The Good
The second part of my New Jersey trip last month was to visit with some of my ‘older than me’ cousins and learn as much about the family as possible. And to pick up some film. A LOT of film.
This much film:
- 8 Unlabeled reels
- Summer 1956 John Barone
- Summer Vacation 1967
- Krissy 1st Birthday
- Xmas 1967 & Aunt Mary
- Aunt Mary & Jane’s 5th
- Freidas?
- Mane July 1970
- Xmas 1972
- Jane’s Birthday 1972
- Summer 1954 Jean, Doris, Gloria & Kids; John on swing
- 1956 Birthday Party
- Feb 1952 Miami
- 1956
- Sep 1959?
- Monaco?
- Jan 1952
- 1958 Uncle Stitch
- 1969 Jane’s 10th Birthday
- Anna’s Engagement
- Xmas 1969
- Uncle Mack and Family 1953
- Feb 1952 Miami (2)
- Summer 1958
- Las Vegas
- Denmark
- Jackie 1952
- Gerry & Doris Wedding Copy
- Jane Communion
- April 1967
- PA Farm Vacation 1964
- April-May 1952 Gerry & Doris Wedding, Honeymoon
- 1954 & 1957 Ft Knox to Spaghetti Festival
- Maureen 1957-1958
- Xmas 1958
- Xmas 1964
- Nov 1958 – May 65 (Damaged?)
- 70?
- 1960 Reunion
That’s 46 reels of Fischkelta/Pantoliano film goodness. Why? Because I was able to transfer some film from before and thought I’d be able do it again.
The Bad
I thought the film I had successfully transferred was 8mm. It was, in fact, 16mm. Who’d have thought 8mm made that much difference….but it DOES. There is no straightforward way of transferring it.
So I bought an 8mm projector on eBay; and I was “antiquing” in PA after coming home and came across this 8mm editor, and it still works.
I was able to preview some of the unknown reels.
The only way to transfer 8mm film yourself is to project it on a wall and film the project. Essentially, bootleg your own video. It works. But it looks like garbage.
The Ugly
The other way is to have a company that does this sort of thing do it for you. They clean the film and use a VERY expensive machine to capture the film frame by frame. Then they usually pop it on a DVD with some hokey music and you’re done.
They charge by the foot of film.
They charge a LOT.
This much.
Now I am pretty sure that there IS NOT IN FACT 4300 feet of film, and this company charges you only for what they transfer, not what you give them. But it still going to be expensive, but the quality will be good….
But alas, I have reached the limit of altruism for this project.
So what to do? I am inviting you to ….
Sponsor a Reel!
Think Sponsor a Highway but with film — if we each are willing to kick in a little $$$$ all of these films can be preserved for everyone now and everyone to come.
Right now we have 16 sponsors. The more that will help, the lower the cost for everyone!