STORY: Preserving cinematic heritage: art of film restoration in Hong Kong
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 13, 5, 2023 and Jan. 2, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:26
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Hong Kong Film Archive
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
3. various of restoration group at the Hong Kong Film Archive
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
5. various of restoration group at the Hong Kong Film Archive
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
7. various of the Hong Kong Film Archive

STORYLINE:

The early memories of films for many Chinese people are characterized by mottled pictures and trembling sound. However, with advancements of technology, high-definition digital format films have become the norm, and negative films have gradually faded into history.

Hong Kong, also known as the "Hollywood of the East," has produced over 10,000 films since the early 1900s. The Hong Kong Film Archive has been entrusted with the task of collecting lost film rolls and negatives from around the world to preserve Hong Kong's cinematic heritage.

Currently, the Hong Kong Film Archive houses around 4,000 films that require careful maintenance and restoration. The restoration team meticulously examines and repairs every frame of the film to prolong its lifespan.

Lo Kai-ming, an assistant curator at the Hong Kong Film Archive, has been restoring films for 16 years and has witnessed countless mottled and scratched films being restored to their former glory.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
"We have selected some films for restoration as they have important historical value and aesthetic value, or their actors or directors have special status, and the films have special importance."

Negative films have specific chemical and physical properties that require precise storage conditions. Hong Kong's hot and humid climate makes proper storage even more challenging, as the films can fade, shrink, and deform due to moisture.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
"Our goal is to restore the film to the way audience saw it when it was released. It's not going to make it better or prettier, although it's technically possible to do that."

Lo explains that restoring such films involves cleaning the stains from the negatives and using special adhesive paper to bond any damaged parts together. The restorer must have steady hands and good eyesight to ensure that the adhesive paper fits the damaged part perfectly.

Film restoration is a time-consuming process that can take months or even years to complete. Since 2011, the Hong Kong Film Archive has adopted digital technology to aid in the restoration process, freeing restorers from repetitive manual labor and allowing for the restoration of films that were previously deemed impossible to restore.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LO KAI-MING, Assistant curator of the Hong Kong Film Archive
"In addition to being watched for appreciation, films are of great academic use. For example, we can see some old scenery, old locations, the accent of the previous generation or some slang, as well as the living environment. All of these elements can be seen in the films. Therefore, the mission of the film archive is to keep films alive and accessible for future generations. Another goal is for scholars to learn about the culture of a place by studying old films."

Film restoration is an important process of preserving cultural heritage. The Hong Kong Film Archive plays a crucial role in preserving Hong Kong's cinematic history and ensuring that these films are not forgotten.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)