Final Report on the Volunteering Project at the National Film Archive of Thailand (NFA)
November 10, 2005 | admin | trackbackDescription of the Institution
The Film Archive is part of the Fine Arts Department, a section of National Archives, therefore has to report to two levels on activities. Staff are chosen within the entire department by a length of service system (one receives promotion by the amount of time spent in a permanent position rather than particular qualification).
There are 3 sections within the Film Archive: the paper and documentation department, the access and cataloguing department and the preservation department.
The paper and documentation department is housed in the same location with the National Archives in central Bangkok. The photo/stills collection is kept there too. Seven people are currently working there. The access and cataloguing department and the preservation department have been moved seven years ago to Salaya, a University city 35 km of Bangkok, where they occupy five buildings. Thirteen people work in Salaya, of which four have a permanent contract. The rest of the staff gets it renewed every year.
1. The Filmmuseum: this project was started four years ago and was officially opened towards the end of 2004. It consists of two floors, one which is being used for changing exhibitions and one floor for permanent exhibition that displays scenes from famous Thai films. It is a small building which was constructed in the style the house of a production company. Scenes from famous films include NANG NAK, the bar from COUNTRY HOTEL and the tiger drawing from TROPICAL MALADY. In addition it presents the filmmaking process from start to projection with objects like an old printer plus a small movie theater. The Museum is only open on Saturdays and the opening hours end with the screening of one classic film. The archive published a list of __The 100 Thai films every Thai person should have seen__ and screens them in Bangkok at the building of the National Archives.
2. The new vault, completed inlate 2003: one office space, one acclimatization room, one vault with moveable shelfing, one inspection room for a maximum of 5 people.
3. The old vault is two storeys high. Top floor: nitrate vault and acetate vaults. In the hallways one finds the videomaterials. First floor: digital department, film transfer onto VHS. Ground floor: new incoming material (one huge room filled to the ceiling with different kinds of material). There is a strong vinegar smell throughout the building. Workspaces for filminspection are on the ground level. Even though the building is only a few years old, it is in relatively poor condition. Budget has been secured for a renovation of the building, as the new vaults are already full and the move is not entirely completed.
4. The film laboratory building: The archive has a small laboratory for b&w processing only, with one staff member.
5. Access and Cataloguing building: one floor with vhs copies, cataloguing cards, office spaces for 4 people and three reference places for the viewing of vhs. There is also one container that holds the technology collection.
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