Film Projection Will Never Die. It Will Live On Just Like Vinyl

Leland loads the film projector

Leland and Camelia came over for a visit and we all had a nice time watching a bevy of mind bending sixteen millimeter celluloid amazingness. It was a most welcome evening. Especially after hearing about a pretty rad local movie house making the switch to digital and phasing out the film. I have nothing against digital. I love digital. And the economics make sense, But I don’t want real film to disappear. If it did, it would really hurt so bad.

The option to see film live and in person should always exist. The colors and textures are special. It’s a superior medium and deserves to be preserved for future generations of movie goings. But it won’t die. It will never go away. Just like vinyl. The cats who call these kinds of shots probably thought vinyl would die once the compact disc took over. But no. Vinyl is still very much alive, just as film will stay alive because it’s real material one can hold, in direct contact, in his or her hands. It’s so hard to beat direct contact, though it recedes.

We saw a film essay about environmental devastation called Cry of the Marsh. It was pretty intense and heart breaking seeing dead ducklings burning up in the fire of humankind’s ignorance. The black and white film of buxom women boxing was much more light and fluffy and provided a fine counterbalance to marsh horrors. There was also a public service film about the dangers of hot water and some home movies of a naval family from the late fifties or early sixties. And a cartoon about trusting your doctor. Finally, Derek Jarman’s Pirate Tape with William Burroughs and music by Psychic TV.

Thank you, Leland, for demonstrating that film is alive and well in Portland, Oregon even though some of the finer film houses are making that sad switch.