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BOOK REVIEW
The art of film projection: a beginner’s guide
edited by P.C. Usai, S. Christiano, C.A. Surowiec &
T.J. Wagner, George Eastman House: Rochester,
2019 (344 pages, hardcover).
This is probably one of the last books to be
published about the projection of traditional 35mm
and 16mm film. It is a very well written and
illustrated introduction to all the important aspects
of the job. While much of this is already known to
us collectors, there are always new insights that are
interesting to learn.
The book starts with an explanation of the basics,
namely of motion picture film, the projector, as well
as the set-up of the cinema and bio-box. This is
followed by a detailed discussion of how to inspect and repair film. The next chapters
deal with the preparations for the film screening and the actual show. Then cleaning and
maintenance of the equipment is discussed. The final chapter focusses on nitrate film
and the precautions needed in handling and projecting nitrate.
These chapters emphasize that in today’s world, film prints are unique, irreplaceable
objects that have to be treated with the utmost of care. Often it will be impossible to
acquire another copy of a certain title (more obscure films will also never make it onto
DVD or Blu-Ray). Laboratories are scarce and the costs of printing film only allows the
most high-profile restoration projects to produce new prints. But when these prints are
cared for appropriately, they can be shown many times without loss of quality.
Anyone interested in the technical details should also read Torkell Sætervadet’s The
advanced projection manual: presenting classic films in a modern projection
environment, which I reviewed in Reel Deals in December 2011.
Paolo Cherchi Usai was for many years Senior Curator of Moving Images at George
Eastman House and is now teaching at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, the
Italian National Film School. He is an expert on early film and film restoration. Usai is
well-known to Australians, as he was head of the National Film and Sound Archive
from 2004 to 2008. He was also director of the Nitrate Picture Show, the only film
festival worldwide dedicated to the presentation of original nitrate prints to the public.
As Tacita Dean & Christopher Nolan write in the foreword, the book is not only a
technical manual, but also a manifesto on the importance of the medium of film and the
art of film projection. It is especially important to publish the book now, to explain and
introduce the next generation of film-buffs to traditional film — before it is too late.
Published just in time for Christmas, this volume is a must-read for anyone seriously
interested in “reel” film. It is very well produced, and the book design and printing is
excellent. The volume is available from several online retailers for about $45.
Jürgen Kellermann, Adelaide — juergen.kellermann@ourplants.org
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