Trent Harris papers, 1960s-2020

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Harris, Trent
Title
Trent Harris papers
Dates
1960s-2020 (inclusive)
Quantity
17.5 linear feet, (29 boxes, 1 map case folder)
Collection Number
ACCN 2175
Summary
The Trent Harris papers (1960s-2020) contain his original screenplays, research, correspondence, and ephemera. There are also screenplays by other writers. Trent Harris is a Utah documentarian and independant film maker, whose projects include the famous Beaver Trilogy, Rubin and Ed, and the cult classic Plan 10 from Outer Space.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Trent Harris papers (1960s-2020) contain his original screenplays, research, correspondence, and ephemera. There are also screenplays by other writers. Trent Harris is a Utah documentarian and independant film maker, whose projects include the famous Beaver Trilogy, Rubin and Ed, and the cult classic Plan 10 from Outer Space.

Boxes 6-15 were added in 2015 and include articles, reviews, research materials, screenplays, correspondence, and posters pertaining to Trent Harris' writings (Mondo Utah and Wild Goose Chroncles), his films (Rubin and Ed, ZYZZYX, Delightful Water Universe...), and documentaries includingCement Ball of Earth, Heaven, and Hell.

Boxes 23-29 and map case folder 1 were added in 2024 and include artist books and postcards by Harris, as well as production material for Echo People. Map Case folder 1 contains posters for Rubin and Ed and Beaver Trilogy.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Boxes 1-4 (2.5 linear feet) Purchased from Trent Harris in 2004.

Boxes 6-10, 12-15 (5.75 linear feet) were received from Ken Sanders Rare Books in 2011.

Box 11 (1 linear feet) received from Trent Harris in 2014.

Boxes 15-22 were purchased from Trent Harris in 2017. Boxes 23-29 and map case folder 1 were purchased from Trent Harris in 2021.

Processing Note

Processed by Elizabeth Rogers in 2006.

Addenda from 2011 and 2014 processed by Chelsea Olsen in 2015.

Addendum from 2017 processed by Kristina Barksdale in 2019. Addendum from 2021 processed by Kristina Barksdale in 2024. Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

Forms part of the Utah Independent Film Archive (UIFA).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Original moviesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
"The Beaver Kid" script
1 2-3
"The Beaver Trilogy" clippings
2000
1 4
Correspondence
This correspondence is from Dick Griffiths, the person on whom the Beaver Kid is based.
1980-1981
1 5
"Plan 10 from Outer Space" script
1 6
"Plan 10 from Outer Space" storyboards
1 7-8
"Plan 10 from Outer Space" articles and clippings
1987-2000
1 9
"Plan 10 from Outer Space" ephemera
This folder contains color copies. The originals are in the reserve collection.
1 10
"Rubin and Ed" screenplay
1 11
"Rubin and Ed" prints
1 12
Shot list and notes

Movie ideas and researchReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1-2
Cattle mutilation articles and notes
2 3
"Summer of Love" original screenplay
2 4
Correspondence
1976-1979
2 5-6
Charles Manson articles
2 7-8
Joyce McKinney
1977-1979

Film festivals and screenplaysReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 1-3
Bicknell Film Festival articles and clippings
1998-2000
3 4
Film festival brochures
3 5
Cinema In Your Face
3 6-7
Correspondence and articles
1997-2002
3 8
Ronnie Rocket
David Lynch
3 9
Wild at Heart
David Lynch
3 10
The Lost Highway
David Lynch
3 11
The Cradle will Rock
Orson Welles
3 12
Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Karen Black

Marketing materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box
4
"Trent Harris, A Public Relations Proposal"

Articles about Trent HarrisReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
Life and Career
1960s; 1984; 1994-2009
5 2
General materials
1960s; 1984; 1994-2009

Writings, reviews, and research materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 3
Articles
1995-1997
5 4
General short writings
5 5
"Kiss My Butt You Filthy Beast" Facebook compilation
2010
5 6
Bruce Connor correspondence
2006
5 7
Wild Goose Chronicles news releases
Mondo Utah
Box Folder
6 1
Reviews
1996-1998
6 2
Sundance resort fire research
6 3
Manti research
6 4
Research on Ogden polygamist cult led by Arvin Sheeve
1986-1990
6 5
Mark Hoffman research
6 6-7
"Mormon"/LDS Church research
1988-1997
6 8
Latter-Day Messenger
1999
6 9-11
General Utah news clippings/articles
1980-1999
6 12
Utah newspapers
1997-1999; 2005
6 13
General research
Container(s) Description Dates
Rubin and Ed
Box Folder
7 1
Original screenplay
7 2
Contract/confirmation to direct
1990
Fungus the Bogeyman
Box Folder
7 3
TV Pilot original screenplay
7 4
Freelance Television Writer's Agreement
1993
Plan 10 from Outer Space
Box Folder
7 5
Original screenplay
7 6-8
Plan 10 Production LTD v. Wade Williams
1993-1994
7 9
Deal memos
1994-1996
7 10
Box office totals
1994-1995
7 11
Expenses and accounting records
1994-1995
7 12
Video distribution agreement with LEO Home Video
1996-1998
7 13
Plan 10 Productions Limited Partnerships
1993-1995
7 14
Plan 10 Productions LTD receipts
ZYZZYX
Box Folder
8 1
Original screenplay
1987
8 2
Original screenplay
1991
8 3
Summary and general materials
1992
8 4
Original screenplay
circa 1998
The Beaver Trilogy
Box Folder
8 5
Articles
2001; 2009
8 6
Correspondence inquiring about music rights
Delightful Water Universe
Box Folder
8 7
Original screenplay
2007
8 8
Original screenplay
2008
8 9
Storyboards, shooting plan, and shot lists
2009
8 10
Reviews
2009
General film materials
Box Folder
9 1
"Summer of Love" screenplay
9 2
"When the Mode of the Music Changes the Walls of the City Shake." Plato, screenplay
2009
9 3
"The Product of Liability" television production contract
9 4
Articles on films
2008; 2012
object
10 1
"Mr. Mondo" Salt Lake City Weekly
2009
10 2
"Utah's Alternative Pioneers," Salt Lake City Weekly
2009
10 3
"Interview with Trent Harris," de Filmkrant
2014
11
Film posters
"Mondo Utah" "The State of the Union" "Plan 10 from Outer Space" "The Beaver Trilogy" "When the mode fo the music changes the walls of the city shake - plato" "Delightful Water Universe" "Beyond Mondo Utah" "Trent Harris Shameless Self Promotion" "Needle Nose Art" "The Cement Ball of Earth, Heaven, and Hell"

DocumentariesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Pasola
Box Folder
12 1
Application to University of Utah
12 2
Pasola ritual research
Box Folder
12 3
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly transcripts
Cement Ball of Earth, Heaven, and Hell
Documentary on Cambodia Land Mines.
Box Folder
12 4
Articles
2000-2002
12 5
Correspondence supporting visa for Aki Ra
2002
12 6-8
Newspapers and articles on Cambodia
1997; 2000-2004
Research materials
Box Folder
13 1
Turkmenistan correspondence
2004
13 2-3
Sierra Leone, Africa research
1999-2004; 2009
13 4
Sierra Leone travel arrangement/reimbursements
circa 2004
13 5
Correspondence regarding refugee asylum for Edwin Evans Koi
2008-2009
13 6
Cao Dai research
13 7
Thailand Monk correspondence with Sue Darlington
2009
13 8
Articles/correspondence on sex trafficking in Cambodia
2009
13 9
Mexico contacts, Juarez, Mexico
13 10
Newspaper clippings/articles, Juarez, Mexico
2009-2010

Charles Manson correspondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
14 1-4
This correpondence includes letters written to Charles Manson from various individuals during his time in prison in Vacaville, California. Trent Harris was doing research on Charles Manson for a future project that was never produced.
1976-1987

Personal journalsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
15 1
Harris' Sierra Leone journal
2004-2005
15 2
Harris' Bangkok/Burma/Cambodia/Mexico journal
2005-2006
15 3-4
Harris' travel/personal journals
2007-2010
15 5
Harris' journal, Luna Mesa notes
2010
16 1-2
Harris' journals, Luna Mesa notes and reshoot
2010-2011
16 3-5
Harris' journals
2011-2012

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
17 1-2
Personal mementos and correspondence
1972-2011
17 3-4
Miscellaneous correspondence, contracts, flyers, and articles
1977-2016
17 5
Bob Moss correspondence, articles, and event flyers
2003-2012

Artwork and miscellaneous journalsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
18 1
Travel/art notebook
2009
18 2
Personal/travel journal
2001
18 3
Illustrations for Fate is a Hairy Rodent
2003-2006
18 4
Watercolors for Bruce and Me animation
18 5
Art book 1, Pain
2007
18 6
Art book 2, Sorrow
2007
18 7
Art book 3, Grief
2007
18 8
Art book 4, Anger
2007
18 9
Art book, The London Book
2007
18 10
Paper costume cards

Production materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
19 1-2
Postcard scripts
2012-2014
19 3
Luna Mesa scripts and notes
19 4
Storyboards for ZYZZYX film
19 5
Storyboards for Ancient Alien SHoes
19 6
Rubin and Ed premiere
1991
19 7
Plan 10 From Outer Space Sundance premiere
1995
19 8
Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata selection book
19 9
Newspapers from Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata
2015
19 10
Lausame Underground Film and Music Festival schedule
2014
19 11
Articles from film festivals
2012-2015
19 12
Interview lists for past projects
20 1
Welcome to the Rubber Room set designs and inspiration photos
20 2
Welcome to the Rubber Room storyboards and production notes
20 3
Welcome to the Rubber Room script
2016
20 4
Welcome to the Rubber Room press kit
20 5
Welcome to the Rubber Room promotional post cards

Notes and articles on Trent HarrisReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
21 1
Notes on some Trent Harris films
1977-2003
21 2
S Magazine Pilgrim's Process article on Harris
2011
21 3
Articles
2009-2013
21 4
Articles and reviews
1975-2014

Oversize materialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
22
Film posters and promotional materials
  • "Mondo Movie"
  • "Luna Mesa"
  • "Plan 10 from Outer Space"
  • "The Beaver Trilogy"
  • "Rubin and Ed"
  • "Delightful Water Universe"
  • "Welcome to the Rubber Room"
  • "The Cement Ball of Earth, Heaven, and Hell"
2005-2015

Artist books, post cards, posters, and "Echo People" production materialReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
23
"The Menace, The Grandiose" art prints
24
Art postcards and article
2019
Folder
25 1
Artist book
2007
25 2
Artist book
2007
25 3
Artist book
2007
25 4
Artist book
2009
25 5
Artist book
2009
25 6
"Mexico" artist book
2010
25 7
Artist book
2015
26 1
"Book of Weather" artist book
26 2
"Bruce" artist book
26 3
"Trent's Atlas" artist book
26 4
"The Ant Opera" artist book, signed
2020
26 5
"Curiosa: Created to Loosen the Limbs and Weaken the Mind" artist book, signed
2020
26 6
Artist book
27 1
Artist book/photo diary
27 2
Artist book
28 1
"Echo People" episode one filming materials
28 2
"Echo People" episode two filming materials
28 3
"Echo People" episode three filming materials
28 4
Flyers
2003-2019
28 5
"Today at the Duck Pond" short story
2020
mapcase-folder
1
Posters, "Rubin and Ed" and "Beaver Trilogy"

Production materials and issue of Utah Postcard NewsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
29 1
"Rubin and Ed" articles, reviews, and promo material
1991-1993, 2003
29 2
"Rubin and Ed" premiere poster
29 3
"Rubin and Ed" produciton information
29 4
"Plan 10: From Outer Space" materials
29 5
"Plan 10: From Outer Space" promo, dialogue list with time code
2018
29 6
"Orkly Kid" screening invitation, "Plan 10: From Outer Space" Deseret alphabet font
Includes floppy disk.
29 7
Utah Postcard News, volume 9, June
1995

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Film posters, American--Utah--Specimens
  • Motion picture industry--Utah--Sources
  • Motion picture producers and directors--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Motion pictures, American--Utah--Sources

Personal Names

  • Harris, Trent--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Brochures
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Contracts
  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Ephemera
  • Posters
  • Screenplays
  • Storyboards
  • Watercolors