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UPDATED-->2009 Conference details
ROD SERLING @ ITHACA COLLEGE
Picture,
if you will, a place where communication students can study the creative
work of one of the most prolific writers in television history –
not from textbooks – but from the actual scripts he crafted.
In the Rod
Serling Archives at Ithaca
College can be found one the most unique and complete collections
of work by a writer whose name is synonymous with the "golden
age of television." It’s the material from which Emmy-award
winning programs are made -- like Patterns... Requiem for a Heavyweight...
and The Comedian and the series that gave birth to the modern "TV
marathon" – The Twilight Zone.
Rod Serling taught at the Ithaca College Communications School from 1967 to 1975.
Why Ithaca College? Just 50 miles south is
Serling's hometown (Binghamton), and much closer is the family cottage
on Cayuga Lake where in an airstream trailer behind the main house
- some of the most memorable scripts in television history were crafted.
Then, there is the fact that in the early 1970's, writer became teacher
- and shared his creative genius with students at the College... and
that after his death in 1975 Carol Serling (a longtime Ithaca College
Board member) decided her husband's work needed a permanent home where
it could be preserved and shared.
Save the date:
Friday October 2 - Saturday October 3, 2009
We thank everyone who presented or attended the 2008 Rod Serling Conference at Ithaca College. Here are some samples of press reports and other media that resulted from the conference.
AUDIO
NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, March 30, 2008: The creator of the television series The Twilight Zone often battled with the networks over the content of his scripts. Noon on Doomsday inspired by Emmett Till's story, was considered too hot for TV in the 50's. It was performed for the first time Saturday night at the "Rod Serling Conference" at Ithaca College.
Family Life Network, W 3/26 at 12:20 pm and 7:30 pm: Rod Serling, one of television's best known writers, considered central New York State his home. Ithaca College will celebrate the work of this favorite son and the man behind "The Twilight Zone" with a conference March 28 and 29 at the college where he lectured on creative writing from 1967 until his death in 1975. Join Martha Manikas-Foster in this "Neighborhoods in the Network" feature report to learn more this writer, producer, teacher, and winner of more Emmy Awards for dramatic writing than anyone in history.
WHCU, 870 AM, T 3/25 at 8:45 am and repeated F 3/28: "Morning Newswatch" host Dave Vieser speaks with Gordon Webb about highlights of the upcoming "Rod Serling Conference" at Ithaca College.
PRINT
Syracuse Post Standard: 3/28/08
Ithaca Journal Editorial: 3/27/08
CNN: 3/27/08
AP: 3/26/08
LEGACY FILES
Scriptwriting Competition Winners
Download FINAL Schedule (pdf)
List of events open to the public (pdf)
Press Release
ITHACA COLLEGE CONFERENCE TO HONOR TELEVISION WRITER ROD SERLING The Park School of Communications at Ithaca College will sponsor a two-day conference honoring one of television’s best-known writers. THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ROD SERLING will be held on campus March 28- 29, and will feature presentation of academic papers as well as panel discussions, screenings and results of a nationwide Rod Serling scriptwriting competition.
Following the success of a similar event in 2006, this year’s conference is expected to draw writers, researchers and Serling enthusiasts from around the country. The creator of the ground- breaking series “Twilight Zone” lectured on creative writing at Ithaca College, and several of this year’s conference sessions will examine Serling’s role as a teacher -- featuring some of his colleagues and students from the early 1970’s.
Topics for other sessions include: the writer’s earliest work as a struggling writer in Cincinnati, Ohio; Serling’s critically-acclaimed screenplay for “Seven Days in May” as a prophetic exploration of the roles of the U.S. military and the legislative branches of government in times of political stress; his frustrating attempts to dramatize the murder of Emmett Till -- an experience that would sharpen his views on sponsor censorship and network interference; the “twilight zone” as a philosophical concept; “The Rod Serling Archive” at Ithaca College -- one of the largest collections of the author’s creative work; and, a multimedia presentation which combines “Twilight Zone” dialog, familiar soundtrack music, and images from the series to explore the show’s influence on American pop culture.
In addition, a popular event from the 2006 conference will, like the series itself, have a “rerun.” During a live “Twilight Zone Marathon” episodes from the original series, which aired on the CBS television network from 1959 to 1963, will be shown –- including introductions and analysis of each script’s themes.
The two-day conference will conclude with a table read of Serling’s script “Noon on Doomsday.” In cooperation with Ithaca’s Department of Theater Arts, this never-before-produced work will be brought to life in a fitting tribute to THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ROD SERLING.
Download this press release as pdf
The 2006 Conference
Our previous conference (visit page) focused on the Creative Work of Rod Serling. The conference is an academic conference, where people who study the work get together to share research, anedcotes, and information. Several panels and speakers participated. Of note was our Keynote Presenter Marc Scott Zicree, author of "The Twilight Zone Companion".
Also of note was participation in panel discussions by special guest Carol Serling.