Oscar Show Director Delivers Parting Shot

I am very distressed over the article by Adam Carl criticizing my choices for cutaway shots during the recent Academy Awards (“Director’s Choices Send Bad Message,” April 3).

He wrote: “Note to Horvitz: Spain is in Europe, Cuba is in the Caribbean. Spain is a parliamentary monarchy; Cuba is a communist dictatorship. Spain is full of Spaniards; Cuba is populated by Cubans.”

I’m well aware of the location of Spain. My maternal great-grandfather was born in Madrid. As for Cuba, I’m also aware of that locale: My grandfather was born in Havana. My grandmother was born in Merida, Yucatan. I was born in East Los Angeles and did not speak English until I was 6 years old. I am a Spanish-speaking Latin. I consider all people of Latin descent my brothers and sisters.

Perhaps it would have been better for Carl to do his research properly and find out about my Latin heritage before attempting to give me a geography lesson.

This speaks loudly for the lack of knowledge Carl has about me personally and the job I do as the director of live television event programming.

It’s unfortunate that Carl did not spend the last six months in preparation for the Oscars as I had. During this time and once the nominations are in, I carefully study all relations between potential winners and those who are attending the event. My decisions to use particular cutaway shots are based on enhancing the moment of joy, not to make a political or racist statement.

As for the attack on me concerning “race-based reaction shots,” it’s unfortunate that Carl didn’t do his homework once again. I am a welcomed and active participant in the African American community. For 10 years, I was the director for the United Negro College Fund’s “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars.” For the last three years I have been the director and executive producer for the United Negro College Fund’s annual fund-raising television event, “An Evening of Stars,” benefiting minority education. Currently I am in New York directing my third year of the “Essence Awards,” honoring outstanding achievement by African Americans.

I have had very positive praise of my Oscar direction from people of all ethnic origin. It would seem to me if I were using my power as a director to “racially categorize,” I would have heard it from my peers. I would have heard it from the television viewers. But I only heard it from Adam Carl.

I say to Adam Carl: I am well aware of “the tremendous power I hold in my hands--the power to reflect reality.” That is why I chose live event directing. I am committed to showing the millions of viewers at home that I am their responsible representative. I would never abuse that power. The selections I make when I direct live camera shots are pure and stem from a desire solely to capture the event and, more importantly, to entertain. After all, this was meant to be an evening of celebration. If I wanted to make any kind of political statement, I would be working in news event coverage.

Sorry, Adam Carl. You’re entitled to your opinion, but your article is in itself a bad message. A message that an inexperienced, uninformed journalist has a format in which to express an unknowledgeable opinion.

Sorry, Adam Carl. Though you’re entitled to your opinion, you are way off base in your observations.

LOUIS J. HORVITZ

Los Angeles