Scope and Contents: The Norman Stone collection (SC-13) provides a look at the development of television productions from the perspective of a director/producer. Mr. Stone's materials give an overview of the entire production process starting with the inception of an idea and following through the research, writing, casting, and editing of a successful program. This collection contains a wide variety of materials including papers, desk diaries, correspondence, and non print media. Although the collection spans the period from 1973 to the present, the bulk of the material dates from 1979 forward and consists of mostly professional, not personal, data. The arrangement of the collection is completely reconstructed and the overall principle of order is chronological.
The subject files house the written work of the collection. These are arranged chronologically by project and alphabetically within projects. Within these files are a variety of materials relating to the projects including scripts, schedules, budgets, personnel, photographs, blueprints, research, and promotional/review material. Accompanying the above are Stone's personal notes, doodles, and miscellaneous jottings recorded on such diverse material as scraps of wrapping paper, notebooks, and official BBC forms and documents. Although completed in 1984, no material has been received for the production "Beyond the Floyd."
To facilitate storage, audio-cassette and reel to reel tapes have been categorized separately. These tapes include interviews, sound recordings, and dictations pertaining to specific projects. Many of the audio-cassette tapes are Stone's interviews in preparation for the drama/documentary "A Different Drummer." All of the tapes have been arranged chronologically by project and assigned a number. Tapes received in the future will be given the next random number available.
Original film footage from several of Stone's earlier projects is also stored in a separate series. These items have been assigned descriptive labels based on the persons or actions of the footage. They were then numbered without attempt at further arrangement. Videotapes of several completed programs as well as "rushes" for others are included in the collection; however, not all of these tapes are VHS formatted for American playback. The videos have been assigned identification numbers.
Drawings and prints done as freelance work by Stone are included in the "artwork" series. There is no order to their arrangement.
Correspondence is divided into two separate categories personal and business. Arrangement is chronological within these divisions, with identically dated letters alphabetized by last name. Stone's replies are not filed with the letter to which he responded, but chronologically with the other letters, as they were received. A list of significant correspondents is included later in this guide.
Other materials in the collection are Stone's BBC desk diaries from 1976 to 1984, arranged chronologically; minutes and information pertaining to the Arts Centre Group (from May 30, 1974 to July 6, 1978); and biographical information on his life and work.
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Subjects (links to similar collections)
