Reports
The following web links displayed below point to free online informational resources that deal with preservation issues, technology and practical advice from various articles, guides and reports.
Most links in this section of the American Film Archive's website point to documents and sites which are not located within the AmericanFilmArchive.org internet domain and, therefore, are not managed or controlled by American Film Archive. These links are included to point the reader to other possibly relevant resources on moving image preservation. A link to a document or site does not imply that American Film Archive endorses the organization or person providing them or agrees with the ideas expressed, or attests to the correctness, factuality, appropriateness, or legality of the contents. These web links are made available for educational purposes only, as well as to give general information and a general understanding of various issues, services and information about moving image preservation.
Producers Library Service
When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1993, I happened to visit a stock footage company named Producers Library Service. This archival stock footage company was owned by Jeff Goodman, and had their offices located in the heart of Hollywood (now they are located in North Hollywood). Jeff’s company has represented my cinematographic work for almost 30 years. Other companies have come and gone, but Producers Library has weathered the ups and downs of various business cycles, in part, by having a dedicated owner who does not quit. Producers Library was started in 1957 and Jeff took the helm in 1986 and has run it ever since. I really value long-term business relationships, which are rather hard to find in the film business. Kudos to Jeff and his small team for creating and maintaining a real Hollywood institution.
Craig McCourry
May 8, 2020
URL link :
http://producerslibrary.com/
MovieStuff (film scanners)
In 2014 I was in need of a movie film scanner. Most systems available at that time were out of my price range, but I did come across a company in Utopia, Texas that manufactured their own machines at a reasonable price. I purchased two units, one for 8mm and the other for 16mm films. Both scanners worked beautifully which I used to digitise over 1,000 reels of movie film. Over the years, the company’s owner, Roger Evans has continually innovated these frame-by-frame movie scanners so that his current models can handle multiple film formats. The company is named MovieStuff and more information on these amazing film scanners can be found at their website.
~ Craig McCourry
URL link :
http://www.moviestuff.tv/
Home Movies Preservation Guide
Simple guidelines for the preservation of motion picture film material.
URL link :
http://www.filmforever.org/
IPI Storage Guide for Acetate Film
The IPI Storage Guide for Acetate Film provides an overview of environmental specifications for film storage. It explains the relationship between temperature, relative humidity (RH), and “vinegar syndrome,” the slow chemical decomposition of acetate plastics leading to loss of their value in a film collection.
URL link :
http://goo.gl/U4mOyx
Born‐Digital Video Preservation: A Final Report
Report focuses on issues about he preservation of digital video files and formats.
URL link :
http://siarchives.si.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/bornDigitalVideoPreservat
Media Best Practices
This report deals with best practices for the digital conversion of film, video and audio files.
URL link :
http://www.library.yale.edu/dpip/bestpractices/MediaBestPractices.doc
The Film Preservation Guide
An extensive multi-chapter film preservation guide provided by the National Film Preservation Foundation.
URL link :
http://www.filmpreservation.org/preservation-basics/the-film-preservation-g
Film Preservation: A Critical Symposium
An article by Janice Allen and Bill Brand on the various issues about film and video preservation from a symposum hosted by Cineaste.
URL link :
http://cineaste.com/articles/film-preservation-a-critical-symposium
Digital Moving Images and Sound Archiving Study
In-depth report on video and film preservation issues.
URL link :
http://goo.gl/Ld5Cy
Preserving Motion Pictures and Sound
A report by Richard Wright who was formerly a technology manager at the BBC archives provides an in-depth article on the preservation of film & video.
URL link :
http://goo.gl/8VRRH
