SCREENWRITER

I was both entertained and disappointed by Paul Ciotti’s account of his screenwriting experience (“Screenwriter in Wonderland”). On one hand, it is heartening to know that a bunch of borderline Bohemians can still get a film off the ground in this mercenary age. On the other, I hate to see so much passion and artistic conviction squandered on such a mundane premise.

Crazed lunatic obsessed with a beautiful woman. Gee, where have we heard that one before? And the fact that, with all the seasoned actresses in the cast, the lead goes to an inexperienced, snotty model is also depressing.

But the funniest line in the piece belonged to Bud Cort, who deadpanned, “I’m putting my career on the line for this.” What career? Far as most of us know, Cort had one successful film 20 years ago, “Harold and Maude.” At least in 1971, he had the gumption to fall for an 80-year-old woman.

I also take issue with the characterization of the film set as a hotbed of promiscuous lust. Why feed into that stereotype? With millions of bucks in the pipeline, I’m confident that most film crews have more of a mind to work than make out.

JOANNE G. MURPHY

Los Angeles