BREAD LOAF WRITERS' CONFERENCE
Middlebury College, 1971
Description from the Middlebury Vimeo page:
This thoughtful piece gives an intimate impression of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in 1971. It was produced by Vermont Educational Television, the predecessor to today's Vermont PBS, in cooperation with Middlebury College. Although the film itself is undated we've determined that it's very likely from 1971 because that's the only session when both Isaac Asimov and Ezekiel Mphahlele were on the faculty at the same time.
This thoughtful piece gives an intimate impression of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in 1971. It was produced by Vermont Educational Television, the predecessor to today's Vermont PBS, in cooperation with Middlebury College. Although the film itself is undated we've determined that it's very likely from 1971 because that's the only session when both Isaac Asimov and Ezekiel Mphahlele were on the faculty at the same time.
Continued description from the Middlebury Vimeo page:
Overview: B&W, sound; opening interview with Miller Williams (Poetry-Staff), views of Bread Loaf. John Ciardi starts narration: history of Battell and Bread Loaf, role of Robert Frost, schedule details, who attends, staff and process, "colored" working scholars, fellows; 07:50 starts footage of writing clinic, Isaac Asimov (Non Fiction-Staff) speaking about work with a student who wrote about husband after his stroke, opens up for discussion; 15:00 back to Miller Wiliams interview before back to clinic where Maxine Kumin (Poetry-Staff) is discussing passage, contribution from Robert Pack (Poetry-Staff); 21:50 George Venn (Fiction-Contributer) discussing setting of Bread Loaf; 24:20 back to John Ciardi narration and views of Bread Loaf campus; 25:45 one-on-one discussion of manuscript between student and Joy Anderson (Writing for Children-Staff), 27:55 Mimi Collins (Poetry-Contributer) interview; 30:00 outdoor poetry reading/discussion with William Curran (Poetry-Contributer), Diane Wakoski (Poetry-Staff), and Elaine Kraf (Fiction-Contributer); 35:30 panel discussion with John Ciardi, Alfred Balk, John Williams, William Sloane, and Miller Williams about manuscript submissions; 41:20 outdoor one-on-one discussion between George Buggs (Poetry-Contributer) and William Meredith (Poetry-Staff); 44:40 interview with Carolyn Forche (Poetry-Contributer) then discussion between Seymour Epstein (Fiction-Staff) and Michael Kernan (Fiction-Contributer); 47:50 back to John Ciardi introducing talk by Ezekiel Mphahlele (Fiction-Staff) about his autobiography; 51:30 interview with Isaac Asimov (Non Fiction-Staff); 53:45 interview with Eleanor Glaze (Fellowship in Fiction); conclusion from John Ciardi, end credits, "Produced in cooperation with Middlebury College"; "special assistance Edward A. Martin Assistant Conference Director"; "Production supervisor Kip Campbell video Keith Clayton audio David Strieder"; "video tape editor Keith Clayton"; "production assistants John Lord, Alan L. Campbell, George Thabault"; "producer-director Peter N. Hartberg"; "a production of Vermont educational Television pre-recorded."
For information contact SpecialCollections@middlebury.edu. Original 16mm film in the Middlebury College Archives. Filename: ff.037
© Vermont PBS. For permissions and additional information contact Vermont PBS at vermontpbs.org/learn/about-vpt/contact.
Overview: B&W, sound; opening interview with Miller Williams (Poetry-Staff), views of Bread Loaf. John Ciardi starts narration: history of Battell and Bread Loaf, role of Robert Frost, schedule details, who attends, staff and process, "colored" working scholars, fellows; 07:50 starts footage of writing clinic, Isaac Asimov (Non Fiction-Staff) speaking about work with a student who wrote about husband after his stroke, opens up for discussion; 15:00 back to Miller Wiliams interview before back to clinic where Maxine Kumin (Poetry-Staff) is discussing passage, contribution from Robert Pack (Poetry-Staff); 21:50 George Venn (Fiction-Contributer) discussing setting of Bread Loaf; 24:20 back to John Ciardi narration and views of Bread Loaf campus; 25:45 one-on-one discussion of manuscript between student and Joy Anderson (Writing for Children-Staff), 27:55 Mimi Collins (Poetry-Contributer) interview; 30:00 outdoor poetry reading/discussion with William Curran (Poetry-Contributer), Diane Wakoski (Poetry-Staff), and Elaine Kraf (Fiction-Contributer); 35:30 panel discussion with John Ciardi, Alfred Balk, John Williams, William Sloane, and Miller Williams about manuscript submissions; 41:20 outdoor one-on-one discussion between George Buggs (Poetry-Contributer) and William Meredith (Poetry-Staff); 44:40 interview with Carolyn Forche (Poetry-Contributer) then discussion between Seymour Epstein (Fiction-Staff) and Michael Kernan (Fiction-Contributer); 47:50 back to John Ciardi introducing talk by Ezekiel Mphahlele (Fiction-Staff) about his autobiography; 51:30 interview with Isaac Asimov (Non Fiction-Staff); 53:45 interview with Eleanor Glaze (Fellowship in Fiction); conclusion from John Ciardi, end credits, "Produced in cooperation with Middlebury College"; "special assistance Edward A. Martin Assistant Conference Director"; "Production supervisor Kip Campbell video Keith Clayton audio David Strieder"; "video tape editor Keith Clayton"; "production assistants John Lord, Alan L. Campbell, George Thabault"; "producer-director Peter N. Hartberg"; "a production of Vermont educational Television pre-recorded."
For information contact SpecialCollections@middlebury.edu. Original 16mm film in the Middlebury College Archives. Filename: ff.037
© Vermont PBS. For permissions and additional information contact Vermont PBS at vermontpbs.org/learn/about-vpt/contact.