This week marks the 60th anniversary of the world premiere of Intruder in the Dust and the Media and Documentary Projects Center was well represented in the effort to commemorate the milestone. The event, a fundraiser for the Oxford Film Festival, was held at the recently restored Lyric Theater in the same room where the film first screened in 1949. MDP producer Joe York had a premiere of his own as his documentary, When We Were Extras was shown prior to the screening of Intruder in the Dust. Joe interviewed quite a few of the locals who took part in the original production. Look for his film here on the blog in the coming weeks. MPD producer Micah Ginn served as the master of ceremonies for the event. Micah kept the crowd, shall we say, entertained…….
After the movies screened Joe York interviewed Claude Jarman, Jr. Enjoy this excerpt from that interview (please forgive the shaky iPhone).
The Media and Documentary Projects Center was well represented last night by two films showing at the Oxford Film Festival summer series. The first was a documentary by Mary Warner and Joe York that resulted from Mary’s Southern Studies MA Thesis on Thacker Mountain Radio. Mary Produced Thacker for several years and we were lucky enough to work with her that whole time. Mary has graduated and moved on to Atlanta where we wish her well.
The Second film was a screening of Joe York’s moving documentary, Saving Willie Mae’s Scotch House. Both of these films represent the collaborative nature of our department and are great examples of the type of films I expect to be producing for years to come. — Andy