Script notes

I have to disagree with Paul Kolsby’s review of David S. Cohen’s book “Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made It to a Theater Near You -- for Better or Worse” [“Missing Most of the Story,” April 3]. While Cohen’s book many not have as many juicy and lurid details as Kolsby (and the rest of us) might like, the book does give a very good look at the infamous “development” process.

Most books on screenwriting focus on the craft of writing, but Cohen shows us what happens to the script after it’s written. For people who want to get into the screenwriting trade, it is a valuable look at what can and will happen to them and their scripts as the scripts turn into films.

Tom Stempel

Los Angeles

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The book Kolsby reviewed may well be dreadful; I take no position on that. But I was disgusted to see the reviewer perpetuate a falsehood by repeating the “widely held belief that Richard LaGravenese is largely responsible for the shooting script” of “Erin Brockovich,” and not Susannah Grant. In fact, Kolsby takes the author to task for not believing this rumor himself.

I am in possession of an early draft (Feb. 1, 1998) of “Erin Brockovich” written by Grant, and I can assure you that the movie that was filmed was, for all intents and purposes, the script Grant wrote.

It is curious to me that people find it necessary to denigrate Grant’s work, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Will rumors start to surface soon that Diablo Cody didn’t actually write “Juno”? I wouldn’t be surprised.

Full disclosure: I worked for a season on staff with Grant on the television show “Party of Five” and like her very much.

Catherine Butterfield

Santa Monica