Why is state helping
film producers so much?

Since I work in the local film industry, I read with great interest your March 20 article on the business. Two points come to mind.

First, the state wants to give producers "credits up to 4 percent for general excise tax expenditures such as renting lighting equipment, trucking services and general supplies or goods." Does this mean vendors will also be given the 4 percent tax credit that they have to pay on selling the equipment, or will the vendors have to add 4 percent to their equipment package to make up the loss?

Second, it was stated that "there will be a package of incentives, besides tax exemptions, including we hope, lower rates from the airlines, hotels and the unions."

IATSE Local 665 union members like me already have given lower rates to some productions and even to the new "Hawaii 5-0" (which could have been shot only in Hawaii). To ask us to give up more wages is a step backward.

Sure we all want the work in Hawaii, that's why we do what we do. But the state should not be going out of its way to help producers, who make the lion's share of profit from these ventures.

John Fielden
(Via the Internet)

Whatever happened
to all those social progressives?

Kudos to the Star-Bulletin and writer Nadine Kam for stepping out of fashion long enough to review the UH Press' new book, "Autobiography of Protest in Hawaii" and to publicize the work of the political left.

In the current atmosphere of anti-government retrenchment, it is important to remember where social progress has come from and who is at the front of the movement for democratic advancement.

The interview with legendary activist A.Q. McElrath helps us understand how the early successes of progressives led to their recent failings. Yesterday's subversives have become today's conservatives, and the leaders of political and labor movements have become the establishment, serving to defend the status quo.

What could be more indicative of this fact than the litigation begun by Hawaii's labor federation to prevent one of the few vehicles available to advance civil and workers' rights -- the constitutional convention approved by voters at the polls last November?

R.A.I. Weigel
Aiea
(Via the Internet)

Army Community Theater
should be reviewed

Recently, I attended a performance of "Guys and Dolls" presented by the Army Community Theater. It was an excellent production and I enjoyed it very much, as did the more than 100 others there that night.

A few days later, your three-dot columnist mentioned the production in a very favorable light. At no time however, did your drama critic or entertainment editor review the production. If you are covering the local scene (and in government and politics you are doing a credible job), it would seem that you would review productions of the major venues in Hawaii.

You owe it to your readers to review the offerings of a major player on the local theater scene such as the Army Community Theater. I am looking forward to reading your newspaper's reviews of its plays.

Anthony "Bud" Pinkosh
Kailua

Don't maul promise
of extreme fighting

Extreme fighting is still a fledging sport suffering from growing pains. While T. Jay Thompson's Super Brawl II is far from being a marquee pay-per-view event like the Ultimate Fighting Challenge, it was much better organized than Super Brawl I. Given the chance, extreme fighting events can only improve.

The unfortunate foot-stomping incident by Jay R. Palmer should have been prevented by referee Steve English. It is a referee's responsibility to step in whenever a fighter is not defending himself but English failed to do so. Quality referees protect the fighters in pro boxing as well as in events like the UFC. Hopefully, this mistake won't be made again.

While Palmer is an exciting fighter to watch, it is unfair to stereotype all fighters by his demeanor. You should have interviewed local boys David Paaluhi and Raynell Cooper. Cooper was seen hugging his parents, wife and children after winning the middle- weight division. He and his entourage were even sporting T-shirts crediting their strength to God. These fighters are role models.

Lester Gantan
(Via the Internet)

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