This position is located in the Culpeper, Virginia, Film Laboratory, Preservation Services Section, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Researcher and Collections Services.
Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. Ability to establish, test, interpret, and implement black and white motion picture film control standards. ** Ability to determine that a newly created motion picture film duplicate is of the highest quality that can be produced from the original film source elements using light tables, film rewinders, footage counters, and flatbed viewing tables. ** Ability to establish light values visually or using a film analyzer in order to produce timing tapes and timing sheets for the preservation of motion picture and soundtrack films. ** Ability to select the right printing machine considering such factors as film shrinkage, deterioration levels, and perforation type. Knowledge of audio and moving image materials and preservation techniques. Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
The position of Photographic Preservation Specialist (Chief Motion Picture Timer) is a preservation administration/conservator position in the Film Preservation Laboratory of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center (NAVCC), Library Collections and Services Group at the Library of Congress in Culpeper, Virginia. The incumbent uses expert knowledge and skills to preserve and conserve the Library's oldest, most fragile nitrate-base and safety-base motion picture films with a great deal of independence in an exemplary manner. The incumbent maintains high standards of practice as defined by relevant professional associations for the long-term preservation and photochemical duplication of the Library's unique, historic, fragile and irreplaceable collections. The Library of Congress holds the largest public collection of nitrate-base and safety-based 16mm and 35mm film in the country. The Film Preservation Laboratory is responsible for preserving the collection at the Library’s photochemical film lab. This lab opened at this location in 2007. The laboratory staff inspects and prepares film for printing. The motion picture printers include a BHP contact wet/shrunken (model 7700 RD) and dry/non-shrunken (model 6127) and an Oxberry 1500 wet gate step optical printer for 35mm, 28mm, 22mm, 16mm and Super 16mm, 8mm and Super 8mm blow-up printing to 35mm. The lab also includes photochemical processing for black and white positive and black and white negative, and a 35mm QC theater. Performs in more than one specialty area. As a motion picture timer, incumbent sets equipment parameters and conducts testing as needed for black and white motion picture film processes. Makes daily densitometer checks by plotting density readings obtained from a pre-calibrated step wedge against standard readings. Examines and times film for printing, whether for prints, master positive, or duplicate negatives, for both picture image and soundtrack. Selects light intensity to be used for each scene; prepares a punched tape for automatic light change control consistent with the recorded light selections. Assigns the proper gamma level for duplicate negatives to be made from masters or prints. Selects the printing equipment best suited for printing the film in each production job. As a technical expert, the incumbent assigns jobs to the inspector/printers, tracks the progress of jobs through the lab, gives technical assistance on difficult and complex work problems, and inspects completed work to assure it is of acceptable quality. In addition, they participate in the design of special test equipment when existing equipment fails to provide acceptable results. Modifies testing programs to obtain and evaluate required data under varying operating conditions. Develops innovative procedures and equipment to meet specialized and unique requirements and recommends changes in procedures or equipment when existing procedures and equipment do not produce acceptable quality prints. Modifies established testing programs to test entire systems. Determines characteristics, capabilities, and limitations and performance of conventional systems. Applicable guides and precedents are available. Establishes a program to test required data under varying operating conditions. Analyzes data for evidence of improper function. Determines cause of malfunction. Analyzes and evaluates the significance of test data and writes an evaluation report of findings and recommendations. Develops innovative photographic systems and equipment to meet specialized challenges associated with the preservation, conservation, and reproduction of photographic media. Evaluates projects for the application of new technological developments in the field. Addresses unexpected situations, for which no precedents exist, nor any relevant preservation, conservation, or reproduction procedures. Evaluates work representing the most difficult and most unusual problems with preservation of audio and moving­ image materials. Evaluates the technical quality of audio and moving image preservation materials. Evaluates such image factors as proper image registration, density, gamma, critical focus, granularity and gradation, as well as audio synchronization, sibilance, modulation, noise, and frequency range to determine if they meet archival standards of quality. Determines the correct light value for each scene, the printing equipment that can best duplicate the original nitrate-base and safety-base film, and the proper gamma to control the developing of the film. The position description number for this position is 056784. The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area. The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule. This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position. Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.