Screening Room: Hillary Harris

Over the years, the work of Oscar-winning filmmaker Hilary Harris moved steadily from abstraction to social commentary. In answer to his question, "Why make films at all?" he responds, "To give a richer vision of surrounding reality. My aim is to lift people out of their preconceptions." 

His pioneering films include Longhorns, Highway, Seawards the Great Ships, Organism, The Nuer, and Nine Variations on a Dance Theme. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, he lectured extensively, taught film editing, designed filmmaking and sound mixing equipment, and practiced sculpture.

In March 1973, Hilary Harris visited Screening Room to screen and discuss his films: 

• Longhorns (full film, 4:32)
• Highway (full film, 4:56)
• Seawards the Great Ships (full film, 14:12)
• long lens test and demo (footage with commentary, 3:18)
• New York, work in progress (footage, 2:36)
• New York, work in progress (footage, 9:13)
• New York, work in progress (footage, 6:05)

He returned to Screening Room in January 1979 to screen and discuss:

• Organism (full film, 18:59)
• The Nuer (excerpt, 6:31)
• sound editing tool demo (footage, 7:09)
• image generator demo (footage, 2:57)
• oscilloscope imagery (footage, 3:22)