The Digital Dilemma (2012)

[Marc Wielage]

Very interesting updated white paper report from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on the difficulty and importance of maintaining long-term backups of movies and TV shows on digital formats.

This is a very well-thought out, detailed (128 pages) report going over all current digital picture and sound formats in 2012, and various strategies on how to verify, copy, back up, restore, and migrate data over a period of time.

Some of the material is pretty dry, but I think it's important for people to grasp the basics on why and how to get a handle on your data, and what studios and other industry organizations are trying to do to preserve movie history.

It's available for free (email registration required) at this link:

http://origin-www.oscars.org/science-technology/council/projects/digitaldilemma2/download.php

 

[Robert Oliver Bohannon]

Thank you! I've been looking for a digital cinema primer and this seems to be it.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Here's a better digital cinema primer:

Quantel Guide to Digital Intermediates

It's dated (2004), but noted colorist and workflow consultant Steve Shaw did a good job writing it.