scenes, and we did.

The first weekend gross of $5,020,317 on 1,051 screens proves we have a good film that folks want to see. And when we do the sequel, “Petals in the Wind,” we will preview it and deal with the audience reaction to the choices made in that film, also.

We do not , however, consider a preview response to be a dictum. We use it only as one tool in the final process. We must develop and create a film. No one other than the writer, director, actors and producers, along with exceptional, professional, technical staff, can do that.

CHARLES W. FRIES

Fries Entertainment Inc.

Los Angeles