During the next nine months, there was a prolonged shake-up in the organizational structure at 20th Century Fox. It ultimately meant that the Photo Archive would be moved from the Feature Film Finance area (which had made no sense whatsoever), to the Studio Operations area, which had responsibility for our preservation vaults. There was talk about combining the archival/library areas at the studio: film preservation, still photo archive, props and poster archive, and possibly the research library. Many different structures were discussed, but this was all happening at levels above me and was opaque, if not invisible. We certainly had no input to speak of. I was nervous, and felt particularly protective toward the photo collection. I did not, however, fear for my job. Foolish me.

In fact, I had been told specifically by Simon Bax and Gene Straub that my job was safe, despite the restructuring. I was reassured by the vice-president level executive approbation. I dared to feel valuable. When the moves were made, and the new executives took their places above me, I met with my new supervisor. I remember her as no-nonsense. She was unfamiliar with the archive world, and its issues, so I was dispatched to write memos.

I don't know how many I wrote. It seemed like I used reams of paper, and created many megabytes of email to her. The most horrifying moment came when I was asked to write a job description for my position. What did the Director of the Photo Archive do? I freaked out.

Below, or probably above, as you read this, is the extensive memo that I created. Would you call this a manic gesture? I don't know. In retrospect, I think I knew something was up. My job was being reviewed. Or demeaned? Belittled? Challenged? What was going on?