NEW ‘BLADE’

The current feature film “Sling Blade” is not the first adaptation of the Billy Bob Thornton material (“A Story That Hits Close to Down Home,” by Patrick Goldstein, Nov. 24). In 1993, filmmaker George Hickenlooper (“Hearts of Darkness,” “The Low Life”) directed Thornton in a short film centered on a monologue by the Karl Childers character.

I was assistant editor on the film, titled “Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade.” It co-starred Molly Ringwald and went on to win the highest honor at the San Diego Film Festival as well as first place at the Aspen Short Film Festival. It is now available on home video and is well worth checking out.

DOUGLAS O. HART

Los Angeles

*

Thanks to Billy Bob Thornton for helping to restore my faith in the magic of cinema and the magic of storytelling.

My seven years of fighting the art vs. entertainment battle in this land of mixed priorities has not gone terribly well. I thank him for keeping his priorities what they are.

TODD ECKERT

Los Angeles

*

In the superb “One False Move,” the character of the drug-dealing killer that Billy Bob Thornton wrote for himself was named Ray, not Billy.

ARIN THOMPSON

West Hollywood