What is The Great American Home Movie Project (GAHMP)?
Producer/Director Robert Hanley, the founder of Home Video Studios has started archiving America's home movies. Home movies (8mm, Super-8mm and 16mm) have been around since the 1920s, with their heyday in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. That's over 80 years of American history - personal histories - that are just fascinating to watch -- the backyard barbeques, Model T-s rolling down dirt roads, small town fish fries, New York City in the '40s, families at the beach, dance recitals, baby's first steps, WWII, Fourth-of-July Parades - a different view of history that provides insight into the American spirit. Our goal is to combine this into what we call The Great American Home Movie Project - a feature length documentary.
Who is Robert Hanley?
Producer/Director Robert Hanley, founder and CEO of Home Video Studio has been involved in most aspects of the film and video industry as a writer, producer, director, technician, cinematographer, and editor. He has shot on both coasts in every format including 35mm, 16mm and Betacam. He has paid his dues in the editing suites logging thousands of hours, and has written, produced, and directed a feature film (Good Cop/Bad Cop).
While taking film classes at Danville Junior College in the mid-1970s, Robert shared an experience many film enthusiasts remember: Star Wars. After viewing that classic sci-fi movie, he immediately realized that he wanted to become a motion picture director. Robert attended Southern Illinois University, but after one semester, the lure of "Hollywood" was too much to ignore and he dropped out. Although he got sidetracked for four years in the fast food business (owning his own 50s' style drive-in restaurant), Robert eventually produced his first 16mm film - a 23 - minute documentary for the Indiana Lions Club Eye Bank entitled Our Goal Is In Sight.
In 1982, with the success of his first major project, Robert started his own film company and moved from his small hometown to Indianapolis. As a full-time professional, Robert produced local and national TV commercials, corporate image films and videos, training tapes, and a host of other similar projects for large companies, such as: General Motors, General Foods, Jayco RVs and Airstream, as well as dozens of advertising agencies, and local and state government organizations. But in the end, he discovered that this type of work was not to be his future.
Even with his lengthy list of successful projects, he became the quintessential "starving artist." So, in 1991, Robert decided to do what so many successful entrepreneurs do: he reinvented himself. He took the knowledge and experience he had gained and retooled his production business into what it is today - the most successful home studio business in country! The new company focused on offering video services that others couldn't or wouldn't offer but that were definitely needed. In the summer of 1991 Robert sold his first Home Video Studio and from that time through 1999, he perfected his business model. Today, HVS is America's leading video production services company with studios located across the country, in Canada and in Sweden!
Back in the early 90s when Robert was transferring home movies to videotape, he was just enamored with the scenes of Americana that flashed by on his screen: marching bands, mom and dad barbecuing in the backyard, kids on old bikes, dance recitals, funny scenes at picnics, New York City in the 1940s, a bride and groom in Alabama - just fascinating stuff. Far removed from those days of transferring 8mm and 16mm on his own, Hanley now owns the premier film transfer facility in the country: HVS Transfer in Indianapolis, Indiana. There his skilled staff of professionals transfer film to digital video and DVD 24-hours-a-day.
Hanley remarks, "What's really exciting is that not only are we restoring these old movies for families and individuals, but we're also preserving those memories and images for generations in the future!"
HVS' transfer works in conjunction with the powerful Apple G5 computer using Apple's professional editing program, Final Cut Pro. Film transfer editors actually take a digital picture of every frame of the film. They also clean up the old movies using digital methods to cut out a blemish here and lighten a scene there. The process also "fixes" the annoying flicker problems that everyone used to have to endure when watching old family films.
"The quality is astounding," says Hanley. "It's just unbelievably clear and concise, often adding quality to the original film." Once the movies are captured in the computer, restored and enhanced, music and titles can be added prior to the output of the finished video to DVD or other formats.
"Most of our customers have now moved from videotape to DVD, which permits us to create DVD chapter menus for them, if they would like," says Gary Zgonc, HVS' film department manager. "This feature allows the customer to jump around and watch their favorite scenes, just like on commercially released Hollywood DVD film."
With the near disappearance of home movie projectors and the film deterioration factor, transferring your home movies to DVD just makes sense. You now can preserve your memories and improve the viewing experience at the same time.
Why does Robert want our home movies?
As you know, film and even the VHS tapes are deteriorating, and Robert believes that archiving all of these materials onto a digital format is important, if only for that reason. But Robert is a visionary, and he is planning to write, produce, and direct a feature documentary based on these wonderful home movies.
The Great American Home Movie Project (GAHMP) will span more than half a century and will give viewers the feeling of traveling through time watching everyday people in natural settings. Hanley believes his Great American Home Movie Project is the first documentary of its kind. "It's truly unique because anyone who has home movies can participate and possibly become part of a motion picture," says Hanley.
I want to have my movies transferred and join GAHMP, what do I do?
If you'd like your home movies to be a part of GAHMP, please contact one of our Home Video Studios near your area and let them know you want to join GAHMP. It's easy. The regional HVS studio will go ahead and take your order and transfer your film as they normally would. You will sign a release, which gives HVS the rights to use your movies. The HVS home office will keep a digital copy of your movies and you will still get all of your original film back, as well. Of course, your old film will be transferred to DVD and you'll be a part of this documentary project and save some money in the process.
How do I find an Home Video Studio near me?
It's easy,
What if there is not an Home Video Studio near me?
No problem, you can send your movies to HVS Transfer in Indianapolis, Indiana. You will still save money and get your movie digitally transferred to DVD. (click here)
I have already had my movies transferred to video or DVD, can I still participate in The Great American Home Project?
Yes you can! First of all, you may want to consider having your movies re-transferred to DVD or digital video. Depending on when you had your original movies transferred and who did the transfer, you may be pleasantly surprised on the current quality of home movie transfer in general and our professional system. Many of our customers have re-transferred their movies as technology has become better. Call us at (800)660-8273 for more information or email us at info@homemovietransfer.com. You can also place your order now by (clicking here)
How can I be paid cash for my old movies?
If you are not interested in having your movies transferred to DVD or video but would like to participate in GAHMP and make some money in the process, we can help. WE PAY CASH FOR YOUR OLD HOME MOVIES! Up to 1 cent per foot plus shipping (UPS Ground) to us.
I want to sell my old home movies to GAHMP, what's next?
Call us at 800-660-8273. Ask for Robert Hanley
robert@homevideostudio.comHVS owners that use GAHMP
Here are a current list of HVS owners that use GAHMP
