Need help with 8mm film preservation

I had 9 rolls of 8mm home movies from the mid 50s and early 60s put on VHS then DVD at a local photography store. Some places can put it right to DVD… In putting it on VHS tape, they actually project the film via old projector into a light box and a video camera captures the movie image. I don’t know what equipment is needed to go right to DVD. If the film is OK, one option is send film to a friend where there are facilities to convert.

I bought a copy of the old Bogart movie China Clipper on VHS off of ebay (it is in public domain) and a friend who runs a production business put it on DVD for me. So this stuff can be done. Just hard to find the resources.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!!!

Yes there is a National Film Archive of India. See their website here:
http://www.nfaipune.nic.in/main_page.htm

They would undoubtedly be the people to approach about this, as they’ll have all the expertise, gear and budget to handle the job.

I know that some significant wartime British films were recently discovered in their vaults, having been thought lost for over fifty years.

Good luck

Hello Jagan…my apologies for not spotting this post sooner :embarassed:

Without intending to contradict my good friend Bigglesworth, it is very unlikely to be nitrate film. Nitrate film stock on any format other than 35mm (e.g. 16mm, 8mm and 9.5mm) is virtually unheard of, so your friend’s film is more likely to be have been printed on acetate stock. Acetate film stock is much safer than nitrate film (acetate stock along with its successor, polyester, are generally referred to as “safety film” – well in the IWM at least!) However, acetate film can deteriorate over time, hence a move towards polyester film stock in recent years, which so far has demonstrated a greater resilience to the march of time. One feature of acetate deterioration is what is known as “vinegar syndrome”, so called because of the vinegar like smell caused by the deterioration. This smell can certainly be detected by the human nose, but I would not advise you to spend too much time sniffing it if you come across it!

The fact the film gauge is 8mm suggests to me that this is an original film, straight from the camera, so it’s potential worth is pretty substantial. As you wish to have the film telecined in India, I am afraid I do not know who to suggest you take the film to (I believe there is an Indian Film Archive of some sort?)

Unfortunately I am very pressed for time, otherwise I would go on for hours. My apologies if details are a little sketchy in places. Please do not hesitate to PM Jagan if you have any questions/thoughts (although I will be off-line from this afternoon to the morning of the 18th)

Best wishes
Becka

Hi Jagan,

Also you might want to try the Smithsonian motionian picture and photo musuem, they are one of the worlds leading experts and might be able to give you a contact in India.

Sounds like some great stuff would love to see it when you get it copy.

Cheers Crazymainer

Jagan,

Just a thought but if you want some more expert advice, I would suggest you post a message to the forum on this site http://www.restoration-team.co.uk/

They are the team that has been transferring and restoring all the old BBC films to digital format (not just Doctor Who shows as the team’s name suggest). They are Britain’s experts and are always helpful with advice. They’ll no doubt be able to come up with the name of somone in your area who can assist. I hope this helps.

Thanks everyone – I will first try to find out if anyone does the telecine transfer, then worry about opening it.

Be very careful!

Jagan, be warned the film will most likely be ‘nitrate’ base, this deteriorates over time (you can tell by the smell), it can ignite IF it has degenerated and is then exposed to air. The amount you have presents little risk, keep it somewhere cool and dry. In larger amounts it is a VERY effective explosive!

However, having said that I have some on my desk (only about 1 foot) at the moment, it’s quite safe if handled correctly.

To transfer it to digital you will need to find a Telecine facilty who can handle 8mm on nitrate base (special handling licenses are required for this in the UK) onto DV cassette, you then have a master copy. Use this master DV tape with capture card(must have atleast S-Video-out facility) to produce DVD, SVCD, VCD, S/VHS, Windows Media(video) or any other format you need.

Finding someone in India to do the transfer should be easier than finding someone in the UK to do this. Try the processing houses directly, or Post Production facilties -particularly any that specialise in Documentary.

Our own lovely Becca knows a thing or 2 about W.W.II film, and I’m sure she’ll be on the case soon!

Be quick in case she get’s a new job!

Hi Jagan,
As you say, a toughie. Three organisations I’d contact would be the Imperial War Museums archives, the British Pathe folks (www.britishpathe.com) and the British Film Institute. (I’m on dialup at the mo, so you’ll have to do your own website searches!). Our own lovely Becca knows a thing or 2 about W.W.II film, and I’m sure she’ll be on the case soon!

Cheers!