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The restoration, preservation and mastering of the Lantz Cartoons
Journal of Digital Media Management,
12
(4),
294-307
(2024)
Abstract
This paper describes the workflow and approval process for bringing Lantz Cartoons from the Universal Pictures vault into a DolbyVision HDR workflow, and preserving film and audio elements as part of the Universal Pictures initiative to preserve and restore its 112-year-old library through digitisation. The paper describes the unique processes undertaken in accomplishing a request to master the films for a broadcast distribution deal and how the dedicated professionals used their technical knowledge, workflow expertise and understanding of library history to preserve, restore and master 139 short films to fulfil the sale. The paper details the challenges of creating a viable budget for the work and demonstrates the significance of technology in protecting historically essential films.
Keywords: Dolby Vision mastering; successive exposure negatives; nitrate film; negative; restoration; preservation; Universal Pictures
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Cassandra Moore is the Vice President of Mastering and Archive at NBCUniversal, where she has worked since 2004. She is a highly skilled professional in 4K DolbyVision and HDR mastering, feature film restoration, production management and process improvement. Having worked for 30 years with top talent in the entertainment industry, she knows that ensuring films premiere in the best possible format with the highest-quality images and sound is important to filmmakers, the industry and the legacy of the studio. Restoring and preserving NBCUniversal’s 112-year-old library is the great honour and passion of her career.
