Letters to the Editor

The filming of 'A Beautiful Mind' on campus

Ron Howard's superb film "A Beautiful Mind" is certainly worthy of its recent Golden Globe awards. Since Princeton is well-represented by the movie, it's high time for a reconciliation between the University and actor Russell Crowe.

Mr. Crowe is of course wrong in characterizing Princeton undergraduates as an arrogant elite who "couldn't care less if you were making a film there or not." (article, Jan. 11). What Mr. Crowe and the University need to know is that the intrusive photographer who prompted his now-infamous gesture was not a Princeton student: I am told by University staff photographer Denise Applewhite, who was a witness to the incident, that the transgressor was a freelance paparazzo who had been trailing the star all day.

Still, Russell Crowe is justified in many of his frustrations. Students and staff workers alike caused annoying production delays by peering through their windows and showing up in camera shots.

Their behavior wasn't caused by arrogance. Few people have any real conception of what's involved in location shooting for a major motion picture. A carefully orchestrated scene is easily ruined by the innocent curiosity of someone taking a snapshot or peeking around a corner.

In hindsight, a general e-mail should have been sent to the University community explaining the special needs of the production. A brief advisory would have headed off most of the incidents.

This won't be the last movie filmed here, so we need to learn from the experience. Eric Hamblin, director of the University's Center for Visitors and Conference Services, certainly has the means of contacting Ron Howard and Russell Crowe. I'd be very grateful if he'd share my comments with them.

Let's resolve any lingering misunderstandings and look back on "A Beautiful Mind" as a beautiful experience for all concerned. Richard D. Smith