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Readers
Regarding John Underwood's "Memo to Hollywood (Calif.)" [FT, May 1997], I doubt if Hollywood will listen. I remember when Lyndon Johnson's buddy, Jack Valenti, was tasked to come up with the alphabet soup that replaced the production code. Now they ask him to do the same for TV; I imagine we will get the same result. I wish Hollywood would listen to Underwood.
John Buckley
Mayor, Melbourne
Underwood's column raises the question: Can the Florida film industry grow to be a Hollywood II or is it destined to be a second- or third-rate alternative, responsible for a few television shows and an occasional feature film? Florida needs to find a niche in the global film-making industry. What if the Florida film industry returned to the days of old Hollywood, where the language was tamer and movies were made with families in mind? With Florida, especially central Florida, becoming the children/family capital of the world (with Disney, et al), wouldn't our state be ideal? Could it propel Florida to the pinnacle of movie making where it almost was in Jacksonville in the 1910s? Could this be the answer to the question raised?
Andrew Allan
Director, "Sunshinola"
Orlando
I like Underwood's idea of two versions of a movie. I understand that the five all-time top-grossing movies were all "G" movies. It seems that no matter what the public wants, we get what Hollywood wants to give us. My family's trips to the theater have declined drastically in recent years and will continue to do so until there's something worth seeing.
Shirley Jennings
St. Augustine
A Better Florida
John Berry's column in the May 1997 issue [What Might Be ...] reminded me of my own county (Charlotte) and the way it appears to operate. The "uneducated, rootless and in search of a free lunch" folks believe they are on vacation, albeit an extended one. The only thing they want to pay for are their meals, a bed to sleep in and their entertainment. In other words, we are "blessed" with a population of permanent tourists.
Alton L. Cheatham
Punta Gorda
Occupied Territory
John Underwood tells it like it is [FT, February 1997]. It is amazing that American so-called Anglos (an offensive term) have no advocate. A waffling Miami newspaper long ago stopped trying to present the truth on this issue and resorted to omission and manipulation. The common language of English unites. The tragedy of Latin leaders forcing Miami to abandon English as our national language will come home to haunt us. It has driven thousands out of here, and among the biggest losers are American blacks who are discriminated against in the job market because they don't speak Spanish! The Helms-Burton Act exacerbates 38 years of failed Cuba policy and hurts the U.S. and its relationships with its allies. If we can recognize Vietnam, which cost 58,000 American lives, then we can recognize Castro whom the Cubans enthroned and perpetuated by fleeing.
How would Cubans feel if Americans took over Havana and put a statue to George Washington in the main park? The arrogance of renaming American streets with Cuban names is inflaming.
Elise Scofield
Coral Gables
Corrections & Clarifications
The correct telephone number for Florida First Capital Finance Corp. is 407/316-4646.
