The primacy of American film throughout the decades supports the way actor members earn their livelihoods, and we should all take pride in being associated with its rich history. As film professionals, performers have a stake in the protection and preservation of the legacy of the art of filmmaking — and members can get involved and become a part of that effort.
Blazing Saddles, Brokeback Mountain, Citizen Kane, Jurassic Park, Monterey Pop, My Fair Lady, The Shining, Smoke Signals — these are among the 25 motion pictures inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in December 2018.
The U.S. Congress established the National Film Registry in 1988 to ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s film heritage. At the same time, the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) was formed to provide advice to the librarian of Congress, to aid in the annual selection of the works to be added to the Registry. Its purpose was also to apprise the librarian of changing trends and policies in the field of film preservation, and provide counsel on the ongoing implementation of the National Film Preservation Plan. Starting with an initial list of just 25 films in 1988, the Registry now includes 750 works on film, including some of the most famous and well-loved Hollywood and independent features, as well as shorts, student films, avant-garde films, “orphan” films, documentaries, newsreel footage and home movies.
The NFPB is comprised of a broad cross-section of the film industry, including representatives of the creative unions (SAG-AFTRA; DGA; WGA, East; WGA West; cinematographers; composers; and lyricists), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, AFI, AMPTP (producers), MPAA (studios), museums, exhibitors, critics, archivists and academicians. While this list includes people with diverse backgrounds, points of view and experience in film, filmmaking and preservation, it is still not fully inclusive of the universe of people with an interest in and knowledge of films.
Consequently, as part of the selection process, the Library of Congress has included a form on its website through which members of the public may directly nominate films to be added to the Registry. The goal is to create the most diverse pool of nominated films possible. This additional nominating process has expanded the list of popular films that are brought to the attention of the Librarian and the Board. However, up until now, there has been no outreach to a group as large, diverse and professionally connected to film as the membership of SAG-AFTRA.
In an effort to further increase the richness and diversity of the nominations and, subsequently, the 25 films chosen each year, the NFPB Diversity Committee has requested that SAG-AFTRA educate our members about the Registry and the public nomination process. The thinking is that doing so will greatly increase the numbers of experienced, engaged moving image professionals who participate in making recommendations.
The Librarian needs to know about great work across the full spectrum of filmmaking. Shorts, student films, avant-garde films, news film footage, home movies, documentary films and footage, and of course both Hollywood and independent features. In addition, the NFPB and the Librarian are constantly trying to increase the diversity of the Registry, not only in the kinds of work represented, but also in regard to race, gender, age and sexual orientation.
The members of SAG-AFTRA are the most diverse group represented by any membership organization on the planet, as to age, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, economic status and every other conceivable metric. And, since many share a professional interest in films and an abiding love for the moving image and wish to see it preserved for future generations, who better to advise the NFPB and the Librarian on the films that should be included?
By law, the stated requirement for addition to the Registry is that the work be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” Notice it can meet one, two or all three of those criteria. A film must be at least 10 years old to be eligible.
Please go to the NFPB home page on the Library of Congress website and explore.
To nominate a film, click here.
To see the films currently on the Registry, click here.
To see notable films not yet on the Registry, click here.
Photo: Evan Adams in Smoke Signals (1998)
SAG-AFTRA’s Voice on the Registry
Former Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur and SAG-AFTRA historian Valerie Yaros represent SAG-AFTRA on the National Film Preservation Board. Masur served from 2002-2005 and 2010 – present, and Yaros continuously since 2005. In 2018, on the 20th anniversary of the film Smoke Signals — the first feature film to be written, directed, produced and acted in by indigenous people to have a major distribution deal — it was chosen by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden for inclusion on the 2018 Registry. It was the result of an effort spearheaded by Yaros and supported by Masur to convince the Board of the film’s importance and worthiness for inclusion. Smoke Signals is an award-winning comedy-drama directed by Chris Eyre, a Native American, and co-starring Canadian First Nations actors Adam Beach and Evan Adams. Receiving high praise from film critics when it was released, the film has stood the test of time and continues to be screened in schools and universities.
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