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The Black Film Center/Archive
S. Torriano Berry Collection

Biographical Note

Named after the character played by Jack Palance in Arrowhead (1953), Steven Torriano Berry was born on January 3, 1958 in Kansas City, KS.

An accomplished scholar and an award-winning filmmaker, Berry graduated with an M.F.A. from UCLA film school in 1985 and currently is an associate professor at Howard University's Department of Radio, Television and Film. He has directed a number of film and video shorts, including Monologue (1984), Deathly Realities (1985), Money'll Eat You Up (1992), and Euphrates Sun (1993). Berry's first feature-length film, Embalmer (1996), which he also edited as a short film, was a finalist in Showtime's Black Filmmaker's Showcase. Berry created and executive produced the Black Independent Showcase, a television series that featured independent and student film projects; The Black Beyond, an anthology series of horror shorts; Black Visions Silver Screen, a showcase for Howard University student filmmakers; and the half hour television movies The Light and When It's Your Turn.

Berry is co-author of the cinema book The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African American Talent (2001), and he has written two novels, Tears (1991) and The Honeyman's Son (2002).

Scope and Content Note

The collection is arranged into two series: Films and Books. The Films series contains films made by S. Torriano Berry in 16mm, Betacam, and VHS format. The Books series contains one book co-written by Mr. Berry with his sister, Venise T. Berry.

RT = Running Time; TRT = Total Running Time.

Date of Deposit
6 June 2005

Inventory List:

Series: Films

Film Number Description
STB01 - SMDR1982.9 Rich - 16mm, b/w, 1982, RT 20:00
STB02 - BTVA19ND.1

Film & Video Works of S. Torriano Berry- BetacamSP, TRT 1:12:00
1. “Euphrates Awakening”, RT 2:00
2. “Euphrates Sun”, RT 4:30
3. “Can’t Let Love” Music Video, RT 5:00
4. “Money’ll Eat You Up”, RT 23:40
5. “Know Cologne”, RT :30
6. “Day of the Crow’s Call”, RT 5:00
7. “Cab Calloway [?]”, RT :50
8. “Africa in the Holy Land”, RT 28:20
9. “The Proverbial Angel”, RT 7:00
10. “Sucre Amer”, RT 4:00
11. “I’m Sorry” AIDS Public Service Announcement, RT :30
12. “Bugged Trailer”, RT 1:30
13. “Embalmer Trailer”, RT 5:00
STB03 - BTVA19ND.2 The Black Beyond Trilogy - BetacamSP, TRT 1:12:55
1. “Deathly Realities”
2. “The Coming of the Saturnites”
3. “The Connection”
4. “Money’ll Eat You Up!!!”
STB04 - BTVA19ND.3 Selected Film & Video Works of S. Torriano Berry - BetacamSP, TRT 1:01:45
1. “Africa in the Holy Land”, RT 25:00
2. “The Light”, RT 22:45
3. “Day of the Crow’s Call”, RT 5:00
4. “Sucre Amer” (editor), RT 4:00
5. “Embalmer Promo”, RT 5:00
STB05 - BTMV19ND.1 Four Women of Genesis - BetacamSP, b/w, RT 5:00
A music video by S. Torriano Berry. This is a visual interpretation inspired by the Nina Simone song “Four Women.” Dance, B&W still photography, and dramatic reenactments reconstruct contemporary versions of four women from the Book of Genesis in the Bible.
STB06 - BTDY2003.1 This Is My Beloved: A photo essay on man’s inhumanity to man - BetacamSP, RT 2:45
STB07 - BTDR1988.1 The Light (b/w dub) - BetacamSP, b/w, RT 24:30
STB08 - VHDR2002.1 James and Eloyce Gist’s “Hellbound Train!” (Resurrected) - VHS, RT: 50:00 / Edit & original music by S. Torriano Berry.
STB09 - VHVA19ND.1 This is My Beloved: A photo essay on man’s inhumanity to man - VHS, RT 2:45
Also includes: Triangulations, RT: 6:10; 4 Women of Genesis, RT: 5:00 (TRT 14:00).
STB10 - VHMS2000.1 Women, Weight, & Wellness: Challenging the Myths - VHS, RT 30:00
A presentation based on “All of Me: A Voluptuous Tale,” a novel by Venise Berry.
STB11 - VHTS1989.2 Berger & Fry’s - VHS, RT 29:30
Sit-com pilot; re-cut master, 1/31/90; producer/director: S. Torriano Berry; Torriano Film Productions.
STB12 - VHHR1996.1 Embalmer (short version) - VHS, RT 29:30
STB13 - VHHR1996.2 Embalmer - VHS, RT 87:30
A horror flick by STB.
STB14 - VHTS1991.1 Black Independent Showcase (Show #6) - VHS, RT 29:00
Includes: “Rich”, RT 20:00, “Day of the Crow’s Call”, RT 5:00

Series: Books

The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African-American Talent, Determination, and Creativity - by S. Torriano Berry with Venise T. Berry. New York: Citadel Press, 2001. Signed by both authors.

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