Troma? Again?

Yet another L.A. Times article on Lloyd Kaufman’s Troma Films (“Still Making Schlock-Waves in France,” May 23). I’ve lost track of all the Troma articles and references the L.A. Times has bestowed upon this tiny and largely inconsequential film company. And for what reason? Mainly, I assume, because they are “colorful” and give good quotes and provide “photo ops.”

Never mind that, with the possible exception of “Def by Temptation” and “Chopper Chicks in Zombietown” (both released, but not produced, by Troma), their films fail at even being good exploitation pictures. Never mind that Kaufman’s frequent claims of “discovering” Costner and Billy Bob Thornton are bogus (both had appeared in a number of films before their Troma efforts).

I wish the L.A. Times would use at least some of the space they seem to set aside for Troma to provide attention to similar indie companies like Crown International and Cinetel, and to longtime maverick filmmakers such as Joseph Sarno, Fred Olen Ray, Frank Henenlotter and David DeCouteau.

ANTHONY DiSALVO

Los Angeles