Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films2011

Himself, Michael Pogorzelski:
Contrary to popular belief, film is not forever. The fundamental nature of film and new digital technologies used to capture movies requires constant care and vigilance.

Himself, Mike Mashon:
Up until 1951, movies were shot on nitrate film stock. Nitrate is dangerous and flammable and deteriorates into a sticky goo and eventually fine powder. This is the primary reason almost 90 per cent of films from the silent era are lost forever.

Himself, Michael Pogorzelski:
The films themselves were viewed as a safety hazard and nitrate fires resulted in a loss of film, property, and, in some cases, human life. The effort of film archives to collect and then copy nitrate films onto modern non-flammable film stock have saved many titles from oblivion. Nevertheless, the survival rate remains frightfully low.

Himself, Mike Mashon:
In many cases, the complete film may not survive; but, only a small portion, such as a single reel or a few scenes, still exist. Sometimes the coming attractions trailer for a film survives, while the feature itself does not. As we'll see latter. Still, each fragment is a window into our cultural past and a fleeting glimpse of a movie that no longer exist in it's entirety.