Documentary maker George Morrison on the dangers of nitrate film and the need for a film archive in Ireland.
Cellulose nitrate film was commonly used by filmmakers worldwide between the 1880s and the 1950s.
It is highly flammable however and as George Morrison explains, must only be stored under specific conditions with a view to arranging its transfer to another more stable medium for long term storage.
When it explodes in a confined space, it's a disaster.
Acetate film reels are more stable but are also fragile and require specific temperature and humidity storage requirements,
To make them safe over archival periods.
The damp and wet climate in Ireland means that film in Irish collections is particularly susceptible to mould. It reacts to moisture in the air, deteriorates and becomes sticky,
The picture just dissolves.
Film that is not adequately cared for can also experience emulsion stripping and sprocket damage, all of which add to the amount of time spent on its restoration.
Photographs from the last century and the early years of this century are also at risk, but with the right restoration techniques can be restored to their original state.
This episode of 'Zero’ was broadcast on 18 January in 1988. The presenter is Brian Hayes.
'Zero' was a magazine-style programme covering developments in science and technology. The first programme was broadcast on 7 January 1987. The series ran until 1989. The RTÉ Guide published an article about the series in its edition of 2 January 1987.
