October 06, 2010

‘Home Movie Day’ set for Oct. 16 at Morris Library

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Those home movie images of dad showing off his prize catch, Aunt Gertie leading a sing-along, little junior taking his first steps or other snippets of family life are priceless, once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Morris Library at Southern Illinois University is offering you the opportunity to find out just what condition your movie images are in and how you can make sure they’ll last for future generations to enjoy. And, you can even show off your movies if you’d like.

The inaugural “Home Movie Day” at Morris Library is Oct. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event, in the lower level of the library, is free and the public is welcome. You can bring film in any of these formats: vintage 8mm, Super 8MM, 16mm, DVD, VHS or digital files.

There will be equipment available to inspect and project the film. During the film clinic experts can assess the condition of the film, offer advice regarding proper care for and storage of the film and discuss important considerations when considering film to video transfers. Whether your films are ones you’ve inherited from your grandparents or parents or ones you’ve taken yourself, you’ll want to make sure they last and this clinic tells how to assure that happens.

Participants also have the option of sharing their home movies with an audience of local community members. If you are interested in showing a home movie at the film event, contact Julie Mosbo at jmosbo@lib.siu.edu or by telephone at 618/453-2947.

Morris Library and the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts are sponsoring Home Movie Day at SIUC in conjunction with the Eighth International Home Movie Day, a worldwide commemoration celebrating the cultural significance of home movies and the need to properly preserve them as relevant and important cultural and historical artifacts.