An Old Story
I read Bob Shayne’s cover story (“No Experience Wanted,” June 10) with an ever-dropping bottom jaw. Either the man is naive beyond understanding or imbued with an estimate of self-importance that requires medical attention.
Here is a lucky man with a few credits on tacky TV shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s (look ‘em up, gang) who is convinced that Harvey Weinstein, head of Miramax, didn’t personally read his script, “Naomi Weinstein--Private Eye,” because he is over 50? This does not pass the giggle test for anyone who has been in the business five minutes, let alone a lifetime of pen pushing. Allow me to suggest a new headline: “A Writer Whines.”
No, make that “A Whiner Writes.”
LAWRENCE J. PIPPICK
Los Angeles
*
The lure that young writers hold for Hollywood decision-makers, who are predominantly affluent white males, is only an extension of the age-old attraction that men of entitlement have felt for virgins: They are inexpensive, unjaded and easy to manipulate.
As a professional (although aging) fortysomething screenwriter, I’m always happy for new opportunities to make money, but suing my industry isn’t going to solve this problem. In the absence of a much-needed influx of women and minorities at the executive level, the only chance that “B-list” writers have of working until traditional retirement age is through mandated, affirmative action-style regulation.
Questioning the practice of ageism in a system as morally bankrupt as the entertainment business is, as they say, like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.
BILLY FROLICK
Malibu
* I’m over 40 and a member of the Writers Guild. I’m old enough to have breast-fed most of the people with whom I work. Yes! I still work! Unfortunately, I’ve observed among my colleagues that after a certain age, “funny and quirky” turns into “whiny and angry.” Who wants to be around that?
I don’t believe this class-action suit will bear fruit any more than a spec “T.J. Hooker” will get you a job on “Friends.” Top models are 14 years old and rock stars are 60. Who said life was fair?
LISA MEDWAY
Beverly Hills
In Shayne’s extended whine, he targets Lisa Moiselle as somehow having a vested interest in unfairly passing on his allegedly acclaimed screenplay “Naomi Weinstein--Private Eye.”
My wife, Heidi, and I are both older writers. A few years ago we wrote a screenplay about a female adventurer who finds the Ark of Noah (this was before “Tomb Raider” existed as a video game). The rough first draft was submitted to Lisa and we found her feedback to be wise and insightful with a great sense of visualization, story and character. We found Lisa to have a passion, no, make that a vested interest, for well-told stories.
Maybe Shayne’s screenplay was crap. That’s a much harder reality to face than ageism.
ROBIN SIMMONS
Desert Hot Springs
Shayne ought to know better. Ageism is not the reason film and TV writers eventually find themselves jobless and forgotten, their scripts unsold.
As an agent a generation ago, I represented many Hollywood writers. When I became a story editor at a major studio, I hired many of them. I witnessed their replacement by the next wave of new writers (Paddy Chayefsky, William Goldman, Rod Serling, etc.) and the next--Tracy Keenan Wynn, William Blinn, Link & Levinson--whom Shayne cites as targets of ageism.
Hollywood, like nature, replenishes itself through a process of natural selection; only the new and fresh survive--until the next new wave of writers, actors and directors washes them away.
MICHAEL LUDMER
Los Angeles
So, Hollywood prefers to pass over older, more experienced writers in favor of younger, less knowledgeable ones, does it? It shows.
GARY GARSHFIELD
Irvine
Today’s show buyers are looking for “heat,” not necessarily age, young or old. “Heat” is coming off of a recent hit show or major award as in Emmy or Academy. It is now a business of newcomers and major heavyweights with “heat.” Shayne, as well as the other writers mentioned, has a wealth of talent and experience, but lacks the perceived heat needed to get phone calls returned and meetings facilitated.
For 20 years, Mel Brooks, a comedy giant, could not get arrested. Now with his Broadway hit musical “The Producers” and 12 Tony Awards, he has “heat” at age 75. It is a sad commentary that we do not honor age and experience as other cultures do, but it is a reality that our aging generation must face.
JACK COLE
Malibu
I once went to a network pitch meeting in the company of a reputable (over 40) producer, trying to sell the idea of reviving and updating “Route 66.”
Instead of two buddies in a Corvette, my notion was an estranged father and son, using the road to repair their fragile relationship. I described it to the oh-so-young, low-level executive as “ ‘Route 66’ meets ‘Father Knows Best.’ ” Without a hint of embarrassment but a lot of disdain, he replied, “You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m not really familiar with those old shows.”
My suggestion to that executive, and all the other Young Turks and Turkettes who are currently strutting their stuff in the halls of power, is to understand that in Hollywood, as in real life, history has a way of repeating itself.
FRANK FURINO
Rancho Mirage
*
Good God, man, where is your dignity? Had I been subjected to the rudeness of Lynda Obst’s (whoever she is) trivial and unimportant assistant, I would have said, OK, it’s time for a career change. Perhaps it wouldn’t pay as well but it has to be better than dealing with arrogant snot-noses.
Why does anyone want to be in a business with such awful people?
MELISSA VERDUGO
Rancho Palos Verdes
*
There are hundreds of industries that offer job security, but Hollywood is not one of them. There are also other glamorous and high-paying jobs that come with the risk of becoming overpriced for the job, where a younger, more eager opponent is willing to settle for less. Youth movements occur in everything from corporate America to Major League Baseball.
I hope that some of these great writers are able to show us more of their visions and tell us some remarkable stories gleaned from their years of experience. But drop the suit and go out and write the Great American Screenplay, maybe try to produce it yourself. And quit whining that someone else owes you something just because you once were able to succeed beyond most people’s dreams. If you do, then Hollywood will be yours once again.
ROBERT HILBURN JR.
Burbank
*
I’m tempted to think that Shayne can’t get meetings because a lot of people can’t stand him. Or maybe he’s a brilliant satirist who has chosen this opportunity to show us why some writers are their own worst enemies.
If so, my hat is off to him. Someone should give him a job.
NICOLAS NOXON
Agoura