Behind the Lens records
Catalogued by Johnson, Doug; Catalogued by Maxwell, Genevieve
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: The collection consists primarily of newsletters, correspondence, a manuscript of Behind the Lens founding member Alexis Krasilovsky’s
book “Women Behind the Camera: Conversations With Camerawomen,” member documentation, meeting minutes, clippings, financial
and tax records.
Collector:
Behind the Lens
Dates: 1983-1996
Dates: 1984-1994
Collection number: 570
Collection Size:
6.7 linear ft. of papers
0.4 linear ft. of photos
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all
necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing
materials obtained from the library.
Preferred Citation
Behind the Lens records, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Alexis Krasilovsky, 1998, with additions from Kate Butler, 2004, and Kelly Uchimura, 2005
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The Behind the Lens records span the years 1983-1996 (bulk 1984-1994) and encompass 6.7 linear feet. The collection consists
of correspondence, subject files (general and Krasilovsky, Alexis), and financial papers. The collection covers the activities
of the organization and includes financial documents, meeting minutes, membership records, and newsletters.
The correspondence series includes correspondence regarding the organization's participation in various conferences and seminars,
as well as communications sent to and from members of Behind the Lens. Notable correspondents and recipients include Beth
Brickell, George Spiro Dibie, Georgia Jeffries, Martha Nelson, Woody Omens, Harriet Silverman, and Haskell Wexler.
The subject files (general) contain clippings, legal documents, meeting agendas and minutes, surveys and guidelines regarding
the organization's mentor program, and programs and notes for seminars and conferences the organization participated in. There
are newsletters covering every year the organization was active as well as issues of the Behind the Lens annual magazine for
select years. There is extensive documentation of the organization's membership, including membership applications, directories,
and member surveys. Of interest is the constitution and bylaws of the organization as well as documentation regarding the
dissolution of Behind the Lens in 1996.
The subject files (Krasilovsky, Alexis) contains writings by Krasilovsky, a founding member of the organization. The series
primarily consists of the manuscript for Krasilovsky's book "Women Behind the Camera: Conversations with Camerawomen," which
was published in 2007. Also included are various other writings by Krasilovsky, including poetry and a brief history of Behind
the Lens.
The financial papers include invoices for advertisements placed in the Behind the Lens magazine, bank statements, petty cash
documents, and tax documents.
Biography
Behind the Lens was an American association of professional camerawomen established in 1984 and active until 1996. The association
arose out of informal gatherings held in the summer of 1983, conducted partly with the intention of organizing camerawomen
to film the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The number of working camerawomen had grown slowly since the film industry
began and were still relatively uncommon. Many women felt isolated in the profession and appreciated the opportunity to commiserate
and network with fellow camerawomen. The gatherings quickly evolved into a more official organization, and in April of 1984,
the group drafted its first constitution and by-laws and elected a board of directors for what was now known as Behind the
Lens. In 1987, it was incorporated as a non-profit in the state of California, by which time membership had grown to nearly
150 members.
The mission of Behind the Lens was to improve opportunities and working conditions for camerawomen, and it did so in a variety
of ways. The organization offered workshops and seminars to educate its members about technological developments in the industry.
It held monthly meetings to encourage networking and offer support. It also hosted screenings to celebrate the work of its
members. Additionally, Behind the Lens distributed a monthly newsletter to provide information to camerawomen wherever they
might be working. The organization also formed relationships with other industry organizations, including Interguild Women's
Caucus, Independent Feature Project, Women Make Movies, Films de Femmes, and Women in Film, who relied on Behind the Lens
for all-women camera crews for its film festivals and awards shows. To promote employment of women in the field, the organization
compiled a directory of its members which was sent annually to studios, production companies, and unit production managers,
among many others. Behind the Lens also offered student memberships and arranged apprenticeships with mentors working in the
industry.
The organization was run by volunteers and relied on the efforts of numerous working camerawomen. Members included directors
of photography, camera operators, camera assistants, still photographers, and film loaders who were active in IATSE Locals
644, 650, and 666, NABET Locals 15 and 531, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Society of Cinematographers,
and the Society of Operating Cameramen. Founding member Alexis Krasilovsky, a filmmaker and professor in the Department of
Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Northridge, acted as assistant newsletter editor and secretary.
Krasilovsky also wrote "Women Behind the Camera: Conversations with Camerawomen" and co-wrote "Shooting Women: Behind the
Camera, Around the World." Cinematographer and first assistant camera Kate Butler joined the organization as an apprentice
member and later served as chief executive officer. Kelly Uchimura, assistant camera, joined on an apprentice membership early
in her career. Unfortunately, by the mid-1990s, many of Behind the Lens' members were too busy to keep the organization afloat.
After some effort at revitalization, the organization officially dissolved in 1996.
Arrangement of the Collection
Organized in the following series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Subject files – General; 3. Subject files – Krasilovsky, Alexis;
4. Financial papers.
Indexing terms
Behind the Lens
Camera operators
Cinematographers
Organization records
folder 1
A miscellaneous
1983--1994
Record ID: 71567578
folder 2
B miscellaneous
1983--1996
Record ID: 71567686
folder 3
Bailey, Elizabeth
1987--1993
Record ID: 71567717
folder 4
Butler, Kate
1986--1996
Record ID: 71567718
folder 5
C miscellaneous
1984--1995
Record ID: 71567745
folder 6
Chaney-LeBlanc, Michele
1989--1992
Record ID: 71567747
folder 7
Craft, Alicia
1991--1993
Record ID: 71567748
folder 8
D miscellaneous
1984--1994
Record ID: 71567753
folder 9
Dellario, Frank
1995--1995
Record ID: 71567756
folder 10
E miscellaneous
1987--1994
Record ID: 71567757
folder 11
F miscellaneous
1990--1991
Record ID: 71567759
folder 12
G miscellaneous
1984--1988
Record ID: 71567763
folder 13
H miscellaneous
1984--1991
Record ID: 71567767
folder 14
J miscellaneous
1984--1986
Record ID: 71567770
folder 15
K miscellaneous
1984--1994
Record ID: 71567773
folder 16
Krasilovsky, Alexis
1991--1995
Record ID: 71567781
folder 17
L miscellaneous
1984--1996
Record ID: 71567784
folder 18
M miscellaneous
1985--1994
Record ID: 71567788
folder 19
McGowen, Kelly Elder
1994--1994
Record ID: 71567792
folder 20
Miscellaneous
1991--1996
Record ID: 71567802
folder 21
N miscellaneous
1984--1994
Record ID: 71567803
folder 22
O miscellaneous
1984--1994
Record ID: 71567804
folder 23
P miscellaneous
1986--1996
Record ID: 71567810
folder 24
R miscellaneous
1984--1996
Record ID: 71567948
folder 25
S miscellaneous
1984--1996
Record ID: 71567950
folder 26
T miscellaneous
1989--1994
Record ID: 71567951
folder 27
U miscellaneous
1989--1989
Record ID: 71567952
folder 28
Unidentified
1984--1992
Record ID: 71567954
folder 29
V miscellaneous
1994--1996
Record ID: 71567955
folder 30
W miscellaneous
1984--1994
Record ID: 71567956
folder 31
Wagner, Karyn
1987--1987
Record ID: 71567957
folder 32
Wexler, Haskell
1988--1988
Record ID: 71567959
folder 33
Y miscellaneous
1984--1988
Record ID: 71567960
folder 34
Z miscellaneous
1987--1988
Record ID: 71567962
folder 35
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
2004--2004
Record ID: 71567583
folder 36
Advertising
1986--1994
Record ID: 71567964
folder 37
Announcements
1983--1996
Record ID: 71567970
folder 38
Annuals
1988--1992
Record ID: 71567979
folder 39
Apparel
1989--1995
Record ID: 71567981
folder 40
Awards
1985--1991
Record ID: 71567982
folder 41
Cinewomen--clippings
1993--1993
Record ID: 71567983
folder 42
City of Los Angeles
1987--1993
Record ID: 71567985
folder 43
Clippings
1983--1995
Record ID: 71567989
folder 44
Clippings--miscellaneous
1976--1991
Record ID: 71568001
folder 45
Clippings--miscellaneous
1976--1993
Record ID: 71568009
folder 46
Clippings--miscellaneous
1986--1995
Record ID: 71568004
folder 47
Constitution and bylaws
1987--1987
Record ID: 71567586
folder 48
Contact lists
1994--1995
Record ID: 71568029
folder 49
Dissolution
1996--1996
Record ID: 71568030
folder 50
Elections
1984--1986
Record ID: 71568033
folder 51
Elections
1987--1993
Record ID: 71568031
folder 52
Equipment
Circa 1980--1993
Record ID: 71568038
folder 53
Events
1984--1996
Record ID: 71568043
folder 54
Events--miscellaneous
1983--1995
Record ID: 71568065
folder 55
Filmes de Femmes
1987--1992
Record ID: 71568066
folder 56
Grants
1988--1991
Record ID: 71568067
folder 57
Hollywood Entertainment Museum
1988--1990
Record ID: 71568068
folder 58
Interguild Women's Caucus
1987--1992
Record ID: 71568070
folder 59
Interviews
Circa 1991--1991
Record ID: 71568077
folder 60
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
1990--1990
Record ID: 71568078
folder 61
Legal
1984--1990
Record ID: 71568085
folder 62
McGowen, Kelly
1987--1996
Record ID: 71568092
folder 63
Media Project
1982--1982
Record ID: 71568093
folder 64
Meetings--agendas
1989--1995
Record ID: 71568094
folder 65
Meetings--minutes (board)
1984--1994
Record ID: 71568095
folder 66
Meetings--minutes (general)
1983--1994
Record ID: 71568096
folder 67
Member reports
1994--1994
Record ID: 71568099
folder 68
Membership--applications
1983--1984
Record ID: 71568146
folder 69
Membership--applications
1985--1985
Record ID: 71568147
folder 70
Membership--applications
1986--1986
Record ID: 71568148
folder 71
Membership--applications
1987--1987
Record ID: 71568149
folder 72
Membership--applications
1988--1988
Record ID: 71568150
folder 73
Membership--applications
1988--1988
Record ID: 71568151
folder 74
Membership--applications
1989--1989
Record ID: 71568156
folder 75
Membership--applications
1990--1990
Record ID: 71568157
folder 76
Membership--applications
1991--1991
Record ID: 71568164
folder 77
Membership--applications
1992--1992
Record ID: 71568154
folder 78
Membership--applications
1993--1993
Record ID: 71568165
folder 79
Membership--applications
1994--1995
Record ID: 71568167
folder 80
Membership--binder
1985--1995
Record ID: 71568126
folder 81
Membership--binder
1985--1995
Record ID: 71568128
folder 82
Membership--directories
1985--1989
Record ID: 71568130
folder 83
Membership--directories
1990--1995
Record ID: 71568132
folder 84
Membership--lists
1983--1993
Record ID: 71568168
folder 85
Membership--lists (old)
1983--1994
Record ID: 71568133
folder 86
Membership--lists (old)
1985--1991
Record ID: 71568135
folder 87
Membership--miscellaneous
1989--1995
Record ID: 71568170
folder 88
Mentor Program
Record ID: 71568175
folder 89
Mole-Richardson Company
1992--1993
Record ID: 71568176
folder 90
National Organization for Women
1984--1994
Record ID: 71568199
folder 91
Newsletters
1984--1984
Record ID: 71568183
folder 92
Newsletters
1985--1986
Record ID: 71568177
folder 93
Newsletters
1987--1987
Record ID: 71568185
folder 94
Newsletters
1988--1989
Record ID: 71568186
folder 95
Newsletters
1990--1991
Record ID: 71568194
folder 96
Newsletters
1992--1993
Record ID: 71568196
folder 97
Newsletters
1994--1996
Record ID: 71568198
folder 98
Notes
1984--1996
Record ID: 71568200
folder 99
One sheets
Record ID: 71568204
folder 100
Paramount Studios
1987--1994
Record ID: 71568207
folder 101
Press releases
1986--1986
Record ID: 71568208
folder 102
Resources
1984--1988
Record ID: 71568209
folder 103
Resources
1995--1996
Record ID: 71568233
folder 104
Seminars
Record ID: 71568235
folder 105
Showbiz Expo
1991--1991
Record ID: 71568236
folder 106
Stationery
Record ID: 71568237
folder 107
Steering committee
1996--1996
Record ID: 71568238
folder 108
Surveys
1994--1994
Record ID: 71568239
folder 109
Uchimura, Kelly
1994--1994
Record ID: 71568242
folder 110
Walsh, Susan
Record ID: 71568243
folder 111
Watts Training Center
1992--1992
Record ID: 71568244
folder 112
Women In Broadcast Technology
1987--1988
Record ID: 71568245
folder 113
Women In Film
1984--1996
Record ID: 71568246
folder 114
Women In Photography
1986--1987
Record ID: 71568247
folder 115
Women Make Movies
1986--1986
Record ID: 71568248
folder 116
Women's Yellow Pages
Record ID: 71568249
folder 117
Writings--miscellaneous
1985--1995
Record ID: 71568253
Subject files/Krasilovsky, Alexis
folder 118
Women Behind the Camera
1993--1993
Record ID: 71567589
folder 119
Women Behind the Camera
1993--1993
Record ID: 71568301
folder 120
Women Behind the Camera
1993--1993
Record ID: 71568302
folder 121
Writings--miscellaneous
Circa 1983--1994
Record ID: 71568307
folder 122
Advertising--invoices
1990--1995
Record ID: 71567591
folder 123
Banking
1983--1984
Record ID: 71568330
folder 124
Banking
1985--1987
Record ID: 71568331
folder 125
Banking
1987--1988
Record ID: 71568334
folder 126
Banking
1987--1988
Record ID: 71568333
folder 127
Banking
1989--1989
Record ID: 71568336
folder 128
Banking
1989--1991
Record ID: 71568359
folder 129
Banking
1989--1991
Record ID: 71568363
folder 130
Banking
1991--1991
Record ID: 71568364
folder 131
Banking
1992--1992
Record ID: 71568365
folder 132
Banking
1992--1993
Record ID: 71568366
folder 133
Banking
1994--1995
Record ID: 71568367
folder 134
Forms
Record ID: 71568381
folder 135
Petty cash reimbursement
1986--1986
Record ID: 71568382
folder 136
Petty cash reimbursement
1986--1987
Record ID: 71568383
folder 137
Petty cash reimbursement
1988--1989
Record ID: 71568384
folder 138
Petty cash reimbursement
1990--1995
Record ID: 71568385
folder 139
Taxes
1983--1987
Record ID: 71568388
folder 140
Taxes
1988--1989
Record ID: 71568391
folder 141
Taxes
1990--1994
Record ID: 71568398
folder 142
Taxes--miscellaneous
Record ID: 71568399
