MoMA's race to preserve classic films' sights and sounds

[@susan8282]

My dream job. VERY interesting piece, bravo.

[@cynthiah2879]

Important work - so glad there are people doing this.

[@debralevine1098]

Wonderful that CBS put a spotlight on MoMA's assidulous behind-the-scenes effort to preserve American film.

[@richraskin51]

I was doing film preservation in the 1970s taking 35mm disintegrating flammable nitrate film negatives to safety film positive through very old Bell and Howell printing machines. Many times the shrinkage of the negatives would not go through the machines but we did a ton of work for the MOMA and others like "Big Fights" Jim Jacobs films he bought from Madison Square Garden of old boxing matches. I did not think it was a big deal then but now I do.

[@loubuninalice]

Wonderful work that MOMA is doing!

[@Supersmallchibiwolf]

I hope every movie creator and company gives more attention to helping preserve these classic movies. I think It would help even more. Cool video. ^_^

[@meljenkins1016]

I've purchased a 16mm projector and a Regular 8/Super 8 projector and did my own movie film to digital conversion using a 4k digital movie cam recording directly into the projectors film gate to get the best quality recording. Then using computer software to restore quality to the best I can do. If the films themselves were stored in a cold location, chances are they will be as good of a quality since the day they were shot and that's what makes it easier for me to do less restoration processing. Like the guy says, "it ain't cheap", since the equipment they use to convert aren't exactly cheap either.

[@CranberryCreekProduction]

3:46 - 4:00 What he said about the future of film projectors (35mm) really makes me nervous. The replacement of film projectors in some theaters isn't right, its like the abandoment of our movie harritage. I feel that we need a new generation of film projectors (35mm, 70mm and Imax 70mm). See movies on this glorious film format is a whole different experience as oppose to digital projection. I'm just saying.

[@Jorge_Ambruster]

I think there's a way. Take into account how old this video is. Nowadays, you could see them 3D printing a single part when needed.

[@sgtpepper1138]

I think he was laying it on a little thick about the projectors. Parts can be fabricated if need be, or, like Jorge said, 3D printed. Heck, the Mahoning Drive-In is still using the same projectors that were installed in the 40s. There's a great documentary about it called At The Drive-in that's streaming free on a few apps like Roku and PlutoTv.

[@vinylcity1599]

hope they do the same for music, and audio

[@TeriLynn923]

But how is it "the seriousness hasn't really settled in" when I was seeing clips similar to this on AMC back in the mid to late 80's? In between movies, AMC would show these 10 minute clips all about film preservation and how serious it was because we've already lost movies that will never be seen again. (I believe it was Nick Clooney that presented the clips.) One reason is because of sheer age of the films and deteriorating over time because they aren't stored properly. Some have been stored away in a box and forgotten about. Some of the films will catch on fire due to a chemical reaction. In these 10 minute clips they would open up a film can and the film would have this stuff on top of it that looked like battery acid. It had to do with the chemicals in the film and how they erode over time. Silver nitrate? I'm not sure if that's correct. Anyway, they were talking about how dire this situation is way back then. In 1997 the National Film Preservation Foundation was started.

[@rictrexell2118]

If you digitalize the film, it will probably only last 20-30 years. Because projectors might not be around, the blueprints for the existing projectors should be made so that they can be made from scratch years from now.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

have you noticed they are promoting popular classics?

[@CarloRufinoSabusap]

And yet, not wearing gloves at the beginning