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Letters to the editor Pacino continues prolific output
As the owners of pacinoworldwide.com, a volunteer tribute Web site
to Al Pacino, we herewith refer to the Associated Press story, “Director: No ‘passion’ from actors”
(Oct. 28) in which Director Francis Ford Coppola disses three of the most important actors of the last half century: Jack
Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Pacino. First, regarding Pacino’s money, it’s his
money. Last we heard, communism was dead, and no American has ever been accountable to anyone for the disposition of his wealth
honestly and lawfully acquired. Second, it is generally known that people of great wealth often
choose to be remarkably philanthropic with complete anonymity. Obviously, if we could confirm this, it would no longer be
anonymous. But why not give Pacino the benefit of the doubt? Finally, as to Coppola’s evaluation of what may be summarized
as Pacino’s lack of artistic striving or ambition, someone should send Coppola a copy of Pacino’s schedule for
the last couple of years. The sheer volume of his work in every medium, as actor in theater
and cinema and as producer and director of his own projects, belie any fall-off in his thirst for artistic achievement. If
the results are not to Coppola’s liking, that’s his problem.
JACKIE KRUDOP President, Fort Wayne IRIS FRANK Vice President, New York
pacinoworldwide.com
"I
would not go as far to say that I know Al Pacino, but know this and please pass this on to Ms. Councilwoman " The same 'Al
Pacino' you claim is this bad bad role model " He does numerous college and high school drama visits and speaks to the same
youth our councilwoman is worried about." -
Jackie Krudop, co-owner/president of Pacino Worldwide "Al
Pacino was born in the -Iris
Frank, co-owner/vice president of Pacino Worldwide
Film legend Al Pacino doesn't need the muscle of the Corleone family or the firepower of
Tony "Scarface" Two co-owners of a Web site dedicated to all things Pacino have lashed out against a Both owners of the New York-based Web site www.pacinoworldwide.com said that 2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Poplar was
wrong to equate Pacino with his "Scarface" gangster persona. Poplar's response: The Pacino-loving pair need to "get a life." The Oscar-winning actor's fans reacted quickly to a front-page "I would not go as far to say that I know Al Pacino, but know this and please pass this
on to Ms. Councilwoman " The same 'Al Pacino' you claim is this bad bad role model " He does numerous college and high school
drama visits and speaks to the same youth our council woman is worried about," Jackie Krudop, co-owner and president of Pacino
Worldwide, said in an e-mail to The Journal on Saturday. She described Pacino as a "national treasure." Poplar said she wasn't personally blaming Pacino, calling him one of her favorite actors,
and she encouraged the pair to call her directly about their concerns. "Oh, for God's sake," was her initial reaction. "Where are they based?" Poplar said most people have been supportive of her stand, which includes pushing for area
merchants to restrict the sale of "Scarface" items to young people. But the Pacino fans take her comments as a personal slap at the actor. Their Web site contains tributes to Pacino, tons of admiring quotes, his film history and
plans. The owners said the nonprofit site has operated for nearly three years "with the idea of maintaining the integrity
of an artist at a level deserving of the man it honors." The Journal was unable to get comment from Pacino's Beverly Hills, Calif.-based publicist.
Krudop said she agreed with Poplar's mission to look further into the lives of troubled
youths and that something should be done about whom they see as heroes. But she said she felt compelled to respond to Poplar's comments, saying she doesn't want
Pacino fans to get the wrong idea about the actor. Iris Frank, who co-owns and is vice president of the fan site, said it was disturbing that
Poplar couldn't tell the difference between fantasy and reality by singling out Pacino rather than the "Never should the responsibility lie on the artist or creator of the work of art," Frank
said in an e-mail. "To place it there is to traverse the first step on the rocky and raucous road to the censorship, theocracy,
and yes, ultimately, the terrorism that prevails in all those societies we claim to abhor." Poplar first raised the "Scarface" issue this month as city leaders struggle on how to
battle one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. "I'm just concerned with the children watching the movie, and they think that this is what
life is about," Poplar said. "If you want to do something, help." Article Written By Christofer Machniak for The
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