Hanover
In recent years, these forgotten documents have been rediscovered and appreciated as the cultural artifacts they are. On Home Movie Day, an international event being held this year on Saturday, people are invited to dig out their old films and look at them with fresh eyes. Locally, Home Movie Day will be held at the Howe Library, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can bring their 8mm and 16mm films and VHS tapes to the event, where staff will inspect the films for damage and project them onto a big screen to be shared with the community.
In an email exchange, artist and filmmaker Rich Fedorchak, of Thetford, organizer of the Howe Library program, discussed home movies and how best to preserve them. The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Question: What makes home movies so valuable, from a cultural point of view?
Answer: Film preservationist Karen F. Gracy writes, “Only a few decades ago, these films were marginalized as pedestrian documents, devoid of value outside of the personal and familial spheres in which they were created. Archivists, cultural historians, curators and artists now argue that they be recognized as important historical records, socio-cultural documents, and works of art.”
Q: What’s the best way for people to preserve old home movies they discover in their attics or barns?
A: To begin with, get them out of the attic and barn! They are the worst environments for these precious gems. Most of the film stocks made after 1960 are acetate-based. Decomposition of acetate material is hastened by high temperatures and high relative humidity. Ideally, these film stocks would be stored in a controlled environment.
For most people this sort of controlled environment is not practical. However, there are simple things that can be done to delay film deterioration. The key point is to store it in a place where the film is not exposed to direct sunlight and there are not big swings in temperature and relative humidity. A relative humidity between 20-40 percent is ideal. The film should be stored in film cans that are not tightly sealed to allow for some aeration.
Q: How has home moviemaking technology evolved over the years?
A: Amateur filmmaking began in the first quarter of the 20th century, when small-gauge film and the cameras used to shoot these film stocks began to be mass produced at affordable prices. This made it possible for the “common man” and the artist to engage in small-budget filmmaking. With the advent of digital technology, shooting on film gradually became an anachronistic pursuit, mainly kept alive by film schools and experimental filmmakers. As always, these changes in technology have had both positive and negative effects on amateur filmmaking. In today’s world, where you can shoot unlimited video on smartphones and camcorders and post hour upon hour of this footage on YouTube and Facebook, I find, at least for me, that this can lead to a less considered approach to filmmaking, resulting in less interesting footage.
Q: What are some of the home moviemaking styles you’ve encountered?
A: There are a huge variety of genres/styles. While there are certainly many home movies that feature scenes of family occasions (birthdays, weddings), there are others that chronicle travel and political events, and those that have an overt comedic or dramatic intent. Most of the films that are screened at Home Movie Day are silent, but some are edited to be accompanied by a musical soundtrack. We encourage people who are screening their films to share their thoughts and memories about the images that are being shared with the audience.
Q: Any suggestions for home filmmakers on how to make their work accessible to future generations? What format do you recommend for posterity’s sake?
A: There are many companies that offer services for the transfer of film-based moving images to digital formats such as DVDs and digital files, and information about quality transfer services is provided to attendees at Home Movie Day. However, these transfers should not be considered film “preservation.” We do not know how long these digital formats will last. Original acetate film that is stored properly is likely to have a longer life than the digital transfer of the same material. Which is why I always urge people to not discard the original film footage after it has been transferred to a digital format.
Q: Can you offer some ideas on the best way to share home movies with your friends?
A: Host a film screening event at your home! I have been doing this periodically for the past 40 years. Invite friends and family to bring any films or video they would like to share. Make some popcorn, open a bottle of wine and fire up the projector. Bring your films to the annual Home Movie Day event in your area and share them with your community.