MPAA president Jack Valenti said that Attorney General John Ashcroft, "specifically mentioned a threat of a suicide bomber," THR said. "An FBI statement released late Thursday, though, was more vague about the exact nature of the threat. The threat's purpose, though, was specifically laid out by the FBI: If the U.S. attacks Afghanistan, a studio will be bombed." Unspecified insiders told THR that film studios represent "American values and culture -- anathema to fundamentalist Islamic terrorists."

Will terrorists disrupt the American film industry? A suicide bomber determined that his/her last act in this life will be to destroy all or part of a Hollywood film studio would cause major damage to physical property and loss of lives. But, as the terrorists should know by now, an attack on some Americans is an attack on all of us.

Filmmakers seem split right now about "appropriate" subject matter for movies. The Screenplayers have heard varied reports from their agents, managers, and producers with whom they work. A producer interested in one of my screenplays told me that Hollywood and television networks would be doing business differently from now on. Another Screenplayer's agent told her that comedies are in, disaster films are out. Still another Screenplayer is going into production with two of her films, both of which feature terrorists' getting justice at the hands of Americans.

I heard one Chicago radio talk-show whose guest was a university professor of media studies. He said that, in the short run, television executives would steer away from reality-based shows in favor of comedies and lighter fare. He reminded listeners of the tremendous popularity of Bob Hope and other entertainers during WWII as audiences sought respite from worries.

Should screenwriters switch genre? You can't write comedy if you ain't funny. The tide will turn some day. It takes so long to set up a project - through development, funding, and production - that I believe screenwriters should carry on, paying close attention to what's selling.

To make us change our normal activity is what the terrorists want. I'm more American than that.