Op-Ed: Movie Stars Can Shine and Save the Motion Picture Hospital

As I was writing this, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was announcing the 2008 Oscar nominees. Part of the movie industry is the Motion Picture Fund, the motto of which is helping their own.

Multi-tasking, I was also reading the letters to the editor in the L.A. Daily News. Coincidentally there was a letter about the closure of the Motion Picture country home and hospital’s convalescent care and hospital facilities by the end of the year due to a $10 million a year shortfall. That reminded me that when I wrote about that on Jan. 15 , I neglected to mention my first thought when I originally read the Los Angeles Times story: If the motto of the Fund, which supports the hospital, is “we support our own,” why aren’t the multi-millionaire mega stars coming up with the funds to make up for the shortfall? We’ll be tuned into the awards ceremony as will the many hospital and convalescent care patients and residents of the retirement cottages. In fact, the country and the world will be watching as mega-salaried star after star, producers and directors walk down the red carpet decked out in fabulous jewelry, designer dresses and tuxes. If they passed the hat at the 81st Oscar presentations on Feb. 22, they could probably raise more than enough money to keep the hospital going for a year or more. They, too, might need the services of the hospital, all its facilities and programs.