Preserving Texas film history: Texas Film Round-Up runs through March

State residents will have multiple opportunities this month to have films and videotapes digitized through the Texas Film Round-Up event. 

The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve, provide access and educate the community about the state’s film heritage. 

The organization partners with the Texas Film Commission each year to administer the Texas Film Round-Up event. The program has provided access to over 50,000 films and videotapes.

Participants can drop off film and videotapes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 19-21 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 26-28 at the Garland Landmark Museum at 393 N. 6th St. in Garland. Appointments can be made for dropoffs by phone at 972-205-2996, or by email at heritage@garlandtx.gov.

“Transferring films and videotapes to a digital format is the best way to preserve the content long after the original medium has deteriorated,” TAMI states on their website. “The benefits of digitization include the ability to: migrate to new digital formats as needed, create multiple copies that you can store in different places and view the videos on your computer without putting wear and tear on the originals.”

All types of videos are accepted including advertisements, industrial films, amateur films, itinerant films, animation, local television, documentaries, newsreels, educational films, promotional films, government films, home movies, student films and more.

Film must be the format of Super 9, 8mm or 16 mm to qualify. Videotapes must be 8mm video, Betamax, Digital 8, Hi-8, Mini-DV, VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Betacam SP, Betacam SX, Digital Betacam, DVCam, DVCPro, HDCam, MPEG IMX, U-matic or U-matic SP to qualify.

The film must relate to the history and culture of Texas because they were either filmed in Texas, filmed by a Texan or featured Texas or Texans. 

When submitting a film or videotape, it must be in the public domain or submitted by the copyright holder, who will grant permission for the content to be shared by TAMI. The limit is up to 50 film reels and 15 videotapes per household.

Programs recorded from television or commercials films will not be accepted.

The service will inventory your films and videotapes, provide minor clearing and repairs, digitize the materials, transfer the digital files to a portable drive that you will be charged for and return your originals with the portable drive.

Portable drives will range in price from $15-80, depending on the size of the collection submitted. 

For more information about the program, contact TAMI at 512-485-3073, or by email at info@texasarchive.org.

TAMI provides access to a selection of contributed films and videotapes that can be viewed online for free at texasarchive.org. Additionally, the organization provides digitalization and transfer services outside the round-up event at a cost.