Black Film Center/Archive

Biographical Note

In 1981, Byllye Avery (b. 1937) founded the National Black Women's Health Project (NBWHP) in Atlanta, Georgia. As Director of this national and international health advocacy organization, one of Avery's projects was the production of the film in this collection, On Becoming a Woman: Mothers and Daughters Talking to Each Other (1987). The documentary film depicts two generations of African American women engaged in discussions about menstruation, sex, love, and communication.

In addition to her work at the NBWHP, Avery co-founded the Gainesville Women's Health Center and BIRTHPLACE, an alternative birthing center in Gainesville, Florida; wrote a preface for The New Our Bodies, Our Selves (1997); and advocated the Walking for Wellness Program, where women make a commitment to walk together twice a week. In 1989, Avery was named a MacArthur Fellow and in 1994, she received the Gustav O. Lienhard Award for the advancement of health care for her pioneering efforts to improve heath care for black and underserved women in the United States.

Scope and Content Note

The BFC/A Byllye Avery Collection contains the final print of On Becoming a Woman as well as audio and visual outtakes and work prints from the film. These materials were donated to the BFC/A by Byllye Avery, whose resume, biography, and photograph are included in this collection.

The items outlined in this guide are listed according to the titles that were on the containers received by the BFC/A. The following descriptions of each item include information present on the film stock as well as notes about content and running time when available.

This collection was catalogued by Aimee Hall, Graduate Assistant, Black Film Center/Archive, Indiana University.

Date of Deposit
August 1996

Inventory

CL96-9.1.1
12" reeled
Day #1 optical Sound Track (S/T)
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.1.2
12" reeled
Day #1 duplicate negative
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.1.3
12" reeled
Day #1 original negative A-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.1.4
12" reeled
Day #1 original negative B-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.1.5
12" reeled
Day #1 I/P
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.1.6
12" cored
SR-3-4 3-23-87/Outtakes Day 1 #29 container #23
outtakes and sound
-begins with "what is sex" - narration outtakes for Day 1
-descriptions of anatomy and fertilization process
-discussion/description of birth control methods and STDs
two takes of narration
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.2.1
12" reeled
Day 2
optical Sound Track (S/T)
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.2
12" reeled
Day 2 B-wind duplicate negative
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.3
12" reeled
Day 2 original negative A-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.4
12" reeled
Day 2 original negative B-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.5
12" reeled
Day 2 I/P
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.6
12" cored
Outtakes Day 2
color only
-small segment labeled: OTs Day 2 Bend Runds, 3-1-87, OTs 2nd night Cheryl Story, Natural Family Planning, OTs 2nd night
-Melba "Communication," kinds of Birth Control Pills, Melba
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.2.7
10" cored
TRK 1 SR-S Day 2 3/23/87
container #27
sound
edited version
-track #1 of mothers and daughters talking about what's good and bad about their relationships
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.1
12" reeled
Part #1 of Day #3
optical Sound Track (S/T)
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.2
12" reeled
Part 1 Day 3
duplicate negative
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.3
12" reeled
Part 1 Day 3
original negative A-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.4
12" reeled
Part 1 Day 3
Original negative B-roll
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.5
12" reeled
Part 1 Day 3
color and sound
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.6
12" reeled
Day 3 Part II
optical Sound Track (S/T)
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.7
12" reeled
Day 3 Part II
Duplicate negative
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.8
12" reeled
Day 3 Part II
original negative A-roll
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.9
12" reeled
Day 3 Part II
original negative B-roll
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.10
12" reeled
Day 3 Part II
I/P
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.11
10" cored
Shawn OT, Day 3 Pts 1&2
container #30
color
-"SHAWN outtakes"
-images of mothers and daughters talking about menstruation
-introductions
-"OUTTAKES 2nd night"
-18'00" "ROUGH EDIT"
-discussion of tampons, menstruation
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.13
12" cored
Day 3 Pt. 1 "Do Not Use Baaad Day 3"
color
-"1st try day 3"
-mothers and daughters sharing feelings about each other
-lots of tears
-talking bout what they like about themselves
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.14
7" cored
OUTTAKES (Day III Part 2 and other items)
color, outtakes, sound
-cartoon-like sounds and discussion of condoms (~5 sec.)
-graphics - inserting tampon, putting on condom, uterus
-mothers and daughters on couch
visual q: good
audio q: good

CL96-9.3.16
10" cored
OTs 3 day 2/26
color outtakes no sound
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.17
10" cored
Day 3 Part 2 - "Do Not USE Baaad Day 3"
color outtakes
-"1st try day 3"
-mothers and daughters sharing feelings about each other and the previous nights
-a whole lot of crying
-20 min. in: final credits with names and images of mothers and daughters
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.3.18
10" cored
(ECTS work print?) OTs 3rd Day 2/26
outtakes and sound
-sound from 3rd day conversation about fears, where they come from, and how they affect relationships with each other
-singing (group)
-talk about peer pressures, school, mothers' desires to protect their daughters
-story read out loud
(low sound level, high noise level)
visual q: unk
audio q: good to fair

CL96-9.3.19
10" cored
Day 3 parts 1&3 TRK 4
sound
edited version
-discussion of how daughters feel about themselves, encouraging all to recognize and share what they like about themselves
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.3.20
10" cored
Day 3 Part 1 Remix 5/25/87
container #21
sound
-sound from 3rd nights
-what mothers and daughters like about themselves
visual q: unk
audio q: good (some damage at head)

CL96-9.3.21
10" cored
Day 3 Part 2 Mix-Mag TRK 1
container #25
sound mix
-mothers and daughters talk about what's good and bad about their relationships and their communication skills
-19'30" list of other things to talk about, closing song
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.3.22
10" cored
Day III pt 2 mix
sound mix
edited version
-sharing feelings about the previous days
-final mix of day 3 part 2 including voice over about sex and decision making and contraceptives
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.4.1
10" cored
Roll 1&2 (sync) GYN clinic-image
container 20A
color, no sound, uncut footage
-15 year old visits GYN office for the first time discuss menstruation, breast and pelvic exams (four takes)
-extra shot of office 12'15"-14'55"
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.4.2
7" cored
#6 #8 #10 #11 #14 #15 #16 outtakes
color outtakes sound
#6 - 1st period sound
#8 - "important sound" - instructions to mothers about listening
#10 - images
#11 - images
#14 - "outtakes Day 2 Pills Hormones Pre-Cut Away" sound
#15 - "OT Day 1 3/21/87 Sonya/Cheryl"
#16 - images - group on couch
visual q: good
audio q: good

CL96-9.3
7" cored
#7 #9 #13 #5 #12 #3 #4 (A)
color outtakes sound
-bits of mother daughter conversation about 1st period
-#9 & #5 1-5 sec. shots of mothers with daughters
visual q: good
audio q: good

CL96-9.4
10" cored
1st & 2nd nights OTs - trim bend
color outtakes no sound
-talking about anatomy, reproduction, puberty
-talking about 1st periods
-Byllye talking about menstruation
-OT 2nd night - Cheryl - Biological New Fact
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.5
7" cored
OT Nudes
1997 Date Received
color outtakes
-outtakes of male nude, women in living room, female nude
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.6
12" cored
O.Y. 5.ND Pic Important Sound! Sc4-IUD-Pills-No Pills
outtakes sound
several short segments:
1) from Day 3 Part II - Contraceptives
2) Sc 4 "Ambiance-Melba Church" 2nd night
3) Sc 4 "8 reasons to say No"
4) Birth Control Conversation - "Byllye Avery Responsibility of B.C."
5) Sc 4 - "Melba Contraceptives No Pic"
6) Sc 4 - "B.C. Rhythm - Abstain"
7) Sc 4 - "Contraceptives No Pic" / End of Roll
8) Sc 4 - "Testimony - Daffeny No Sex" - mother/daughter discussion of B.C.
9) "male organs - wet dreams"
10) Sc 3 "PMS - No pic - B.A." / End of Roll
11) "Your Father Know - Period"
12) "Give Yourself A Hug - B.A." - Sc 3 Take 5
13) Sound Reel (SR) - 3/Scene 3 - on getting your period, charting
14) "Menst. 1st time - B.A." - story from Archie Bunker
15) Period - Body Temp - No Pic - O.T. - ovulation charting
16) "Charting - O.T. - No Pic"
17) SR-13 - "Sc5 - Lilly - O.T. No Pic"
18) Sc 5 "Elenor/Daffeny O.T."
19) Sc 5 "Ots - No Pic - Shawn"
20) "Room Tone - GYN clinic"
21) Sc 5 "Holley - Cheryl - No Pic"
22) Sc 5 "Lilly - Intro - No Pic"
23) Sc 5 "Lilly - Song 'The Greatest'"
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.7
10" cored
Active Ots Roll 1-12/wild sound days 1-3
outtakes sound and wild sound
-dialogue Day One - menstruation, sanitary products "Roll 8 NO PIC Sc 3 Pads, Tampons - Important!!"
-"Sc 5 (circle) Conclusion…sound distorted"
-"overlap to next roll"
-"Sc 5 Lilly and daughter - concl. OT"
-Part III Sc 5 Lilly and daughter Ots" talking about school and relationship and feelings
-"Sc 5 Part II Billy/Sharm OT" talking about leaving home/unclear sound
visual q: unk
audio q: good to fair

CL96-9.8
12" cored
sound effects (lab tape: 341/12 66 396 27225 107)
outtakes sound
misc. sound for effects including:
clothes rustling; various cartoons and TV show theme songs ("Love Boat," "Rawhide"); dialogue from movies, TV and cartoons; water sounds; "boiling water"; "we sponge"; "bodies coming together in intercourse"; "jelly on diaphragm"; "sperm trying to get through diaphragm"; "sperm trying to get through cervical cap"; "placing diaphragm"; "gushing jelly sounds"; "placing condom on penis"; Wild Track Byllye & Sonya; more TV/cartoon sounds; "orgasm zip sounds"; windchimes; projector sound; dialogue from "The Young and the Restless"
Roll ends at 30 minutes
visual q: unk
audio q: good to fair

CL96-9.9
10" cored
BWHP 3 #26
sound one track
-daughter talking about being away from home
-daughters talking about what they feel/like about their mothers
-Day 3(?)
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.10
10" cored
Wild Sound
sound
-"Tape #3" - interview with Byllye and Sonya about developing the workshop (difficult to hear everything)
-scripted, several takes of each dialogue line
-stories about themselves
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.11
10" cored
TK 2 "Becoming a Woman"
sound edited version
container #2
-(sound) track 2 day 3(?) mothers and daughters talking openly about fears, hopes, and feelings
-emotional conversation about resentments and anger
(sound level seems too low at times - difficult to hear)
visual q: unk
audio q: good to fair

CL96-9.12
10" cored
BWHP 5
container #22
sound
-starts with "scene 4 take 10" - is there anything else you'd like to share?
-end of conversation about pressures to have sex for teenagers
-end of 2nd night
-at 9'25" "scene 5 take 1" - 3rd night sound, mothers and daughters talk about how to keep communication lines open
-talking about fears
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.13
10" cored
TK 3 (from Box #1 - white)
sound edited version
-track #3 of mothers and daughters talking about what their fears are and about what their strengths are
day 2 (?)
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.14
10" cored
Roll 1 & 2 (sync) GYN clinic - sound
container #20B
sound
-15 year old talks to GYN for the first time about menstruation, breast exams, pelvic exams
(four takes)
visual q: unk
audio q: good

CL96-9.15
10" cored
Ots 3 Day
color outtakes
(goes with Ots 3 Day 2-26 OT 3 Day)
-talking, singing outtakes
-discussion of birth control (some of the images are reversed)
-also Ots 2 Day Beg Part/@ 29'35"
visual q: good
audio q: unk

CL96-9.16
12" reeled
MOS #17
soundtrack reel to reel
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.17.1
15" reeled
R 22-23-24 HDS NBWHP
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.17.2
15" reeled
R-1 & 2 - 12-16-86
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.18.1
15" reeled
28, 29, 30 8-16-85
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.18.2
15" reeled
Day #3 Part II (?)
super scenes for IP/Dupe Neg
Title roll to come later
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.19.1
7" cored
Misc. container #1
TAIL Super Title Roll A-wind Hi-con 4-28-87
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.19.2
7" cored
Misc. container #1
IP - 4-27-87 TLS
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.19.3
7" cored
Misc. container #1
TAIL A-ROLL ORIG. NEG.
SUPER SCENES FOR IP/DUPE NEG.
Day 3 Part II
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.19.4
7" cored
Misc. container #1
TAIL B-ROLL ORIG. NEG.
SUPER SCENES FOR IP/DUPE NEG.
DAY 3 PART II
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.20.1
7" cored
Misc. container #2
TAIL R 1&2 ORIG NEG.
(stickers on film top)
I/C 143 7826-7949
I/C 143 7660-7816
I/C 143 animation 7959 Reshoot - 8015
40) C/Z 701 0151-0418
41) C/Z 701 0428-0591 animation
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.20.2
7" cored
Misc. container #2
CINETRON - NBW HEALTH 4300 4-29-87 TCS
(stickers on top of core:) A-wind supers-Hi-con and B-wind Neg. Crawl Title
-OUTS FREEZE FRAMES
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.20.3
7" cored
Misc. container #2
NO I.D.
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.20.4
7" cored
Misc. container #2
NO I.D.
visual q: unk
audio q: unk

CL96-9.21
12" cored
NO I.D.
visual q: unk
audio q: unk