Colorization process now can restore black and white films.

Colorization process now can restore black and white films

The controversial method used to colorize older movies has spawned a technology that even film purists should appreciate.

The local division of American Film Technologies Inc. can now restore black-and-white movies through its computerized process.

"A lot of the same technology that brought us colorization will improve black-and-white films," said Barry Sandrew, director of research and development and president of American Film's animation division. "Some people will have to admit that something they abhor has improved the industry."

The firm will also use a digital computer process to bring faded color movies back to their original hues.

For years, many in the movie industry have complained that colorization destroys black-and-white artistry. American Film of Wayne, Pa., claims that its colorization process, done at its Sorrento Valley and Tijuana plants, improves the quality of the movies.

The company's revenues for its colorization and animation lines grew to $18 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, compared to $11.2 million in fiscal 1989, said George Jensen Jr., chairman of the Pennsylvania-based public company. American Film recorded net income of $3.1 million in fiscal 1990 and $144,000 in 1989.

The company, which employs 200 in Sorrento Valley and 200 in Tijuana, expects its latest black-and-white and color restoration to drastically improve its revenue. But Jensen will not predict the increase in business.

"Let's just say we expect many millions of dollars," Jensen said.

As American Film diversifies its product line, however, Jensen predicted that its base colorization process will represent only 20 percent of its revenue five years from now.

The American Film Institute has determined that film restoration will cost the industry $15 million a year for the next 20 years for a total projected cost of $300 million, Jensen said.

"The studios just didn't take care of the movies," Sandrew said. "Now a lot of them are faded."

Many of these movies are badly scratched and marred by the deterioration of the film stock, Jensen said. This changes the original black and white contrast levels and often causes problems with registration, Jensen said.

The company's restoration process is an improvement compared to traditional methods, which include filling in scratches with chemicals, Sandrew said.

American Film creates a digital record of the film. The restored film can be stored on laser disk or other digital archiving mediums, and it can be put back onto safety film stock. There is no limit to the number of new negatives that can be made without a loss of image quality, Jensen said.

While the firm used its colorization process for movies on videocassettes, it will use its restoration technology for films shown in theaters, Sandrew said.

"There's been a renewed interest in the classics," Sandrew said.

That interest in Hollywood's Golden Age is demonstrated by the success of the theatrical re-release of "Citizen Kane" and the growth of American Movie Classics, a cable network that broadcasts only classic movies, Sandrew said.

Animated shorts and full-length features also are getting more attention.

Late last month, the company also announced it had developed a new computer animation process called an ink and paint system. The company can take paper animation drawings and scan them into a computer, Sandrew said. The drawings then can be "painted" with some of the millions of colors available on the American Film palette. The system gives the art director almost unlimited creative options, Jensen said.

Again, Jensen said he could not guess how much business American Film could expect from the new technology.

"Animation is a $500 million market in the U.S. alone," he said. "If we get 10 percent of that, it would be $50 million."