NYSCA Grant FMC has again met with success in its applications for grant support receiving two grants for film preservation: one from NYSCA to evaluate the archival condition of our collection and one from AFI for the preservation of several films from the early 60's . Also, NYSCA continues the third and final year of a grant to FMC for general operating support. These applications were prepared by members of the Grants Committee from the Board of Directors, Dave Gearey (Chair), Karen Kramer and M. M. Serra. An archivist will soon begin to examine and record the condition and provenance of the 5000 prints being stored in the Cooperative's office. Some of these are rare, irreplaceable Kodachrome prints and some are one of a kind art works. Furthermore, many of our older members have died with leaving an estate, making FMC the existing archive for this work. Identifying this material will facilitate the process of locating Printing Masters for potential future duplication. We will also evaluate paper documents relating to FMC's films, such as: former catalogs, old newsletters, flyers of members' screening (Andy Warhol, Hans Richter, etc. ) This information is of great importance for film scholars. NYSCA's support will help us establish a firm base for this on-going process. FMC also applied to the AFI for support in preserving several films made as part of the first wave of the New American Cinema. The AFI did not agree to support our entire request, but chose to cover lab costs for restoration of several archival works, each of which has historical and artistic significance. NYSCA's grant for general operating support has been a great help. Last year FMC purchased a new office computer system. This year, accounting procedures have been computerized, with older files transferred and integrated into the new IBM computer with Windows 95. Other new software, Media Tracking System, designed by David Warren at Berkeley Micro Design and co-purchases with Canyon Cinema in San Francisco, is being beta tested by FMC staff. The MTS software database will streamline FMC's ordering, shipping and distribution procedures; make it possible to index the film and video collection by category, (e.g. genre, content, technique, etc.); facilitate the design and publication of catalogues and flyers; and enlarge membership record-keeping options.

Packaging Tours and Showcases Anyone who is interested in putting together a package of films from our collection for possible tour or showcases, please contact M. M. Serra at the Film-Makers' Cooperative, (212) 889-3820. You must be responsible for setting up the program with the showcases and contacting the filmmakers. FMC member Stan Brakhage at MoMA's Big As Life: An American History of 8mm Films.On Thursday, September 17, 1998. Stan Brakhage held his 'Salon" selections and treasures from his personal collection of small gauge film. The museum's small, Time Warner Screening Room was packed and everyone enjoyed this rare treat. Below Stan rests after outside the screening room after his presentation. Two weeks later FMC member Peggy Ahwesh had her one person as part of the Big As Life series on Thursday, October 8. Peggy as present and spoke before and took questions after. Her presentation as well received. She showed, Fragments Projects and From Romance to Ritual.. From the evenings' program: One Person Presentation Peggy Ahwesh "One of the strongest advocates and most innovative users of low-tech aestherics, Ahwesh unflinchingly examines the split between social convention and individual experience. By documenting people in their own habitats, her home-movie strategies resonate on levels of language, gender difference and ununguarded behavior, often contrasting adlts' and children's experiences, as in From Romance to Ritual, or , as in The Fragments Project, allowing their subjects their oun voices." --Museum of Modern Art Calendar, October 1998 If you want to get info on future screenings with the Big As Life series call 212-708-9480. Drawings from Board Member, Jane Gang From the FMC achvices. Can you ID it? Email your answer to us. Pics for two '98 Board meetings September Board of Directors meeting at Tessa Hughes-Freeland's studio October Board of Directors meeting in the Study Center at the MoMA The Robert Beck Memorial Theater FMC work station for the archive at the MoMA. FMC Dues FMC, as many nonprofit arts organizations, continues to work on an extremely thin margin. This leads to the necessary reminder that membership DUES are due. Please send your yearly $40 to the office. This specific reminder should not discourage any member from making an additional or separate donation. Because of our tax exempt status, donations are tax deductible. As always, we invite and encourage members who have questions about this or any other FMC business to call M.M. Serra at FMC at 212 - 889 3820