"Fishing", "Spring River Flows East" ... These classic old movies is not only good memories of several generations, but also record the pace of development of China-made film.
Last week, the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival announced it will open the domestic film restoration is scheduled for three years repairing ten Chinese films old movies. This year marks the centenary of film masters Junli work, "Spring River Flows East" and "Crows and Sparrows," The restoration project has been identified as the first of two test the water for. "Fishing," "Crossroads," "Street Angel," "The Cloud and the Moon", "Myriads of Lights" and other old films are also prepared to fix the list. This initiative allows people to look once again gathered to those dusty old movie film.
What is the status of these old films? What processes need repair process? Will visit the mainstream cinema, to reproduce the big screen? With these questions, this reporter visited the restoration of old movies hosted China Film Archive, and this one by one Secret.
Old movies status quo
Large amount of inventory required repair due to improper storage
According to the China Film Archive and Technology deputy director of the British left, at present most countries in the world are facing a lot of early films lost difficulties. Even in the film is extremely important to protect the United States before 1950, half the film footage are also unaccounted for.
In China, before the establishment of new China, many film has disappeared. In 1958 after the establishment of the China Film Archive, the staff began to collect only the old film.
Currently the entire database each time the film has collected about 27,200. The film material of these films have been deposited material library in Xi'an, and Beijing library copies of these films are deposited.
Although fortunate to collecting some of the old movie, but unfortunately, when the China Film Archive staff to find them, because most of these film screenings and more than scratches, mildew and other conditions.
The 1934 release of the classic old movies "Fishing" for example, the film's original film has been lost in the war. China Film Archive is currently only one copy of that year, the situation is very bad copy. Not only scratches the problem, there are some pieces missing status.
"Even the custodian of the copies of the film due to lack of expertise in the missing part of the image of the film she had written the lines of the fragment, which makes possible to repair the original image can not be undone." Said the British left. He told reporters that the film itself is not flammable, but also easy to aging, plus a new Chinese film since before the establishment of the old year save properly, there will be a lot of old film such problems.
It is reported in the China Film Archive's film collection, one-third before the founding of new China's old films, almost all need repair.
In 2005, the China Film Archive began to systematically carry out repair work on the classic film. At that time 2.8 billion to support state funding of the work, plans to rehabilitate 5000 film, which has been used 120 million purchase of equipment, other for the specific repair work.
Since 2005, the film has been restored around 3800.
Repair Secret
Eight to go step by step process for each cost at least 50,000 -6 Wan
According to the China Film Archive Technical Engineer Wang Zheng introduced a movie at least eight of the repair process is very complicated. Currently the old film is mainly in its digital copies on repair.
"Is not in the original film can not be directly repaired, but in order not to undermine its original appearance." Zheng said the king, repaired to the original film actually is a destruction of old films, and seemingly good intentions, "damage "will be irreversible. In the digital copy on the repair is more flexible and can be modified in case of error.
Wang Zheng told reporters, repair old movies work very hard, from pre-to post all the work involved in repairing old movie about 70 people, three shifts of 24-hour work system. But even if work intensity is so great, because this work tedious, usually the day, the staff had completed only one film 100-200 screen repair, and a 90-minute film, about 129,600.
It is understood that a very well preserved film, it's time to repair is about one to two weeks, but as "Fishing" more serious damage such old movies, it's time to repair more than one year. Varying degrees of damage according to a movie, it's repair cost from several million to hundreds of thousands dollars, but at least 50,000 -6 million.
Repair Flow Chart
Step one
The library
From Xi'an, China Film Archive will be the film's original material library film and related material was transferred to Beijing for storing material library
Step two
Clean
From the U.S. introduction of the use of ultrasonic cleaning machine to clean the film, which not only cleaning method will not damage the film, but also to maximize the film on the way to remove dust attached
Step Three
Rpm
After washing with liquid condensate way clear, and then film the digital conversion
Step Four
Repair
Perform basic repair work, such as repairing mildew picture has emerged, with the lack of sound clips and other original material to supplement
Step Five
Color
The color and the necessary special treatment. As the film aging, some to re-adjust the screen color. For those who have lost fragment of the film, if you can not find the original film material to be replaced, then the use of computer technology on the front and rear clips are calculated, and then use special effects to complement the way
Step Six
Sound and complete pre-scanning of films synthesized sound and picture work
Step Seven
Appraisal
Identification of good repair to save the film format
Step Eight
Storage
Use appropriate media to save
Repair dilemma
Creative staff of death missing fragments can not be traced
"Now the old film restoration is the biggest problem facing the scarcity of professionals and lack of relevant information." British left, told reporters, film restoration for the overall quality of the staff is very high, not only to have a deep understanding of film art, but also The physical chemistry of the film to understand the nature.
In addition, repair of computer software and film special effects used should have a professional knowledge and skills. Left the British emphasis on the most important thing is to have patience to sit tight. Because the repair is a tedious and time-consuming film work, to a one to check, repair, difficult to stop many young people now, patience to do the job.
In the old film restoration process still faces another major problem: lack of information. There is a lot of old movies clips are a problem, but hard to find material to supplement the original film. As the old, the creative staff of these films has gradually passed away, the film was originally to express the meaning of the film conservators have been unable to trace.
How to repair these films is a big a problem. Is to retain its original appearance, or on the basis of this re-creation of the post-damaged fragments to add? This is a very tangled repair personnel have been a problem.
Old movies way out
Occasional missed the initial attempt to mainstream cinema business cooperation
After the repair of old movies how to meet with the fans? Reporter from the China Film Archive has learned that the major repair old movies for free screenings in some rural areas, the mainstream cinema audience missed seeing in the city.
The British left, told reporters, because a few years ago the classic old movies on domestic work primarily on the repair, the overall lack of commercial promotion and operation of commercial activity is difficult to recover it through the repair costs.
However, the commercial value of the classic old movies in North America and Europe was used very well. Restored after the film abroad, the old, mainly through a combination of public and commercial film screenings cost recovery.
For example there are 10 good old film restoration, the organizers will choose two of the most classic for free screenings, in order to achieve the purpose of attracting viewers. And then to the 10 films for the contents of the commercial nature of the screening activities to do in this part of the collection at the box office.
In addition, after the film abroad, the old product development has been widely used, such as the production of classic films on DVD, making books and souvenirs.
The British left, said China Film Archive is also considering and exploring repairing old pieces of business operations. The restoration project is a watch brand and co-absorption of private capital into the cause of the old film restoration is a new attempt.
In addition, many video websites have made their contribution by the repair, but the condition that they have the right to broadcast the video on the website after the repair of old movies. These business models, the China Film Archive is currently under consideration.
How to make the old film restoration and commercial combination, which determines the way these old movies.
Text / correspondent Chia Yang
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