An Old Story, Cont.

Of all the letters last Sunday responding to Bob Shayne’s June 10 cover story, “No Experience Wanted,” Melissa Verdugo’s struck the loudest chord, when she asks: “Why does anyone want to be in a business with such awful people?” And suggests: “It’s time for a career change.” Exactly!

I was a film publicist for more than 25 years, and when I turned 50, it seemed that Hollywood no longer clamored for my services. (Ageism is not relegated to actors and writers, folks.) It took courage and confidence, but I finally decided to open my own firm, specializing in theater publicity. I’m happy to report that while the money is nowhere near as grand as in movies, my business is thriving, thank you.

Most of all, I discovered that theater people don’t give a hoot about your age; they do care about your talent, skills, creativity and, most of all, your enthusiasm. How refreshing!

KIM GARFIELD

Los Angeles

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How ironic that the older writers Shayne names as current warriors against injustice are the same men who refused to hire women when they controlled shows like “Columbo,” “One Day at a Time” and “Murder, She Wrote.” I can’t help but think that if men like Shayne had fought employment discrimination against women and minorities when he and his friends were at their peak, he might not be facing the same problem himself today.

SARAH JAKESON

Hollywood

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I run a consulting service to help writers such as you, Mr. Shayne. I recommend you get a decent haircut; shave off that grizzled beard; lose those outdated aviator glasses; dump the old-denim-shirt-atop-old-denim-shirt wardrobe. Sight unseen, I’ll bet your body needs a workout, so get thee to a gym.

See? Now you’re a 60-year-old writer who looks 50, not 70. Write when you get work.

JACK ENYART

Los Angeles

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I was dreading the letters I knew The Times would print in reaction to the article baring my soul in front of Greater Los Angeles, but I feel like, in the first round at least, I came out relatively unscathed. I only got called naive, self-important, whiny and angry. I could have told you that.

As to “only having a few credits on tacky TV shows,” that’s why I’m naive, self-important, whiny and angry. Although I’ve won numerous awards for my work (so it couldn’t have been too tacky) about 80% of it has gone unproduced. And as far as “targeting” goes, I wasn’t targeting either Lisa Moiselle or Harvey Weinstein, but whoever at Miramax decided to give my script to Lisa a second time instead of allowing it to get a fair read by an unbiased reader after it was one of four finalists in the contest.

Reaction to the article has been mostly heartening. My fantasy was that I’d get a call from Harvey Weinstein saying, “OK, OK, send me the script.” Didn’t happen. Not from Lynda Obst either. But I did get a bunch of calls from people who think I’m a bit of a hero. None of them was under 40. And Michael Jackson invited me on his new program on KLAC. (I always wanted to be a guest on his show, but I never expected my claim to fame when I got there would be unemployment.)

Two agents called wanting to read material. An old Army buddy called, as did my best friend from elementary school. And a producer wanting to make movies for $250,000. Even got a call, ironically, from someone hoping I could sell his idea for a TV series. Most gratifying was the response of Albie Hecht, president of entertainment of Nickelodeon Networks, who has since read the script I’d been trying to get in front of his head of development for over a year, given me intelligent comments on it, and made me feel like a respected professional dealing with a respected professional.

No, he didn’t buy it, but that’s not the point.

BOB SHAYNE

Malibu