The Digital Motion Picture Archive

Framework Project

© 2008 AMPAS

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Science and Technology Council

Nancy Silver, Digital Archival Program Manager

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

• Established in 1927• Represents the creators’ of motion pictures

point of view• Recognizes excellence with the Academy

Awards®• World’s largest motion picture paper

library, 5th largest film archive (50,000 film titles, 7,500 electronic masters), 240 employees

• Educational and cultural support programs• Coming: The Museum

© 2008 AMPAS

The Science and Technology Council

• An Academy “department” formed in 2003• Mission:

– Preserve history of motion picture technology

– Present educational programs– Facilitate technical information flow– Resource for Academy on technical

matters• >150 Academy members and industry

experts involved in Council activities

© 2008 AMPAS

Highlights of the Digital Motion PictureArchive Framework Project

• Case-study system for preserving digital motion picture materials

• Requirements document that focuses on the digital preservation needs of the independent filmmaker and smaller film archives

• Image data format specification, development and standardization for motion pictures

• Education and outreach

• Research

© 2008 AMPAS

Case-study system for preserving digital motion picture materials

The case-study system is based on an actual and historic digital collection to discover the operational realities of digital motion picture archival strategies.

The goals of the case-study system are to be a resource for:

• cataloging and processing a sample digital motion picture collection

• investigating and reporting on digital archival systems for motion pictures

• investigating and reporting on metadata standards for cataloging and classifying digital motion picture materials

• generating recommendations for cataloging and classifying digital motion picture materials

• defining the role of the digital preservationist

© 2008 AMPAS

Requirements Document

The requirements document will focus on motion picture industry-centric requirements for digitally mastered and “born digital” motion pictures as they relate to the needs of the independent filmmaker and small archives.

© 2008 AMPAS

Image data format specification, development, and standardization

This project element will focus on the specification,

development, and standardization of a related set

of digital motion picture file formats.

The formats that will be developed are:

• Image acquisition format• Mastering format• Archival format

© 2008 AMPAS

Educational efforts

The Academy has a long history of producing informative and educational public programs and materials that draw on its extraordinary membership and high public profile. The Digital Motion Picture Archive Framework Project is expected to produce a wealth of information to be shared with the industry and public at large.

Each of the project elements will have associated educational and/or publication components.

© 2008 AMPAS

Research

This project element will support research efforts, either performed at the Academy or directed by the Academy at appropriate universities and research labs. Initial topics for consideration include:

• Development of methods for identifying early warning of the deterioration of physical media for digital moving image content

• Suitability of data compression technologies for the digital motion picture archive

• Archiving and preservation of content creation tools

• Alternate image recording techniques and technologies for long-term archival use

• Standardized digital archive test images sequences

Partners

The Council’s current work involves the participation of over 150 of the industry’s leading technologists, representing all of the major motion picture studios and major technology and service providers.

The Digital Motion Picture Framework Archive Project will draw from this pool of experts and others outside the motion picture industry as required.