MIR Summer 2009
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Northeast Historic Film Sage-femme de première classe, 1902, by Alice Guy Blaché, who appears on the left. This is, so far, the earliest title discovered by Northeast Historic Film. Our Sense of Community Ways of Watching Tenth Annual By Peter McDougall Elders and Betters Summer Symposium “Before we even started NHF, we took a oving images represent our drive down to Washington, DC, to speak July 24-25, 2009 shared past. They document to our elders and betters. Along the way or two days this summer in Mand interpret events, places, we stopped off in New York to meet with Bucksport, scholars, filmmakers, and people and provide a sense of who people at the Museum of Modern Art,” Farchivists, students, and members we were so that future generations can says David Weiss, NHF’s executive direc- of the public will gather to learn and better understand the common themes tor. “They took us under their wings; we discuss how and where art, educational, that link us all together. But preserving toured the MOMA Department of Film; and amateur films have been shown. our past requires a communal effort. they gave us samples of accession forms Presenters this year will travel from as Fortunately, Northeast Historic Film has and were as nice and generous as they far away as Sweden, Norway, and Britain, a rather large sense of community. could be to show us how they did things.” to join other speakers from Arizona, For NHF, cooperation has always That generosity and openness is fre- Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New been the name of the game. Sharing quently paid forward as NHF provides York, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Texas. information, keeping an eye open for advice and recommendations to other There will be screenings by Liz Coffey, titles that fall under the umbrella of organizations and archives. NHF’s cold Film Conservator at the Harvard Film another archives, and generally striving storage building (The Cube) and the Archive and Doug McLaren, of the Gene to recruit and support as many people as Alamo Theatre provide working tem- Siskel Film Center in Chicago. possible in the effort to preserve moving plates for organizations as far away as The Academy of Motion Picture images—these are all elements of our Appalshop in Kentucky and the Alaska Arts and Sciences Foundation made a cooperative effort. Moving Image Preservation Association 2009 grant of $2,500 in support of the in Anchorage. NHF is now in the symposium’s educational activities–a position of taking other organizations grant program that encourages the appre- under its wing, thanks to the support it ciation of motion pictures. Symposium Summer 2009 received early on. organizers are Snowden Becker from the 2009 Calendar 3 School of Information at the University Community Cinemas 4 What Goes Around Comes Around of Texas, Austin; Janna Jones from the Distribution 6 Sharing goals means NHF alerts others School of Communication, Cinema and Maine Memory Network 9 to footage that doesn’t quite mesh with Visual Culture Program at Northern Become a Member 15 our mission, but is of interest to others. Arizona University; and Mark Neumann, Moving Image Review is a semiannual “We found five reels of early nitrate also from the School of Communication publication of Northeast Historic Film, film—two 1915 films—and they had at Northern Arizona University. P.O. Box 900, Bucksport, Maine 04416. nothing to do with this region,” recalls Please register by July 10. Program David S. Weiss, executive director Kelsey Abbott and Peter McDougall, writers David. “The Museum of Modern Art, details, registration, and lodging infor- Karan Sheldon, managing editor however, was thrilled to get them since mation at www.oldfilm.org or contact ISSN 0897-0769 no other copies existed. We donated [email protected], 207 469-0924. Email [email protected] See Presenters on Pages 10 & 11 Continued on Page 11 Preserving and Making Accessible Northern New England’s Moving Image Heritage • www.oldfilm.org Executive Director’s Report An archives must have the longest-term the front desk. External Affairs Director search of a child. For a while we thought perspective. Northeast Historic Film’s full Jessica Hosford joined us in mid-March; it was Blaché’s 1896 La Fée aux choux value is not confined to what we do this she will help us broaden and deepen our and though it turned out to be her later summer. We are maintaining a legacy communications with members and the remake, it is still the earliest film we have for hundreds of years that encompasses public. Thanks to a Maine Community ever found in our collections and appears more than 800 moving image collections, Foundation grant, we’re developing to be the most complete print of this title along with significant ephemera, audio- self-supporting annual events involving in the world. The Library of Congress visual equipment, and library resources. volunteers. We have achieved significant will accept it for preservation. There Strategies for successfully enduring reces- savings from monitoring our energy use will be a Blaché symposium at NYU on sions, depressions and other calamities and before next winter need to do more October 24 and a Whitney Museum have to be in place for our organization insulating. Increased electronic commu- exhibition curated by Joan Simon, to fulfill its mission. nications, including the regular cinema Alice Guy Blaché: Cinema Pioneer, from Reading Nick Paumgarten’s article, schedule, help us cut publication costs. November 6, 2009, to January 24, 2010. The Death of Kings (New Yorker, While we’re streamlining, we are com- May 18, 2009), I came across the acro- mitted to giving people value in tough New Board Member nym “ITE,” which stands for “in this times. Late last year we noticed a drop I’d like to welcome our newest board economy.” The phrase is tremendously in attendance at the weekly movies as member, Judy McGeorge. She has been useful, now that I see it, because I have families cut back on their entertainment involved with NHF since the 1980s and to say it all the time. The financial crisis is budgets, so we added a Saturday matinee brings nonprofit management and Maine challenging everyone, NHF not excepted. with a $3 ticket. ties. Agility and Dedication Finding and Sharing the Truly Rare Farewell Steinway The next hundred years starts every Earlier this year, Sean Savage, our last The Steinway Model A grand piano morning as we process collections, technical services director, posted 35mm heard in our hall in Arcady Music monitor vault conditions, digitize clips, scans to the Association of Moving Image Festival and ragtime concerts, piano recit- respond to research requests, update Archivists Nitrate Film Interest Group als, and silent film performances since we databases, plan weekend movies and Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/pho- opened, is sadly moving on. The piano Archival Moments. That work contin- tos/nfig/ where the images were identi- was on loan to us and we must find a ues with our core staff of 6. We’d like fied as the work of Alice Guy Blaché, the worthy replacement. Can you help? to have a minimum of 8 people on staff, pioneer woman filmmaker. Our 1902 but ITE we get by. Here’s how: we have film isSage-femme de première classe, invested in a new phone system with a fantasy depicting discovery of babies in voice mail and presently have no one on a cabbage patch. The filmmaker appears in the film, dressed as the husband in NHF Statement of Purpose The purpose of Northeast Historic Film is to collect, preserve, and make avail- able to the public, film and videotape of interest to the people of northern New England. Activities include but are not limited to a survey of moving pictures of northern New England; preserving and safeguard- ing film and videotape through restora- tion, duplication, providing technical guidance and climate-controlled storage; creation of educational programs through screenings and exhibitions on-site and in touring programs; assistance to members of the public, scholars and students at all levels, and members of the film and video production community, through provid- ing a study center, technical services and facilities. Donor Appreciation Night on Saturday, May 9 included a champagne reception and Paul Sullivan playing the piano to accompany Douglas Fairbanks. Party photos by Bob Brodsky. www.oldfilm.org 2009 Calendar Thursday, July 23 - Sunday, July 26 Friday, October 16 - Wednesday, November 4 - Bucksport Bay Festival, including Sunday, October 18 Sunday, November 7 Riverbend Players Vaudeville Shows Out of the Closet, Our Amateur Film Association of Moving Image at the Alamo Theatre on Thursday Heritage, a three-day preservation work- Archivists Annual Meeting and Sunday, and Outdoor Movie at shop at Burlington College, Burlington, in St. Louis, MO the Alamo Theatre on Friday, July 24. Vermont, led by Gemma Perretta. There http://www.amiaconference.com/ http://www.bucksportchamber.org/ will be a Home Movie Day observance festival.html in the workshop. For information and to O register, http://www.burlington.edu O I OIO O Friday, July 24 - Saturday, July 25 IThank You to NHF Supporters Northeast Historic Film Symposium, Saturday, October 17 On May 9 nearly 100 people gathered I Ways of Watching at the Alamo Theatre, Maine Home Movie Day O in the Alamo Theatre to be honored Bucksport. Open to all, with presenta- Organized by Northeast Historic Film for their longstanding commitment O tions and time for discussion. See and presented at Maine Historical Ito Northeast Historic Film. Attendees Pages 10-11 for presenters. Registration, Society, 489 Congress Street, Portland, were treated to tours of the facility, a http://oldfilm.org/symp_2009 Maine.