Archival Research and Metadata Collection
Mentor 1
Tami Williams
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
As the cinematic world continues to change and advance in almost all aspects of the word, the means of preserving and achieving a deeper understanding must progress and transform with the time as well. The foundation of connection and networking that Domitor (the International Society for the Study of Early Cinema) and the Media Ecology Project thrives on is one that bids great success to all those who concern themselves with the importance of archiving. Domitor and the Media Ecology Project were started to collect films from the origin of film history and take advantage of the collaboration and engagement of archivists, researchers, professors, and students from all over. I began work researching archives and head archivists that had significant holdings on early cinema to invite them to contribute to the expanding network that is Domitor. Not only did this expose me to archives from around the world, but also incited my research and networking abilities. During my work with the Media Ecology Project, I was fortunate enough to be able to annotate and collect metadata on films from the early 1900’s starring one of the first actresses to have a certain star power: Florence Lawrence. I was given the task of solely following Florence Lawrence’s movements and actions in each shot. Through the compiled work of the many professionals on the various aspects of the films, a deeper analyzation and understanding can be achieved concerning the significance of Florence Lawrence and of the films overall. In addition to my digital work, I was invited to help with the 16mm film collection given to our department which was in need of repairs and improved preservation. Through my work in digital collections, comparative analysis, and restorative archiving, the history and understanding of film gains even more significance.
Archival Research and Metadata Collection
Union Wisconsin Room
As the cinematic world continues to change and advance in almost all aspects of the word, the means of preserving and achieving a deeper understanding must progress and transform with the time as well. The foundation of connection and networking that Domitor (the International Society for the Study of Early Cinema) and the Media Ecology Project thrives on is one that bids great success to all those who concern themselves with the importance of archiving. Domitor and the Media Ecology Project were started to collect films from the origin of film history and take advantage of the collaboration and engagement of archivists, researchers, professors, and students from all over. I began work researching archives and head archivists that had significant holdings on early cinema to invite them to contribute to the expanding network that is Domitor. Not only did this expose me to archives from around the world, but also incited my research and networking abilities. During my work with the Media Ecology Project, I was fortunate enough to be able to annotate and collect metadata on films from the early 1900’s starring one of the first actresses to have a certain star power: Florence Lawrence. I was given the task of solely following Florence Lawrence’s movements and actions in each shot. Through the compiled work of the many professionals on the various aspects of the films, a deeper analyzation and understanding can be achieved concerning the significance of Florence Lawrence and of the films overall. In addition to my digital work, I was invited to help with the 16mm film collection given to our department which was in need of repairs and improved preservation. Through my work in digital collections, comparative analysis, and restorative archiving, the history and understanding of film gains even more significance.
