Eugene weekly., May 08, 2003, Page 30, Image 30

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Roger Hall
LCC Board of Education
ZONE 6
• Twelve-Year Board Member
• Three-Term Board Chair
• Endorsed by LCC Employees Federation
• Endorsed by American Federation of
Teachers - Oregon
• Endorsed by Democratic Party of
Lane County
Committed, Experienced Leader
Paid for by the Committee to Re-elect Roger Hall
960 N. 16th St., Springfield, OR 97477
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
Treasure Trove
James Ivory’s papers at UO.
A
designers for the production. To develop “that
t a public reception in his honor last
mystical thing called ‘an eye,’’ Ivory said, you
week, film director James Ivory
must learn to see what is “beautiful or strong,
charmed an overflow audience in
right for the film, or contributes to the art of
the UO Knight Library Browsing Room with
the film.” When he selects actors, he looks for
self-effacing comments about the complicated
their individuality —
process of filmmaking.
“some personal distinc-
In Eugene to formalize
tion” — expressed by the
the donation of his
way they look or how they
papers and books to the
speak.
library’s special collec-
tions, Ivory said the
“You have to have a lot
library now holds some
of projects going at one
80 linear feet of his
time, because you won’t get
archives. “My whole
all of them financed,” Ivory
private life is in there,”
said. Citing Mr. and Mrs.
he said. “It’s all there
Bridge, Shakespeare Walla
for anyone to see.”
and Jefferson in Paris as his
current personal favorites,
Film
archives
he said, “I like many of my
become
“unwieldy
films. And I’m not ashamed
things,” Ivory said, not-
of any of them.”
ing that the volume of
paper work generated
His final words to
by the nearly 40 films
young filmmakers was
he has made so far filled
spoken
with
fervor.
his garages with stacks
“Always try and get your
of boxes. “I have sent
own way” brought down
Spanish poster for
all the papers through
the house.
Howard’s End.
Howard’s End,” he said,
Born in Berkeley in
“but there are still six more films to come.”
June 1928, Ivory grew up in Klamath Falls,
where he maintains a cabin he visits once a
To researchers and film students, the value
year. In 1999, Ivory received the UO School
of having access to such source documents is
of Architecture and Allied Arts’ Lawrence
incalculable. From each production, you can
Medal for his integrity, educational philoso-
see director’s notes, screenplays, letters to cast
phy and commitment to his chosen field.
members, photographs, press kits, reviews,
Ivory’s films form a consistent body of
even sample costume designs. Ivory, a 1951
work, just as John Singer Sargent’s portraits
BA graduate of the UO School of Architecture
reflect the American painter’s life-long cultur-
and Allied Arts, originally planned to become
al sensibilities. Ivory has received 30
a set designer or art director.
Academy Award nominations. Three films
Ivory’s advice to aspiring filmmakers,
won Academy Awards, Golden Globes and
“Get the best possible cameraman you can
Director’s Guild awards: Howards End
afford,” springs from his first film collabora-
(1992), The Remains of the Day (1993) and
tion with producer Ismail Merchant and writer
Room With a View (1986). Along with
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. They met in 1961 and
Maurice (1987) and A Soldier’s Daughter
within a year made The Householder (1962),
Never Cries (1998), they remain Ivory’s top-
shot by Satyajit Ray’s cameraman, Subrata
selling films.
Mitra. Ivory called Ray “my greatest influ-
“Directors Cut: A Selection from the
ence” and said that most of what he knows
Papers of James Ivory” is an ongoing exhibi-
about filmmaking he learned from the crew
tion at the Knight Library through June 30.
who worked on those first few films.
Ivory’s latest film, Le Divorce, starring Kate
Ivory also said to make a good film you
Hudson, Glenn Close and Naomi Watts, is
must choose locations that are both scenically
due for summer 2003 release.
beautiful and interesting, and hire good
ew
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26 MAY 8, 2003