Dear Mr. Ebert....

ebert2.jpg All kinds of tributes to film critic Roger Ebert, who died today after a long bout with cancer, but one common theme is how he encouraged young writers interested in film criticism. Here, he responds to Dana Stevens, a preteen in Texas who wanted to know what it took. Today she is Slate's movie critic. She writes: "Ebert's prompt and kind answer, typed on Chicago Sun-Times stationery using a typewriter with a wonky T key, took my query more seriously than it deserved, suggesting colleges with strong film programs I might consider, advising me to 'see all the good movies you can,' and most of all encouraging me to "write-write-write for anyplace that will print your stuff." Nice.


More by Mark Lacter:
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Amazon keeps pushing for faster L.A. delivery
Another rugged quarter for Tribune Co. papers
How does Stanford compete with the big boys?
Those awful infographics that promise to explain and only distort
Best to low-ball today's employment report
Further fallout from airport shootings
Crazy opening for Twitter*
Should Twitter be valued at $18 billion?
Recent Hollywood stories:
Obama meets with victims of LAX shooting*
THR's Stephen Galloway wins entertainment journalist of the year
Finke, Waxman, Penske, Min: Battle of the Hollywood trades
Photos: AARP Films for Grownups Film Festival
Best thing about next year's Oscars night probably just happened

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Mark Lacter
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.
 
Mark Lacter, business writer and editor was 59
The multi-talented Mark Lacter
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