Judge Denies USC Student’s Request to Block Screening

Federal judge Irving Hill denied a USC film student’s request that the court immediately block screenings of “The Long Walk Home,” a short film produced by the university’s School of Cinema-Television.

The denial clears the way for a planned screening of the award-winning short film at the Four Star Theatre as part of a program that begins at 1:30 p.m. today.

John Cork, a 26-year-old senior at the school, earlier this week filed a $1-million lawsuit against USC and others, contending that the university unfairly assigned another student to direct the film, which originated with a screenplay written by Cork. The suit is still pending.

“We believe there’s no valid claim in the matter,” said USC general counsel William P. Hogoboom, who represents both the university and Beverlyn Fray, the film’s director. Hogoboom added that Fray had “certainly done nothing wrong. She was given a directing assignment, and she prepared it according to established procedures.” An attorney for Cork couldn’t be reached.

The film, which depicts an incident connected with the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott in 1955, was awarded first prize in an annual student film competition sponsored by the Black American Cinema Society.