GOALS: 

This class will give students practical experience with the process of film preservation including understanding and recognizing film elements, making inspection reports, repairing film, making preservation plans, understanding laboratory processes and procedures for making new film preservation elements, and writing preservation histories.  The course will teach students how to work with vendors, increase knowledge of archival standards, introduce problems of decision-making, technical requirements, preparation and workflow, and overall project management.  The class will undertake and complete an actual film preservation project and follow the steps from start to finish.

Student Papers

EXPECTATIONS:

Each student will do several assignments involving writing a preservation grant proposal, preservation plan, inspection report and preservation history.  Students will be expected to acquire practical knowledge of film handling and will be evaluated on basic theoretical and practical skills.  A large portion of class time will be dedicated to completing the class project and students will be expected to participate in every stage. Attendance at all classes is expected unless excused. Grades will be based on a combination of class preparedness and participation (60%) and written assignments (40%).

TEXTS:

There is no required text for this class but students are encouraged to obtain Read, Paul & Mark-Paul Meyer, Restoration of Motion Picture Film, Butterworth Heinemann, 2000, ISMB: 0 7506 2793 X, and Ascher, Steven and Edward Pincus, The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age Plume. 1999, ISBN 0452279577.  Other readings will be on reserve in the Bobst Library and the Study Center in the Cinema Studies Department, 6th floor, 721 Broadway, or will be provided as handouts or as URL references on the World Wide Web.