These Amazing Shadows Are Worthy Of Attention

It's only in recent history that we've understood the culture importance of film preservation. In the early years of cinema, studios churned out film after film like factories. Once a film had finished its theatrical run and made its money, however, it was considered a has-been-- just another film collecting dust in a long forgotten studio vault. Films weren't particularly respected or admired as an art form, they were products. And products are disposable.


It's estimated that 50% of films before 1950 and 80-90% of all silent films are gone forever.

They've either disintegrated into dust (as seen in the photo at left) or burned to ash. To me, it's heartbreaking to think about. All that history, all the images forever gone...


Recently, I saw the documentary These Amazing Shadows which celebrates the history of film and the establishment of the National Film Registry via the National Film Preservation Act of 1988. It's a very well done documentary that succeeds in reminding us how important film preservation is to our culture. Films on the National Film Registry are guaranteed to be preserved for all time through the Library of Congress film preservation program and collaborative efforts with other organizations.

What I didn't know:
Public nominations play a key role when the Librarian of Congress and Film Board are considering their final selections.

In other words, anyone can nominate films to the National Film Registry. Anyone.

To be eligible for the Registry, a film must be at least 10 years old and be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Send your nominations to Donna Ross: dross@loc.gov

(Email preferred)

To submit via regular mail, send nominations to:

National Film Registry
Library of Congress
Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation
19053 Mt. Pony Road
Culpeper, VA 22701
Attn: Donna Ross

Here are my nominations:

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Pleasantville (1999)

About Schmidt (2002)

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Office Space (1999)

Almost Famous (2000)

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Thelma & Louise (1991)

The Matrix (1999)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Ghost (1990)

American Beauty (1999)

For the complete list of films currently included in the National Film Registry, click here.

© 2012 by KLiedle