Publicity tricks
THAT Miramax would use a phony Robert Wise essay to campaign for Martin Scorsese in the best director Oscar race is bad enough (“New Twist on ‘Gangs’ Oscar Ad,” by John Horn, March 15). For academy members to allow age-old publicity tricks to affect their actual voting is far, far worse.
When I first read that voters phoned the academy to ask for their ballots back in order to strike Scorsese’s name, I had to wonder who the real villains are in this seemingly integrity-free voting process. Scorsese should not have to endure this kind of petty, soap-opera revenge scenario after more than 30 years in the business, and viewers shouldn’t have to endure the pious academy mantra that members only vote to honor “artistic excellence.” If that were the case, this tempest in a Tinseltown teapot wouldn’t matter anyway.
Vernon W. Patterson III
Los Angeles
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