‘Easy’ Rafelson

I feel compelled after reading Patrick Goldstein’s story about Jack Nicholson, Carole Eastman and Bob Rafelson (“Three Not-So-Easy Pieces,” Oct. 27) to add some personal comments regarding Rafelson. The story suggests that he is “difficult,” even though all seem to indicate praise for his creative ability as a director.

I assume he wasn’t available for a follow-up interview because he was in the editing room. Unfortunately, the reader has the impression that Rafelson finds difficulty in collaboration.

My experiences with Rafelson, when he directed a film I produced, “Mountains of the Moon,” were consistently and diametrically the opposite. I found him to be brilliant and incisive throughout the creative process and enormously collaborative.

The most accurate perspective I can give as a result of my experience with Bob Rafelson is that I can’t imagine any genre of film that I might produce in the future that I wouldn’t be very happy to offer him.

DANIEL MELNICK

Los Angeles