BEANING BOBBY

In John M. Wilson’s article on the long-awaited movie “The Milagro Beanfield War” being directed by Robert Redford, it stated the film is the first big-budget movie to feature leading Chicano characters (“Late Harvest,” Oct. 19). Yet, in the next breath it said the principal cast is distinctly non-Chicano. How interesting!

Producer Moctesuma Esparza carefully pointed out that three of his department heads are Chicano, all tops in their fields: production designer Joe Aubel, production manager David Wisnievitz and construction coordinator Bill Maldonado. My goodness, how ironic! Of the three, only the production designer is in a key creative position.

I, for one, would like the industry to note how many directors, cameramen and film editors there are working on big-budget Hollywood movies that are either black or brown.

Directors: Michael Schultz, Luis Valdez, Gregory Nava. Cameramen: John Alonzo, Ray Villalobos. Editors: None.

Appalling? No, shameful!

Wouldn’t it be something to see Hollywood tear down its barriers and humanize the industry by including minorities in key positions on big-budget mainstream pictures . . . let alone motion pictures at all.

CONRAD M. GONZALEZ

Film editor, Local 776

Motion Picture and

Video Tape Editors Guild

Burbank