Hollywood’s Graylist: Writers and Ageism : THE WRITERS : Punching the Clock

T imes staff writer Nina J. Easton’s article on ageism and writers in film and television (“Hey, Babes! How Old Is Too Old for Hollywood?,” Nov. 17) has produced an usually large response from readers. A sampling of their views appears here and on the facing page: Your article touches on a tacit agenda, a truism with which we are all familiar but nonetheless bears repeating because it reveals the deeper ramifications lying beneath the ageism controversy:

Hollywood is a factory. It’s not about art; sometimes it’s barely about entertainment. It is, however, about turning out a “product” that will hold our attention long enough to keep us to the next commercial.

Instead of providing something the least bit challenging or thought-provoking, we are given what we want, the same old drivel now clothed in the attire of contemporary culture. Hell, who wants to work his brain if he doesn’t have to? Such is the difference between creating something worthwhile and manufacturing a product.

MICHAEL BALLARD

Long Beach