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Adam and Charlotte dive into the exciting world of film, examining it from their unique perspectives of film restoration and development. This self-proclaimed film geek husband and wife team tackle lost treasures, explore subgenres, directors and actors and discuss the art of the perfect double feature. They may even have some friends drop by to help them tackle the important questions.
62 Episodes
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VistaVision is back—and you won’t believe how epic it looks on the big screen! In this episode of Perf Damage, we break down every way you can watch Paul Thomas Anderson's new film One Battle After Another: the ultra-rare 8-perf horizontal VistaVision screenings (only four theaters in the world!), massive 70mm, towering IMAX 15-perf film, and DCP. Charlotte—recently quoted as the VistaVision expert—explains why this is a historic film event that hasn’t happened since Strategic Air Command in ...
Step into the world of faded glory and timeless brilliance as Charlotte and Adam dive into the restoration of Billy Wilder’s masterpiece, Sunset Blvd. (1950). Charlotte takes you behind the scenes of the meticulous restoration process—sharing the challenges with picture and audio, and triumphs of bringing this classic back to life—while Adam peels back the curtain on the original production, with tales of Wilder, Swanson, Holden, and the making of one of Hollywood’s sharpest portraits of itse...
Ever wondered how lost director’s cuts are uncovered in a studio archive? Or how deleted scenes and forgotten footage resurface decades later? In this episode, we go deep with film librarian Jeffrey Osmer from the Paramount Archives, the behind-the-scenes legend who helps bring hidden film history back to life. We reveal how the director’s cut of William Friedkin’s Jade was reconstructed, and we break down the painstaking process it took to finding each shot for Star Trek: The Motion Picture...
We just got back from Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, and it wasn’t just a vacation—it was a full-blown film restoration adventure. In this episode, we’re sharing what it’s like to not only attend one of the most beloved film festivals in the world, but to be part of it! Charlotte shares what it was like to introduce the brand-new restorations of Sunset Boulevard (1950), Danger: Diabolik (1968), and the world premiere of Artists and Models (1955), plus she gave a 45-minute talk on the ...
In this episode of Perf Damage, we’re joined by Paramount Film Preservation Manager Graham, who shares some of his favorite restoration projects—from a high-seas adventure to animated antics. We dive into the silent epic Old Ironsides (1926), explore the innovative Magnascope system used for its original release, and discuss the film’s re-edit and re-release in the 1950s. Then we shift gears to cartoons, as Graham walks us through his collaborative work restoring classic Fleischer Studi...
This week on Perf Damage, we're going behind the mask of the new 4K HDR release of Danger: Diabolik (1968) — coming soon from Kino Lorber! Charlotte walks us through the work behind the new transfer from the original 35mm camera negative—what was done, what wasn’t, and why it looks better than ever. She shares behind-the-scenes stories of how some of the original opticals were updated, how a long-missing outro was rediscovered, and why this version is the most faithful to the original Italia...
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival, where VistaVision made a spectacular return to the big screen! We take you inside the magic of the festival, from the installation of VistaVision projectors in the legendary Chinese Theatre to the building of rare 8-perf film prints for Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and We're No Angels. We’ve got stories, secrets, and stunning footage of these screenings coming together. Charlotte shares clips from he...
In this episode of Perf Damage, we sit down with Jeff McCarty, a Senior Preservation Manager on Charlotte’s team at Paramount, to talk about his incredible journey to get into film preservation. Jeff shares the story of how he got his start from attending the USC film school, to working at Technicolor and he walks us through the many twists and turns that led him to Paramount. Along the way, he’s worked on some major restorations, including The Godfather (1972), the silent classic It (1927), ...
We can finally share the news we've been teasing for months - Charlotte is heading to the TCM Film Festival to give a talk on The History of VistaVision alongside Craig Barron! In this special mini-episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this widescreen deep dive, the classic films she’ll be introducing, and how this whole crazy project came to life. From behind-the-scenes stories to the magic of VistaVision on the big screen, we’re giving you a sneak peek at what’s in ...
Building on our last episode about widescreen formats in the 1950s, we’re taking you inside a virtual restoration room for a hands-on look at how we determined the correct aspect ratio for The Country Girl (1954). You'll see clips of the film in multiple aspect ratios so you can decide for yourself—was it meant to be seen in 1.66:1 or 1.85:1? If you’ve ever wanted to be a film restorationist for a day, this is your chance to experience what the job is really like. Join us as we compare the fi...
Join us for an eye-opening (and hilarious) deep dive into the wild world of Hollywood aspect ratios! We’re thrilled to welcome Bob Furmanek and Jack Theakston from the 3D Film Archive, who share their extensive research and experience restoring classic films and solving aspect ratio mysteries. We discuss some fascinating case studies from their recent restorations, including "The Glass Web (1953)" and "Gog (1954)," and Charlotte shares the challenges of finding the correct aspect ratio for "...
In this episode, we’re diving into the world of Republic Pictures and the two brothers who turned a B-studio into an A-list innovator: Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Known as the masters of miniature effects, the Lydecker brothers created jaw-dropping special effects that set Republic Pictures apart in the 1930s through the 1950s. Their groundbreaking work inspired generations of filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Join us as we tell the story of these unsung heroes of Ho...
Perf Damage returns to White Christmas for a third time, but in this episode, we're diving deep into the dazzling 2024 restoration that breathes new life into this holiday classic. Join us as we unpack the unique challenges of restoring a VistaVision film, from tackling flickering and stabilizing stock shots to managing color breathing and other quirks of the original negative. We’ll reveal how crucial detailed notes from past transfers were in shaping this restoration, helping to capture eve...
In this episode of Perf Damage, Adam and Charlotte take a deep dive into the 2024 Film Restoration of Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch a Thief, overseen by Charlotte herself! They discuss the painstaking process of sourcing materials for the restoration, the unique challenges presented by the VistaVision format, and how modern technology was used to address issues with the original film elements. Along the way, they share some fascinating lesser-known trivia about the production and discuss why Vi...
In this exclusive interview, Charlotte talks to Heath Holland from Cereal at Midnight, about her job as the Director of Film Preservation and Restoration at Paramount Pictures. She takes us behind the scenes of the fascinating world of film restoration. Check out this sneak peek and head over to @CerealAtMidnight to see the full interview! www.CerealAtMidnight.com Contact Us At: www.perfdamage.com Email : perfdamagepodcast@gmail.com Twitter (X) : @perfdamage Instagram : @perf_damage ...
This is the audio from our recent YouTube version of "TECHNICOLOR PART II: THE DRAMA." This version is slightly different than the original audio-only version. --- In this episode of Perf Damage, we dive deeper into the fascinating world of Technicolor by focusing on the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind the company: Herbert and Natalie Kalmus. This companion piece to our episode, THE UNTOLD STORY OF TECHNICOLOR, explores the couple’s innovative partnership, their influence on the film in...
In this episode of Perf Damage, we dive into the world of classic cinema with Bryan Cooper, co-producer of the Cinecon Film Festival—an unmissable hidden gem for film buffs and a must-have on your festival bucket list! Bryan, a staple of Cinecon for years, reveals his behind-the-scenes secrets and discusses the meticulous selection process for the festival’s lineup which includes the world premiere of many rare, recently restored classics from Paramount. Hear how he collaborates with Charlott...
In Part Two of our examination of the Westmore family, the founders of makeup in the movies. We delve deeper into the extraordinary saga of the Westmore family, and we focus on the four brothers—Ern, Wally, Frank, and Bud—who inherited their father George's passion for makeup artistry and left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Join us as we explore each brother's unique contribution: Ern's time as one of the “Bundy Boys” alongside Errol Flynn, John Barrymore and W.C. Fields, Wally...
Join us as we delve into the captivating saga of the Westmore family, the unsung heroes who revolutionized Hollywood's makeup industry. In 1917, George Westmore blazed a trail by establishing the very first makeup department in Tinseltown, forever altering the landscape of cinema. But the Westmores' journey is more than just a tale of innovation. Behind the scenes, it's a dramatic narrative of ambition, rivalry, and familial bonds tested against the backdrop of Hollywood's golden age. George...
In Part 2 of this episode, we continue our exploration of the question “Who is Kroger Babb and what is his connection to John Waters?” We examine the rest of Kroger Babb’s exceptional career after “Mom and Dad.” From introducing Ingmar Bergman to America with “Monika Story Of a Bad Girl” to ushering in the Mondo cycle of films in the 1960s with “Karimoja,” to his involvement in the Astounding Swedish Ice Cream Diet! Join us as we discuss why Kroger Babb isn’t more widely remembered and why ...
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