Movie Industry Security

Just because a movie is about gangs, drugs or inner-city youths, does that mean it will inspire violence at theaters? After a series of such incidents over the years, it's a question that many in the film community have pondered privately. There is concern about the spillover impact that violence can also have: keeping customers away. Such concerns occasionally surface--as they did recently when the Cineplex Odeon Corp.

Just because a movie is about gangs, drugs or inner-city youths, does that mean it will inspire violence at theaters? After a series of such incidents over the years, it's a question that many in the film community have pondered privately. There is concern about the spillover impact that violence can also have: keeping customers away. Such concerns occasionally surface--as they did recently when the Cineplex Odeon Corp.

Amid heightened concerns about terrorism, it's business as usual in Hollywood . . . almost. Although Tri-Star is going ahead with filming on "City of Joy" in India this weekend and Fox has already started production on "Alien 3" in London, at least one other overseas production, Fox's "Naked Lunch," is being rerouted from its original shoot in Tangiers. Others could follow if the war worsens, studio executives say.

Amid heightened concerns about terrorism, it's business as usual in Hollywood . . . almost. Although Tri-Star is going ahead with filming on "City of Joy" in India this weekend and Fox has already started production on "Alien 3" in London, at least one other overseas production, Fox's "Naked Lunch," is being rerouted from its original shoot in Tangiers. Others could follow if the war worsens, studio executives say.

The goings-on surrounding the attempted smear campaign of Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" should make a portion of the Hollywood community cower in shame ("Oscar Fever Is Pushing the Envelope of Civility," by Lorenza Munoz, March 16). This is an industry whose main purpose is to make money by entertaining us.