Collections

Other Projects and Scripts (6 linear feet) consists of material sent to Robert Altman for consideration as potential film projects. Frequently, Wren Arthur, Altman's assistant, would read and critique these materials, and serve as the contact person for the individual submissions. The material is generally from 1989 to 2003, and arranged by author's last name. Where possible, a submission date is noted.

Other Projects and Scripts (6 linear feet) consists of materail sent to Robert Altman for consideration as potential film projects. Notably, the series includes scripts by Elmore Leonard, Kurt Vonnegut, Tim Burton, Donald Freed, and Anne Rapp. Frequently, Wren Arthur, Altman's assistant, would read and critique these materials, and serve as the contact person for the individual submissions. The material is generally from 1989 to 2003, and arranged by author's last name. Where possible, date is noted. Occasionally, a cover letter was included with script submissions. Many of these projects were never produced, by Altman or any other filmmaker.

In addition, the series includes correspondence, treatments, and other documents from various scripts and projects that were sent to Robert Altman and rejected as potential projects. Much of the material consists of script cover letters sent to Altman with the accompanying return correspondence written by one of Altman's staff. These "passed projects" are arranged alphabetically by the script writer's last name where possible. Among them include script submissions from Carrie Fisher, Billy Baldwin, Paul Newman, Joan Tewkesbury, Linda Yellen, and Stanley Tucci. In addition, Altman was asked to consider such projects as Thank You for Smoking, Benjamin Button, Michael, and The Killer Inside Me.

Also included are various script treatments organized alphabetically by script writer. These treatments, or script coverages, were generally written by one of Altman's employees and included a summary of the script as well as a recommendation to pass or consider the project. The materials under the "possible projects" heading contain those projects that were considered by Altman in some capacity and often contain extended correspondence.

The materials contained under the description "Open-Directing Projects" are printouts sent to Altman by Addis Weschler & Associates describing films in various stages of production that are in need of a director.

Forms part of the Robert Altman Archive. Includes materials related to The Company, Dr. T and the Women, Gosford Park, A Prairie Home Companion, Resurrection Blues, Roads and Bridges, Tanner on Tanner, andTrixie . Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

Projects 2000s forms part Robert Altman Archive. It includes materials related to The Company, Dr. T and the Women, Gosford Park, A Prairie Home Companion, Resurrection Blues, Roads and Bridges, Tanner on Tanner, andTrixie . Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

Forms part of Robert Altman Archive. Includes materials for films The Afterglow, Black and Blue, Cookie's Fortune, The Gingerbread Man, Gun, Kansas City, McTeague, Mrs, Parker and the Vicious Circle, The Player, Pret-a-Porter, and Robert Altman's Jazz '34: Remembrances of Kansas City Swing,. Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

Forms part of the Robert Altman Archive. The Commercials series (1 linear foot) includes materials from Robert Altman's commercial production company, Villains. These materials consist of scripts, storyboards, correspondence, and production notebooks.

Commercials, 1984, 2001-2005 forms part of the Robert Altman Archive. The Commercials series (1 linear foot) includes materials from Robert Altman's commercial production company, Villains. These materials consist of scripts, storyboards, correspondence, and production notebooks.

Forms part of Robert Altman Archive. Includes materials related to films Aria, Basements, Beyond Therapy, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Fool for Love, HealtH, Images, Laundromat, O.C, and Stiggs, Popeye, Rake's Progress, Secret Honor, Streamers, Tanner '88, Two by South, Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

Forms part of the Robert Altman Archive. Includes materials related to films Aria, Basements, Beyond Therapy, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial, Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, Fool for Love, HealtH, Images, Laundromat, O.C, and Stiggs, Popeye, Rake's Progress, Secret Honor, Streamers, Tanner '88, Two by South, Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

Forms part of the Robert Altman Archive. Includes materials related to films Brewster McCloud, Buffalo Bill and the Indians or Chief Sitting Bull's History Lesson, The California Split, Images, The Late Show, The Long Goodbye, Mash, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Nashville, A Perfect Couple, The Quintet, Remember My Name, Rich Kids, Thieves Like Us, 3 Women, A Wedding, and Welcome to L.A.. Records include scripts, legal files, publicity materials, photographs and correspondence.

The Jonathan Demme Papers consist of materials related to Demme's extensive filmography from 1970-2008, including "The Silence of the Lambs". Materials are arranged chronologically by project, and cover most aspects of pre- and post-production, as well as publicity and related awards. As of November 2023, only the "Silence of the Lambs" series has been processed and made available. Additional series will be completed at a later date.

The Jonathan Demme Papers consists of approximately 150 linear feet of materials from 1970-2000. Materials include correspondence, legal and business documents, and photographs, as well as extensive documentation of film production, including pre- and post-production phases. In some cases, awards and publicity materials are also included.

The "Silence of the Lambs" series consists of approximately 13 linear feet. The material follows the project through the phases of production, and includes many drafts of the final script and novel adaptation, as well as extensive pre-production and location scouting information.

As of November 2023, only the "Silence of the Lambs" series has been processed and made available to researchers.

Forms part of Robert Altman Archive. Includes Business and Financial records and a Chronological series (30 linear feet) that includes daily logs and correspondence for many of Robert Altman's production companies.

The Business and Financial series (68 linear feet) are business records that range from payroll, paid bills, general ledgers, insurance, banking transactions, residuals and other financial documents. There are two sub-series beginning with the Personal sub-series, and ending with the Accounting and General Business sub-series both organized chronologically. The documents range in date from 1969-2007.

The Legal series (7.5 linear feet) are legal documents with the majority of documents originating from three law firms, Lane & Mittendorf, and Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, and Frankfort, Garbus, Klein & Selz all of which represented Robert Altman personally and professionally from 1969-2005. The series largely consists of business and financial documents. The series includes personal, business and financial, real estate and expandable file folders from Jerome Walsh's law office. The majority of files were created by Robert Altman's lawyer Jerome Walsh.

The Chronological series (30 linear feet) includes daily logs and correspondence for many of Robert Altman's production companies. Materials consist of daily logs, desk calendars, daily planners and correspondence consisting of incoming and outgoing faxes created during production of several of his films.

Forms part of the Robert Altman Archives. The Countdown series (.25 linear feet) consists of materials from the 1968 film directed by Robert Altman. The series includes a script, articles and reviews, photographs, contact sheets, negatives and transparencies That Cold Day in the Park series (.5 linear feet and 1 oversized box) consists of materials from the 1969 film directed by Robert Altman. The series includes legal materials, a script, publicity and distribution files, articles and reviews, on-the-set photographs, contact sheets, negatives and slides.

The Countdown series (.25 linear feet) consists of materials from the 1968 film directed by Robert Altman. The series includes a script, articles and reviews, photographs, contact sheets, negatives and transparencies. That Cold Day in the Park series (.5 linear feet and 1 oversized box) consists of materials from the 1969 film directed by Robert Altman. The series includes legal materials, a script, publicity and distribution files, articles and reviews, on-the-set photographs, contact sheets, negatives and slides.

The Ira Deutchman Papers represent the creator's ongoing career in the film industry, including his personal interests, teaching, and work as a production company executive for Cinecom and Fine Line Features as well as work with directors John Sayles, Alan Rudolph, and Robert Altman. The collection includes extensive catalogs and programs from film conferences and festivals around the world.

The Ira Deutchman Papers were donated to the University of Michigan Special Collections Library Screen Arts Mavericks and Makers Collection in 2015. The collection encompasses Ira Deutchman's 40 year career in independent film making as a producer, production company executive, and educator.

The Ira Deutchman Papers are arranged into sixteen series: Personal, Production Companies, Film and Project Files, Film Organizations, Film Miscellaneous, Film Scripts, Film Conferences and Seminars, Film Festivals, Books, Film Catalogs, Theatre, Artifacts/Memorabilia Oversized, Audio and Moving Image, Digital Media, and Posters