Drive-In Suggestions… and Updates!
thank you for the recent article, “10 Drive-In Theaters Worth the Drive,” in your Summer 2003 issue. I would like to update a few things. There are two drive-in motels left: the Star in Monte Vista, Colorado (a Best Western chain with 60 rooms) and the Fairlee Drive-In in Fairlee, Vermont. Also, the Drive In Theatre Fan Club went on “hiatus” in December 2000. It might come back, but the Bialeks are raising a family now and are devoting their time to their retail Website. My favorite West Coast drive-in is the Wheel In Motor Movie in Port Townsend, Washington.

– Steve Swanson, Eugene, OR

Did you folks get any information from a great Website, www.execpc.com/~andyhil, created by Andy Hilbert? This guy is dedicated to keeping the excitement—and heritage—of Wisconsin’s Drive-In movie theaters alive. Some of the currently active drive-ins in Wisconsin that he lists are: Gemini Drive-in Theatre, Skyway, Field Of Scenes, 18 Outdoor Theater, Keno Drive-in Theater, Sky-Vu, Starlite 14, Moonlight Outdoor Theater, Big Sky Drive-In Theatre. (He also lists the status of a long history of other closed drive-ins). It includes maps, pictures, history, current status, links to current WI drive-ins and other links. A great site!

– Scott Thom, Operations & Photo Archives
Wisconsin Film Office

We were very disappointed to see that your contributor, Monty Mickelson, neglected to include our theater in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The Vali Hi is essentially the last drive in built in the Twin Cities in 1966. It is very modern, and is doing very well. All summer long we will fill up the theater on Fridays and Saturdays, due to the first-run movies we offer all the time.
– Mike Mazzitello, Vali Hi Drive In Theater,
Lake Elmo, MN

Women in Film Have Something to Say
This is the first time I’ve seen the mag, and it’s a really high quality publication you’re putting out. I read your editorial page on the shortage of women involved in the filmmaking process (Issue #51, Vol. 10), and thought that was great. There was a quote by one woman, and she’s right on the money. There are lots of women out there with talent not getting the recognition they deserve and/or being pulled into the industry as they should be. Men seem to be dominating the arena, and that’s too bad because women have lots to say, and should be saying it through the many facets films of making films available to women.

Also, it was great to see the piece in the mag on Robert Rodriguez! This guy is a phenomenon and a force to be reckoned with. He’s great! That’s the kind of stuff that I hope I see lots more of in MovieMaker: gutsy material covering the “renegades” in the industry.

– John Leschinski, Connell, WA

Liz Likes the Ink
Ijust wanted to drop you a note to let you know how much I enjoyed the article (“Liz Garbus Gets Out of Prison”)! Getting out of prison sounds good. It’s great that you guys give so much space and support to documentaries and documentarians. It is much appreciated.

– Liz Garbus, New York, NY

Kids Enjoy MM, Too
My son Jared was one of the kids in the “Kid Moviemakers” article in the Summer issue. He was quite impressed with seeing his name in print. We are new to your magazine but have really enjoyed the two issues we’ve seen so far.

– Stacey Martin, Davis, CA

I Love You, Now Change
I want to thank you for your magazine. I like that you have the old ones on the Web, but wish the articles were organized. While the last [issue] had a few pages on financing, have you ever done anything on a syndicate? And if I’m writing something, should I tell my (potential) sources that it may be for a screenplay, therefore maybe needing to agree for possible compensation? (Even if their knowledge is basically “public,” that is from government or university work?) Maybe a simple dos & don’ts article in each magazine dealing with legal issues, with specific cases listed for examples, would be helpful. I’d also like to see articles on making big pictures on small budgets. Obviously that’s the way most successful directors start.

– Richard Ross, Cincinnati, OH

Props for the HOPs
I truly enjoy the HOP [Hands-on-Pages] articles on your Website and appreciate being able to “keep up” with so many in the industry, if only in a cursory way. Thank you very much. You offer so much educational info without “selling” yourselves on the site. You simply giving me insightful information, and that’s terrific.

– Constance Mortell, Chicago, IL

Girl Power Is Right on Money

Regarding Kirsten Smith’s article, “The 25 Greatest Girl Power Movies of All Time” (Issue No. 51, Vol. 10), I wholeheartedly agree with Aliens (1986) as her top choice. After all, who needs Xena when you have a woman warrior/Christ figure like Sigourney Weaver in the role of a lifetime—one that should have earned her the Best Actress Oscar. Yes, she puts the g-r-r-r in girl power!

However, I have a problem with Ms. Smith’s second choice: Amelie (2001). Frankly, as long as we’re thinking “French,” I would [substitute] Chocolat (2000), first, because it’s a better film; and, second, because Juliette Binoche does a more effective job of “finding herself and changing the world a little bit in the process.”

Other girl-power performances that could be on the list: Bette Davis in Now, Voyager (1942), Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen (1951), Glynis Johns in The Court Jester (1956), Kim Darby in True Grit (1969) and Josie Lawrence in Enchanted April (1992).

– Phil Holabach, Broken Arrow, OK