ScreenSound Australia

A star is born
ScreenSound Australia: The National Collection of Screen and Sound

by Erica Martin

Film, radio, television and sound industries have had an enormous impact on people's lives. For decades, great political moments, comedy, drama, music and sport have been recorded and broadcast through cinemas and into our lounge rooms.

One Australian institution has been responsible for gathering, preserving and sharing with the nation this vital aspect of our cultural heritage - and in June 1999, it came of age.

At the opening of its extension, the Prime Minister announced a new name and direction for The National Film and Sound Archive - ScreenSound Australia was born.

The new identity is the first step in a long-term effort to increase recognition of its work, according to the Director of ScreenSound Australia, Ron Brent.

'We now need to build on our leading status in the field of preservation and be even more relevant and accessible in the future,' he said.

ScreenSound Australia has come a long way since its inception as a small part of the National Library of Australia - it became a separate entity in 1984.

The Commonwealth Government recently provided $18 million toward redevelopment and upgrades, including seven new audio studios, a purpose-built recording studio, film treatment unit, printing and processing laboratory and a video unit.

The enhanced facilities will allow ScreenSound Australia to improve its profile and capabilities.

'Our mission continues to be to collect, preserve and tell the Australian story in film, sound and television and we are one of the most accessible and entertaining national institutions,' Brent said.

ScreenSound Australia is home to Australia's largest collection of recorded sound and moving images with over two million items, including television and sound recordings, thousands of newsreels, a huge variety of scripts, posters and film stills, and a remarkable 100 years of Australian films.

The organisation's staff dedicate themselves to finding and collecting Australia's screen and sound heritage no matter where it is - rubbish tips and cavities under floorboards have turned up some real treasures.

They also spend many painstaking hours preserving and restoring films and recordings that would otherwise be lost forever.

'People keep coming back because there is always something new - from exciting additions to our screen and sound collection to new exhibitions, screenings, live presentations and product releases.

'Our current exhibition, The Golden Days of Radio transports you through a time tunnel of original radio programs and artefacts from the 1920s-50s,' Brent explained.

'A new exhibition, Real to Reel, is being prepared for the newly refurbished gallery. The preview of this exhibition of treasures features Australia's first Oscar (r); The Whitlams 1998 Aria; the script from Australia's first colour feature film Jedda; the 1961 Gold Logie for Girl of the Year; Soldiers of the Cross glass slides; Muriel's bridal accessories and a 1943 Wall 35mm Camera.

'We also have a range of travelling exhibitions throughout the country which helps to ensure our film and sound heritage reaches as many people as possible.'

In addition to public exhibitions, ScreenSound Australia provides valuable services to industry.

It acts as a repository for much of Australia's screen and sound productions, with new deposits daily from film makers, television and radio stations and recording artists Australia-wide.

It provides a safe and sterile environment to keep masters in top condition and copies are made for general access and viewing where appropriate.

Whole items, or short segments, can be selected for television and radio broadcast, screening, research and exhibitions. A catalogue of the collection is available on CD-ROM online at www.screensound.gov.au.

Contact
Tim Cansfield Smith, Public Affairs, ScreenSound Australia 02 6248 2000 or email Tim_Cansfield-Smith@nfsa.gov.au or visit the website at www.screensound.gov.au.