‘Contact’ Credits

Regarding the flap about the use of the president’s image in the movie, “Contact” (letters, July 22): In watching the final credits of the movie I found it interesting that several reporters and celebrities are credited as playing themselves, but the president is not credited with playing himself. Then comes the disclaimer that all the characters are fictional. How to define that word? Is the president, who didn’t play himself but appeared on screen, fictional? How about those “reporters” such as Geraldo Rivera? Were they fictional, too? Did they get paid to appear in the movie? If so, why didn’t the president? Hmmm.

Inquiring minds want to know.

REID BLICKENSTAFF

San Gabriel