Film Preservation

Film preservation isn't something we think about much in this day of video tape and DVD's but for all of us who love film we must concern ourselves with this very important cause. It was just over a century ago that the film industry got going with what was then state of the art film based on nitrate stock. The nitrate negative was strong and made for clear images. Early filmmakers though it would last forever, but a scant fifty years later many of the early films had crumbled into dust and were lost forever. It is a sad fact that half of all films made before 1950 have gone into the trash barrel because of deterioration. A large part of the birth of film has passed into the realm of the fleeting untouchable image that existed before humans learned to capture light and shadow.

Many of they why's for saving old films are apparent, but some of the ones that don't rise to the surface as readily are just as important. This unique record of the development of a craft is not only captured in the work of many of the great masters of film but in the many documentaries and news reel films shot since film technology was developed. Perhaps the images of war are some of the most important captured on film. The horrifying images of war, once reserved to those fighting it, were brought home to everyone and helped influence political decisions. Part of the power of film is that we don't have to depend on anyone else's sight to tell us what is going on, we can see for ourselves and make our own decisions. The lesson in history captured on film must be preserved for all time.

Celluloid was the first important synthetic plastic. Made by treating cellulose nitrate with camphor and alcohol it yielded a stable film stock. Over time however the nitrate reacts with air to form nitrate acid which eats the film away and can spontaneously combust. Even many of the films shot after 1950 on newer stocks are fading with age. The colors on some of the most important films made are all fading to pink and the acetate stock is deteriorating to a point where it can no longer be run through a projector.

Taking the lead in film preservation are, The Film Foundation and American Movie Classics. The Film Foundation is lead by Martin Scorsese and nine other prominent directors. The Foundation works to encourage preservation projects between its member film archives and the film industry. American Movie Classic is holding it's annual film Preservation Festival now to raise awareness of the need for this important work. Links for AMC and the Film Foundation can be found in the links section on this page. Go to either web site or tune in AMC to find out how you can help in preserving film heritage.

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