The Personal Archiving Strategies of Independent Documentary Filmmmakers

by Barnes, Heather L.

The shift to digital production methods for moviemaking has resulted in a proliferation of digital moving image elements, requiring a different set of preservation practices than are used for analog film. The longevity of these works may be uncertain. Little is known about how independent filmmakers organize and maintain their digital production files. Other studies of personal archiving practices have found that individuals lack the necessary knowledge and resources to preserve their digital files.

This study explores the personal archiving strategies of independent documentary filmmakers in order to gauge their knowledge of and interest in preservation of their digital collections. Via semi-structured interviews and field observation, data analysis focuses on how independent documentary filmmakers organize and maintain their digital moving image files. Results address implications for preservation of respondents’ materials and for archivists and digital curators working with digital cultural heritage materials.