Collection ID: Special Collection WH
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Warrington Hudlin
Abstract:
Works of Warrington Hudlin.
Extent:
1 collection
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[item], Warrington Hudlin Collection, Special Collection WH, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

The Black Film Center & Archive received a donation of material from filmmaker Warrington Hudlin. This included several film reels, containing outtakes, soundtracks, and a copy of the work print of Hudlin's 1977 film Streetcorner Stories.

Streetcorner Stories, a Cinéma Vérité style documentary, was shot in New Haven, Connecticut, and around a convenience store at a busy intersection. Here men come not only to make purchases, but also to trade stories and opinions. Among their subjects are work, politics, police, alcohol, drugs, guns, money, women, and life in general. There is no narration; the camera and microphone simply recorded, over a period of 17 days, the interactions of the patrons. The editing preserves the natural flow of events and avoids quick cuts or obvious editorializing. All of this makes Streetcorner Stories a fascinating and authentic document.

A small amount of money was made available in 1995 to sort through the boxes and list the type of film material available. Much of it is sync-sound footage that was not used in the film, like short beginnings or ends of shots and longer takes of scenes that never made it into the final cut. There are also miscellaneous sound recordings, mostly of ambient, non-sync sound. Included among the soundtracks are two reels of uncut interviews for another of Hudlin's films, Blacks at Yale.

The work print and soundtrack were transferred to video by Susanne Schwibs at Indiana University's Instructional Support Services. They can be viewed at the BFCA. It is hoped that enough funds can be obtained to synchronize and transfer the outtakes as well.

Scope and Content:

See archivist for details related to this collection.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated in September 1994 .
Processing information:

Processed by BFCA Staff.

General note:

In 2022, the Black Film Center/Archive (BFC/A) transitioned to its current name, the Black Film Center & Archive (BFCA). This finding aid was created under the organizational name Black Film Center/Archive. Upon this organizational name change, all previous references to the BFC/A were updated in this finding aid to match the current name, Black Film Center & Archive.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is open for research.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], Warrington Hudlin Collection, Special Collection WH, Black Film Center & Archive, Indiana University, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library, Room 044
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-6041
bfca@indiana.edu