Film Archive Chief Retiring After 23 Years

Harvard Film Archive Curator and Senior Lecturer on Visual and Environmental Studies Vlada K. Petric will retire at the end of the semester after 23 years at the University.

Petric, one of the founders of the Film Archive, said yesterday that, after 15 years there, his job was "physically impossible" and he needed a break from the 13-hour days he usually works at the Archive.

"I'm here every day from 11 a.m. until midnight...I haven't had time to finish writing my books or take a vacation," Petric said.

The 66-year-old senior lecturer is teaching a VES course titled "Oneiric Cinema" this semester in addition to presiding over the Archive, which shows almost 300 movies a year at the Carpenter Center.

Petric, the Archive's first curator, said he had suggested to the VES Department that they split his position, which would allow him to maintain his role as curator while giving up his teaching responsibilities.

But then-chair of the VES Department Alfred F. Guzzetti told Petric that, for financial reasons, they would be unable to hire another professor to replace him.

"I wanted to be curator and have them hire another professor," Petric said. "But that means two salaries and they did not want to pay for it."

Petric said that Guzzetti asked him in December of 1993 if he would stay another year, and Petric agreed to do so. Current VES chair Christopher D. Killip repeated the offer this year, but Petric had decided that it was time to retire.

Petric said he became burned-out having to care for the Archive's collection of 3,000 35 mm prints of classic movies.

He added that after the Archive acquired its new collection six months ago, the "load of work increased tremendously."

"All the movies have to be viewed to check to see what parts, if any, are missing from the movie. I also have todetermine the quality of each print, "Petric said."If you multiply 3,000 movies times each beingthree hours, that will probably take watchingfilms every afternoon and night for two years."

Petric said he has enjoyed his tenure at theArchive and is amazed at how much it has it grownsince it was opened 15 years ago.

"People come here from other cities to see themovies, because they are so rare. You can'tbelieve how people react to some of these classicfilms we show," Petric said. "It is a totallydifferent experience seeing something on the bigscreen, instead of on some miserable videoprojection."

"We are now one of the three greatest filmarchives in the country," he said.

Members of the VES Department lauded Petric'swork both as teacher and as Archive curator.

"Vlada made the archive a place that is one ofthe most important film viewing places," HeadTutor in the VES Department Robb Moss said. "Hedid it because he loves films and he loves to havepeople see films."

At the urging of Dean of Continuing Educationand University Extension School Michael Shinagel,Petric will continue to teach his summer schoolcourse titled "Masterpieces of the World'sCinema."

After the summer course is over, Petric willspend his time in New York and Paris finishingthree books about cinematic history.

Petric will give a "closing presentation"tonight after the screening of three of his filmsat the Archive.

Petric's successor will be announced after thecompletion of a search which Mopp said is being"taken very seriously."

"[Petric] is like a founding member, he createdthe archive and it is a very difficult position tobe filled," Mopp said.

Petric agrees that his post is a challengingone. His advice to his successor, he said, is to"install immediately a sleeping couch in his orher office."PhotoJack Lueders-BoothVLADA K. PETRIC

Petric said he has enjoyed his tenure at theArchive and is amazed at how much it has it grownsince it was opened 15 years ago.

"People come here from other cities to see themovies, because they are so rare. You can'tbelieve how people react to some of these classicfilms we show," Petric said. "It is a totallydifferent experience seeing something on the bigscreen, instead of on some miserable videoprojection."

"We are now one of the three greatest filmarchives in the country," he said.

Members of the VES Department lauded Petric'swork both as teacher and as Archive curator.

"Vlada made the archive a place that is one ofthe most important film viewing places," HeadTutor in the VES Department Robb Moss said. "Hedid it because he loves films and he loves to havepeople see films."

At the urging of Dean of Continuing Educationand University Extension School Michael Shinagel,Petric will continue to teach his summer schoolcourse titled "Masterpieces of the World'sCinema."

After the summer course is over, Petric willspend his time in New York and Paris finishingthree books about cinematic history.

Petric will give a "closing presentation"tonight after the screening of three of his filmsat the Archive.

Petric's successor will be announced after thecompletion of a search which Mopp said is being"taken very seriously."

"[Petric] is like a founding member, he createdthe archive and it is a very difficult position tobe filled," Mopp said.

Petric agrees that his post is a challengingone. His advice to his successor, he said, is to"install immediately a sleeping couch in his orher office."PhotoJack Lueders-BoothVLADA K. PETRIC