1. MOTION PICTURE FILM: the basics

2. Identifying formats Common gauges  8mm  Super 8  16mm  35mm Unusual gauges  9.5mm  17mm  28mm

3. Identifying formats Perforation shapeWidth of the film

4. Identifying soundtracks Magnetic *  Stripe 8mm Super 8 16mm 35mm  Fullcoat 16mm 17.5mm 35mm * Prone to vinegar syndrome Magnetic or optical  Magnetic  Optical

5. Identifying film base  Nitrate (discontinued, 1952)  Diacetate (safety film produced 1910-mid 1930s)  Triacetate (most common safety stock)  Polyester (modern safety stock)

6. NITRATE  35mm only  Manufactured before 1952  Creates its own oxygen source as it burns  Storage issues: must be NFPA40- compliant – cannot be stored at HD  Shipping issues: use hazardous materials rules for shipping

7. NITRATE edge markings: print and print-through

8. NITRATE edge markings: hatch marks

9. Tinted film

10. Identifying problems: NITRATE DECOMPOSITION  Stage 1: amber discolorization, faint odor, rusty ring on metal film can  Stage 2: emulsion sticky, stinkier  Stage 3: film is soft, contains gas bubbles, smells bad  Stage 4: film is soft and a solid mass, possibly covered in froth  Stage 5: film has become powder

11. NITRATE IMAGE FADESCRAPS

12. The SMELL of film  Healthy NITRATE smells sweet  Rotting NITRATE smells like rotting bananas or like stinky feet  Film stored with camphor smells like CAMPHOR (mothballs)  Decomposing acetate film smells like VINEGAR

13. Freak film cartridges Cartridge super 8  Several types of cartridges for industrial & instructional films Polavision  Polaroid's instant home movie  Very dark, dense picture

14. Identifying problems: ACETATE: VINEGAR SYNDROME

15. Identifying problems: ACETATE

17. Color fade

18. Color Color reversalIB Technicolor

19. Date Codes

20. CONTAINERS: non-archival FILM CANCOOKIE TIN

21. STORAGE CONTAINERS: archival Archival canArchival core

22. What’s inside the film can … besides film Paperwork (keep, but separate)  Lab papers  Timing strips Misc. (discard)  Paper clips  Rubber bands  Plastic bags  Staples  Other misc. non-film materials

23. Handling film SPLIT REELS

24. Proper wind Bad Good

25. Handling film REWIND BENCHSPLICER

26. STORAGE: environmental conditions COOL: 35-50FDRY: 20-40% RH

27. Harvard Depository  Special film vault section Best storage conditions for motion picture film (40F, 35%RH) Arrange with HD before sending material Do not send video (or other non-film) into film vault More expensive than other HD storage

28. ENEMIES OF FILM  Water  Heat & Humidity  Mold  Physical damage Due to storage Due to projector Due to handling  Lack of interest

29. Priorities for Preservation  “Nitrate won’t wait” – check all 35mm material  Decomposing material Vinegar Syndrome  Unique material Home movies Amateur film Film made for Harvard

30. DON’T THROW OUT YOUR FILM  Even if you have preserved or made new copies of your film, keep the original in cold storage.