BRUCE SPEAR

TO WHO IT MAY CONCERN:

I am pleased o be able to write about the visit of Martine Barrat and the presentation of her work at the Taft School late in February, 1980. The presentation involved an exhibit of 40 color prints, 14 b/w prints, biographical and review materials, and the screening of tapes. Five tapes were screened continuously for seven days.The monitor was located in a central foyer space outside of the dining room. The students (500) and faculty had to pass by the monitor at each meal. Viewing, therefore, was at the students convenience.We estimate that at least half of the students viewed at least an hour's worth of tapes, about 100 viewed them all. About 35 students studied the tapes in the context of their film or sociology classes.The students in my film class conducted interviews with their friends. They consistently reported that the majority of students responded positively. For many in this private boarding school, there was a genuine fascination for the open-ness and honesty of the interviewees from the other end of the socio-economic spectrum. A number were are of the difference in video-tape form in respect to traditional TV documentaries. For sure, the sheer novelty of this material in this environment helped to hold our students' attention. But more importantly, and hence the motivation for my strong recommendation of this material for high-school age groups, is the sense that Barrat's material is both easily accessible in form and significantly profound in content. On this, the Headmaster and all of the faculty I interviewed, agree. Finally Ms. Barrat visited Taft and met with students both formally in classes and informally. In all interactions she openly engaged the students' interests, led them through considerations of themselves as they spoke of their responses to the tapes, and otherwise promoted valuable discussion. In brief, the experience was of significant content, accessible form and well-received. If I may be of any further help in your considerations of Ms. Barrat and her work, please feel free to call me at 203-274-2516.