I think it's quite a stretch to claim Tim Burton's film argues that Ed Wood and Orson Welles are equally important filmmakers. I loved "Ed Wood" because I found it to be a very affectionate portrait. The thing that makes Ed Wood (the character) great is his total and unabashed love of making movies, his unflagging optimism, and his embrace of people on the fringes. Burton pays homage to all who want to create -- and let's face it, 99% of us don't have the talent to create true and original art, but that does not make our creative urge any less important. How accurate a portrait of the real Ed Wood the film is, I can't say. But the dramatized Ed Wood is an original and inspiring character. Orson Welles made great films, but perhaps not much of an inspiration (as a man). jswift @ discovery.com ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]