Contents:
- Preface
- Executive Summary
- 1. Independent Filmmakers
- 2. Documentarians
- 3. Marketing and Distributing Independent Films
- 4. Nonprofit Audiovisual Archives
- 5. Progress Report and Interim Options
- 6. Closing
- Appendix: Case Studies
- Online Appendix
- End Notes
- Bibliography
- Acknowledgements
This report was produced through a partnership between the Library of Congress’s National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It is a follow-up to The Digital Dilemma, which examined the Hollywood Studio industry. It describes the current state of long-term preservation of digital motion picture materials produced by independent filmmakers, both narrative filmmakers and documentarians, as well as nonprofit archives; individuals and organizations with substantially fewer financial and staff resources than the major corporations and institutions covered in The Digital Dilemma. It presents findings from interviews held between 2008 and 2011 and offers suggestions on how these groups can ensure a safer environment for their digital works. The chapters on each of the three groups begin with a brief history followed by the survey results. An overview on the distribution and marketing of independent films provides an overview of the role of film festivals as well as the changing distribution landscape in the digital world. The chapter on audiovisual archives includes a brief overview of digital preservation before presenting survey results on how these archives are currently attempting to manage this work. It concludes with short term suggested options for helping preserve this type of cultural heritage.
This long report covers a variety of different subjects in order to provide context to its conclusion: independent filmmakers are more concerned with distribution issues than long-term digital curation of their output. Thus, ensuring that this cultural heritage material is maintained into the future, the burden falls on nonprofit archives. Although these archives do their best to acquire such collections, interviews show they lack funding, technical infrastructure, trained staff and institutional support to establish full blown digital preservation programs. The solutions emphasize the need for funding, collaboration and education, internally as well with external partners. It is interesting reading for those seeking an overview of the current digital landscape these particular producers and archives are facing. It also offers confirmation to those archivists currently struggling with initiating digital preservation programs in their institutions.