Shaye’s legacy

AFTER reading Patrick Goldstein’s column on Bob Shaye’s exit from New Line Cinema [“Shaye’s the Last of the Old Line,” March 11], I wanted to add some thoughts as a former New Line executive.

Bob’s departure from the studio he founded is the sad end of an era -- not just for New Line but for the industry as well. In a business full of “yes men,” you could always count on Bob’s candor and “no nonsense” attitude to cut through nearly every conversation. Because of his idealism and iconoclastic approach to the industry, New Line’s place in Hollywood history is as unique as its impact on entertainment culture.

Working there was a great and memorable experience for me and my colleagues -- some of whom are the heads of production at major studios today. For those of us who had the opportunity to learn the business from and work with Bob, our New Line days were unlike any other professional experience we will ever share. It is, and always will be, family to me.

Michael De Luca

Los Angeles