John Luther Schofill, Jr.

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John Luther Schofill, Jr. (1941-), American film maker, professor of film, and lover of classical music.

Contents

[edit] Biography

John was born January 17, 1941 in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised on U.S. military reservations.

He graduated from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University with a degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1962[1] and was accepted at Berkeley for graduate studies. While at Berkeley Schofill became involved in independent experimental film. As early as 1968[2] John was running a weekly avant-garde film screening series on the Berkeley campus which allowed him to study hundreds of films. John was also a programmer at the Mendocino Art Center's Experimental Film Institute[3][4].

Schofill became an accomplished film maker and ultimately directed three films and assisted with several others while at Berkeley. In 1968 John's work brought him to the attention of Stan Brakhage. John completed his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering in 1969 and not long after graduation moved to Chicago to teach at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with Brakhage.

By 1974 he was an Assistant Professor at the institute[5]. That year he received a Guggenheim Fellowship which he applied to his study of the works of James Broughton, with whom he maintained a long correspondence until at least 1986[6]. Just as he had in Berkeley John arranged an avant-garde film screening series and it was here that he met a kindred spirit, Beth, who became his second wife. John taught film making at the Art Institute for 17 years.

John and Beth left Chicago in 1990 when she joined the U.S. Air Force and became a Mandarin Chinese linguist. John is now avidly studying classical music, of which he owns more than 10,000 CDs, and working on an encyclopedia of classical music while Beth follows her Air Force career. As of March 2004 they were stationed at Misawa Japan[7].

[edit] Works

[edit] Author

  • Thesis: Measurement Of The Kinetics Of Oxidation Of Molybdenum By Means Of The Reacting, Rotating Disk Technique (Nov 1969) [8].
  • Report: Investigation Of The Convective-diffusion Limited Oxidation Of Molybdenum By The Rotating Disk Method (Oct 1970) with D. R. Olander[9], Metallurgical Transactions, 1, (1970) 2775-2784[10].

[edit] Director - filmography

  • Die (1966) - 5 min (Won first prize at the 1968 University of Santa Clara Film Festival)[11]
  • Filmpiece for Sunshine (1966-1968) - 23 min[12]
  • XFilm (1966-1968) - 14 min[13]
  • Portrait of the Poet as James Broughton, Part One (1974-1980) - 40 min[14]

These are all available from the Canyon Cinema Cooperative.

[edit] Cinematographer - filmography

  • Black Panthers (1968) - 28 min[15]
  • Dreamwood (1972) - 45 min
  • Spurt of Blood[16] - 1 hr

[edit] Quotes

Regarding the film Turn, Turn, Turn: Absolutely stoned by the film. One of the most beautiful experiences of my film-watching consciousness.[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ SCHOFILL,JOHN,L McCormick Class of 1962: 40th Reunion
  2. ^ [1968, 22 Aug.]: [Schofill], John, Berkeley, Cal. To Mr. [James] Broughton, Mill Valley, Cal. Asks to rent his own print of "Looney Tom." Typed Card Signed. 1 p.; 10.2 cm. James Broughton Papers, Collection 1
  3. ^ 1969, 29 Jan.: [Schofill], John, Berkeley, Cal. To James [Broughton], Mill Valley, Cal. Thanks him for comments on X Film; would like to be programmer for Art Institute film series. Typed Card Signed. 1 p.; 10.2 cm James Broughton Papers, Collection 1
  4. ^ [1969, 25 June]: [Schofill], John, Medocino, Cal. To James [Broughton], Mill Valley, Cal. Plans a Boughton program for film series at Mendocino Art Center's Experimental Film Institute. Typed Card Signed. 1 p.; 10.2 cm. James Broughton Papers, Collection 1
  5. ^ Schofill, John Luther, Jr. Film Maker, Assistant Professor of Film Making, school of the Art Institute of Chicago: 1974. Directory of Fellows, 1925-1974: How to Remake Your Head So You Can Live with it by Tony Velie, Leonard Fusselman, page 349
  6. ^ Correspondence -- Schofill, John Luther (1970-March 1976) Correspondence -- Schofill, John Luther (April 1976-1986) James Broughton Papers, Collection 2
  7. ^ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0QUY/is_2004_March/ai_n6135083 70 IW NCOs STEP to next level Spokesman Magazine, March, 2004 by Marilyn Holliday
  8. ^ Accession Number : AD0176009 Title : MEASUREMENT OF THE KINETICS OF OXIDATION OF MOLYBDENUM BY MEANS OF THE REACTING, ROTATING DISK TECHNIQUE. Descriptive Note : THESIS, Corporate Author : CALIFORNIA UNIV BERKELEY LAWRENCE RADIATION LAB Personal Author(s) : SCHOFILL,J. L. , JR. Report Date : NOV 1969 Pagination or Media Count : 137 Measurement Of The Kinetics Of Oxidation Of Molybdenum By Means Of The Reacting, Rotating Disk Technique
  9. ^ Accession Number : AD0177109 Title : INVESTIGATION OF THE CONVECTIVE-DIFFUSION LIMITED OXIDATION OF MOLYBDENUM BY THE ROTATING DISK METHOD. Corporate Author : Personal Author(s) : OLANDER,D. R. ; SCHOFILL,J. L. , JR. ; ., Report Date : OCT 1970 Pagination or Media Count : 10Investigation Of The Convective-diffusion Limited Oxidation Of Molybdenum By The Rotating Disk Method
  10. ^ Oxidation and Volatilization of TZM Alloy in Air
  11. ^ Description of film Die by John Schofill
  12. ^ Description of film Filmpiece for Sunshine by John Schofill
  13. ^ Description of film XFilm by John Schofill
  14. ^ Description of film Portrait of the Poet as James Broughton, Part One by John Schofill
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ SPURT OF BLOOD: Performed in Berkley early `68, it lasted about an hour apparently, & included film sequences by John Schofill.UBU Films: Sydney underground movies, 1965-1970 by Peter Mudie, page 160.
  17. ^ "Absolutely stoned by the film. One of the most beautiful experiences of my film-watching consciousness." John SchofillTurn Turn Turn

[edit] External links