PAT KINGSLEY

In 1977, my then-partner and I had obtained the rights to Karen Silkwood’s story and were negotiating with a major studio when we were served with a subpoena and dragged into a protracted legal battle involving Silkwood’s parents and Kerr-McGee. The company’s subpoena caused the studio to drop the project cold, and we were left defending the right to keep our sources confidential.

At our lawyer’s request, we met with Pat Kingsley. She single-handedly helped us mount an industrywide campaign to raise funds to defray the costs to fight the subpoena. The result was a precedent-setting decision at the appellate level protecting the rights of film makers regarding confidentiality of sources.

Later, Kingsley called to let me know she had spoken to Meryl Streep about the case. Streep’s interest ignited the project, which was then languishing. I seriously doubt that “Silkwood” ever would have become a reality without the efforts of Kingsley, who never asked for anything in return.

LARRY CANO

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, “SILKWOOD”

Newport Beach