Some See Red Over ‘Project Greenlight’

It’s too bad that Miramax surrounded Pete Jones with such an inexperienced crew for his first feature film (“For ‘Greenlight,’ Nothing Succeeds Like Failure,” by Patrick Goldstein, Jan. 29). Wasn’t the contest supposed to reward the screenwriter with the chance of a lifetime?

Instead, Chris Moore put together a ragtag group of so-called filmmakers and left them to wallow in their ineptitude.

For those of us who take our jobs seriously (I’ve been in the film business 15 years), it is painful to watch “Project Greenlight.” The producers could have done many things to help Pete.

Did they encourage him to visit another set to watch an experienced director? I’ll bet not. Did they explain to him that low-budget filmmaking is all about the art of compromise? Doesn’t seem so.

Granted, Pete isn’t always the most likable guy with his “over my dead body” remarks, but he deserved better than he got. It’s obvious that Miramax decided that producing a conflict-ridden documentary was more important than giving a first-time director a positive experience. What a waste.

RICHARD ROSSER

Pacific Palisades

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As Patrick Goldstein said, “Project Greenlight” does serve as a “Survivor”-type arena for the voyeurs of the world, people who have nothing better to do than watch masochists go to war over a few shots to be attempted at the “magic hour.” But the clever show serves another purpose: At its core it’s really just an anti-gee-whiz-come-to-Hollywood-and-be-a-filmmaker message.

With the growing proliferation of kids spending every dime they have, racking up credit card bills and selling sperm to get their films made, that means more competition for Miramax at the big lotto film festivals, i.e., Sundance. The more films entered by the Billy Joe Bobs of the world, the greater the chance that one of these longshots could beat out a Miramax “indie” for an all-coveted slot. (And come on, we don’t need Oliver Stone to tell us that the film festival circuit has basically become one big marketing ploy for the Miramaxes of the world.)

So any sane person who sets their eyes on “Project Greenlight” says one thing: “Golly, they’re not having any fun. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

RICK CIPES

Los Angeles