Trent Harris papers, 1960s-2020
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Harris, Trent
- Title
- Trent Harris papers
- Dates
- 1960s-2020 (inclusive)19602020
- 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
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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
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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 Description
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 Collection
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 Information
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 Collection
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Original movies
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Description: "The Beaver Kid" scriptContainer: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: "The Beaver Trilogy" clippingsDates: 2000Container: Box 1, Folder 2-3
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Description: Correspondence
This correspondence is from Dick Griffiths, the person on whom the Beaver Kid is based.
Dates: 1980-1981Container: Box 1, Folder 4 -
Description: "Plan 10 from Outer Space" scriptContainer: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: "Plan 10 from Outer Space" storyboardsContainer: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: "Plan 10 from Outer Space" articles and clippingsDates: 1987-2000Container: Box 1, Folder 7-8
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Description: "Plan 10 from Outer Space" ephemera
This folder contains color copies. The originals are in the reserve collection.
Container: Box 1, Folder 9 -
Description: "Rubin and Ed" screenplayContainer: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: "Rubin and Ed" printsContainer: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Shot list and notesContainer: Box 1, Folder 12
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Movie ideas and research
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Description: Cattle mutilation articles and notesContainer: Box 2, Folder 1-2
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Description: "Summer of Love" original screenplayContainer: Box 2, Folder 3
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1976-1979Container: Box 2, Folder 4
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Description: Charles Manson articlesContainer: Box 2, Folder 5-6
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Description: Joyce McKinneyDates: 1977-1979Container: Box 2, Folder 7-8
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Film festivals and screenplays
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Description: Bicknell Film Festival articles and clippingsDates: 1998-2000Container: Box 3, Folder 1-3
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Description: Film festival brochuresContainer: Box 3, Folder 4
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Description: Cinema In Your FaceContainer: Box 3, Folder 5
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Description: Correspondence and articlesDates: 1997-2002Container: Box 3, Folder 6-7
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Description: Ronnie Rocket
David Lynch
Container: Box 3, Folder 8 -
Description: Wild at Heart
David Lynch
Container: Box 3, Folder 9 -
Description: The Lost Highway
David Lynch
Container: Box 3, Folder 10 -
Description: The Cradle will Rock
Orson Welles
Container: Box 3, Folder 11 -
Description: Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Karen Black
Container: Box 3, Folder 12
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Marketing materials
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Description: "Trent Harris, A Public Relations Proposal"Container: Box 4
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Articles about Trent Harris
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Description: Life and CareerDates: 1960s; 1984; 1994-2009Container: Box 5, Folder 1
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Description: General materialsDates: 1960s; 1984; 1994-2009Container: Box 5, Folder 2
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Writings, reviews, and research materials
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Description: ArticlesDates: 1995-1997Container: Box 5, Folder 3
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Description: General short writingsContainer: Box 5, Folder 4
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Description: "Kiss My Butt You Filthy Beast" Facebook compilationDates: 2010Container: Box 5, Folder 5
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Description: Bruce Connor correspondenceDates: 2006Container: Box 5, Folder 6
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Description: Wild Goose Chronicles news releasesContainer: Box 5, Folder 7
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Mondo Utah
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Description: ReviewsDates: 1996-1998Container: Box 6, Folder 1
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Description: Sundance resort fire researchContainer: Box 6, Folder 2
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Description: Manti researchContainer: Box 6, Folder 3
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Description: Research on Ogden polygamist cult led by Arvin SheeveDates: 1986-1990Container: Box 6, Folder 4
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Description: Mark Hoffman researchContainer: Box 6, Folder 5
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Description: "Mormon"/LDS Church researchDates: 1988-1997Container: Box 6, Folder 6-7
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Description: Latter-Day MessengerDates: 1999Container: Box 6, Folder 8
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Description: General Utah news clippings/articlesDates: 1980-1999Container: Box 6, Folder 9-11
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Description: Utah newspapersDates: 1997-1999; 2005Container: Box 6, Folder 12
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Description: General researchContainer: Box 6, Folder 13
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Films
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Rubin and Ed
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Description: Original screenplayContainer: Box 7, Folder 1
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Description: Contract/confirmation to directDates: 1990Container: Box 7, Folder 2
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Fungus the Bogeyman
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Description: TV Pilot original screenplayContainer: Box 7, Folder 3
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Description: Freelance Television Writer's AgreementDates: 1993Container: Box 7, Folder 4
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Plan 10 from Outer Space
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Description: Original screenplayContainer: Box 7, Folder 5
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Description: Plan 10 Production LTD v. Wade WilliamsDates: 1993-1994Container: Box 7, Folder 6-8
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Description: Deal memosDates: 1994-1996Container: Box 7, Folder 9
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Description: Box office totalsDates: 1994-1995Container: Box 7, Folder 10
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Description: Expenses and accounting recordsDates: 1994-1995Container: Box 7, Folder 11
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Description: Video distribution agreement with LEO Home VideoDates: 1996-1998Container: Box 7, Folder 12
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Description: Plan 10 Productions Limited PartnershipsDates: 1993-1995Container: Box 7, Folder 13
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Description: Plan 10 Productions LTD receiptsContainer: Box 7, Folder 14
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ZYZZYX
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Description: Original screenplayDates: 1987Container: Box 8, Folder 1
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Description: Original screenplayDates: 1991Container: Box 8, Folder 2
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Description: Summary and general materialsDates: 1992Container: Box 8, Folder 3
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Description: Original screenplayDates: circa 1998Container: Box 8, Folder 4
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The Beaver Trilogy
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Description: ArticlesDates: 2001; 2009Container: Box 8, Folder 5
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Description: Correspondence inquiring about music rightsContainer: Box 8, Folder 6
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Delightful Water Universe
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Description: Original screenplayDates: 2007Container: Box 8, Folder 7
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Description: Original screenplayDates: 2008Container: Box 8, Folder 8
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Description: Storyboards, shooting plan, and shot listsDates: 2009Container: Box 8, Folder 9
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Description: ReviewsDates: 2009Container: Box 8, Folder 10
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General film materials
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Description: "Summer of Love" screenplayContainer: Box 9, Folder 1
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Description: "When the Mode of the Music Changes the Walls of the City Shake." Plato, screenplayDates: 2009Container: Box 9, Folder 2
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Description: "The Product of Liability" television production contractContainer: Box 9, Folder 3
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Description: Articles on filmsDates: 2008; 2012Container: Box 9, Folder 4
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Description: "Mr. Mondo" Salt Lake City WeeklyDates: 2009Container: Box 10, Object 1
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Description: "Utah's Alternative Pioneers," Salt Lake City WeeklyDates: 2009Container: Box 10, Object 2
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Description: "Interview with Trent Harris," de FilmkrantDates: 2014Container: Box 10, Object 3
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Description: 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"
Container: Box 11
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Documentaries
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Pasola
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Description: Application to University of UtahContainer: Box 12, Folder 1
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Description: Pasola ritual researchContainer: Box 12, Folder 2
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Description: Religion and Ethics Newsweekly transcriptsContainer: Box 12, Folder 3
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Cement Ball of Earth, Heaven, and Hell
Documentary on Cambodia Land Mines.
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Description: ArticlesDates: 2000-2002Container: Box 12, Folder 4
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Description: Correspondence supporting visa for Aki RaDates: 2002Container: Box 12, Folder 5
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Description: Newspapers and articles on CambodiaDates: 1997; 2000-2004Container: Box 12, Folder 6-8
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Research materials
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Description: Turkmenistan correspondenceDates: 2004Container: Box 13, Folder 1
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Description: Sierra Leone, Africa researchDates: 1999-2004; 2009Container: Box 13, Folder 2-3
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Description: Sierra Leone travel arrangement/reimbursementsDates: circa 2004Container: Box 13, Folder 4
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Description: Correspondence regarding refugee asylum for Edwin Evans KoiDates: 2008-2009Container: Box 13, Folder 5
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Description: Cao Dai researchContainer: Box 13, Folder 6
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Description: Thailand Monk correspondence with Sue DarlingtonDates: 2009Container: Box 13, Folder 7
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Description: Articles/correspondence on sex trafficking in CambodiaDates: 2009Container: Box 13, Folder 8
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Description: Mexico contacts, Juarez, MexicoContainer: Box 13, Folder 9
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Description: Newspaper clippings/articles, Juarez, MexicoDates: 2009-2010Container: Box 13, Folder 10
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Charles Manson correspondence
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Description:
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.
Dates: 1976-1987Container: Box 14, Folder 1-4
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Personal journals
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Description: Harris' Sierra Leone journalDates: 2004-2005Container: Box 15, Folder 1
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Description: Harris' Bangkok/Burma/Cambodia/Mexico journalDates: 2005-2006Container: Box 15, Folder 2
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Description: Harris' travel/personal journalsDates: 2007-2010Container: Box 15, Folder 3-4
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Description: Harris' journal, Luna Mesa notesDates: 2010Container: Box 15, Folder 5
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Description: Harris' journals, Luna Mesa notes and reshootDates: 2010-2011Container: Box 16, Folder 1-2
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Description: Harris' journalsDates: 2011-2012Container: Box 16, Folder 3-5
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Correspondence
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Description: Personal mementos and correspondenceDates: 1972-2011Container: Box 17, Folder 1-2
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Description: Miscellaneous correspondence, contracts, flyers, and articlesDates: 1977-2016Container: Box 17, Folder 3-4
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Description: Bob Moss correspondence, articles, and event flyersDates: 2003-2012Container: Box 17, Folder 5
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Artwork and miscellaneous journals
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Description: Travel/art notebookDates: 2009Container: Box 18, Folder 1
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Description: Personal/travel journalDates: 2001Container: Box 18, Folder 2
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Description: Illustrations for Fate is a Hairy RodentDates: 2003-2006Container: Box 18, Folder 3
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Description: Watercolors for Bruce and Me animationContainer: Box 18, Folder 4
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Description: Art book 1, PainDates: 2007Container: Box 18, Folder 5
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Description: Art book 2, SorrowDates: 2007Container: Box 18, Folder 6
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Description: Art book 3, GriefDates: 2007Container: Box 18, Folder 7
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Description: Art book 4, AngerDates: 2007Container: Box 18, Folder 8
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Description: Art book, The London BookDates: 2007Container: Box 18, Folder 9
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Description: Paper costume cardsContainer: Box 18, Folder 10
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Production materials
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Description: Postcard scriptsDates: 2012-2014Container: Box 19, Folder 1-2
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Description: Luna Mesa scripts and notesContainer: Box 19, Folder 3
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Description: Storyboards for ZYZZYX filmContainer: Box 19, Folder 4
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Description: Storyboards for Ancient Alien SHoesContainer: Box 19, Folder 5
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Description: Rubin and Ed premiereDates: 1991Container: Box 19, Folder 6
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Description: Plan 10 From Outer Space Sundance premiereDates: 1995Container: Box 19, Folder 7
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Description: Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata selection bookContainer: Box 19, Folder 8
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Description: Newspapers from Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del PlataDates: 2015Container: Box 19, Folder 9
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Description: Lausame Underground Film and Music Festival scheduleDates: 2014Container: Box 19, Folder 10
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Description: Articles from film festivalsDates: 2012-2015Container: Box 19, Folder 11
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Description: Interview lists for past projectsContainer: Box 19, Folder 12
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Description: Welcome to the Rubber Room set designs and inspiration photosContainer: Box 20, Folder 1
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Description: Welcome to the Rubber Room storyboards and production notesContainer: Box 20, Folder 2
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Description: Welcome to the Rubber Room scriptDates: 2016Container: Box 20, Folder 3
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Description: Welcome to the Rubber Room press kitContainer: Box 20, Folder 4
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Description: Welcome to the Rubber Room promotional post cardsContainer: Box 20, Folder 5
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Notes and articles on Trent Harris
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Description: Notes on some Trent Harris filmsDates: 1977-2003Container: Box 21, Folder 1
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Description: S Magazine Pilgrim's Process article on HarrisDates: 2011Container: Box 21, Folder 2
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Description: ArticlesDates: 2009-2013Container: Box 21, Folder 3
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Description: Articles and reviewsDates: 1975-2014Container: Box 21, Folder 4
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Oversize materials
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Description: 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"
Dates: 2005-2015Container: Box 22
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Artist books, post cards, posters, and "Echo People" production material
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Description: "The Menace, The Grandiose" art printsContainer: Box 23
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Description: Art postcards and articleDates: 2019Container: Box 24
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2007Container: Box 25, Folder 1
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2007Container: Box 25, Folder 2
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2007Container: Box 25, Folder 3
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2009Container: Box 25, Folder 4
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2009Container: Box 25, Folder 5
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Description: "Mexico" artist bookDates: 2010Container: Box 25, Folder 6
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Description: Artist bookDates: 2015Container: Box 25, Folder 7
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Description: "Book of Weather" artist bookContainer: Box 26, Folder 1
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Description: "Bruce" artist bookContainer: Box 26, Folder 2
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Description: "Trent's Atlas" artist bookContainer: Box 26, Folder 3
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Description: "The Ant Opera" artist book, signedDates: 2020Container: Box 26, Folder 4
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Description: "Curiosa: Created to Loosen the Limbs and Weaken the Mind" artist book, signedDates: 2020Container: Box 26, Folder 5
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Description: Artist bookContainer: Box 26, Folder 6
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Description: Artist book/photo diaryContainer: Box 27, Folder 1
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Description: Artist bookContainer: Box 27, Folder 2
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Description: "Echo People" episode one filming materialsContainer: Box 28, Folder 1
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Description: "Echo People" episode two filming materialsContainer: Box 28, Folder 2
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Description: "Echo People" episode three filming materialsContainer: Box 28, Folder 3
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Description: FlyersDates: 2003-2019Container: Box 28, Folder 4
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Description: "Today at the Duck Pond" short storyDates: 2020Container: Box 28, Folder 5
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Description: Posters, "Rubin and Ed" and "Beaver Trilogy"Container: Mapcase folder 1
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Production materials and issue of Utah Postcard News
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Description: "Rubin and Ed" articles, reviews, and promo materialDates: 1991-1993, 2003Container: Box 29, Folder 1
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Description: "Rubin and Ed" premiere posterContainer: Box 29, Folder 2
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Description: "Rubin and Ed" produciton informationContainer: Box 29, Folder 3
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Description: "Plan 10: From Outer Space" materialsContainer: Box 29, Folder 4
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Description: "Plan 10: From Outer Space" promo, dialogue list with time codeDates: 2018Container: Box 29, Folder 5
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Description: "Orkly Kid" screening invitation, "Plan 10: From Outer Space" Deseret alphabet font
Includes floppy disk.
Container: Box 29, Folder 6 -
Description: Utah Postcard News, volume 9, JuneDates: 1995Container: Box 29, Folder 7
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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
