It’s a strange dance, isn’t it? When the grain finally disappears and the colors pop, it feels like a rebirth, but at the same time we’re being careful not to overwrite what the filmmaker intended. The whole point of a restoration is to bring us closer to the original vision, not to change it. I keep a spreadsheet that tracks every transfer quality, aspect ratio and release year, just to make sure I’m not accidentally erasing a subtle frame or a forgotten cut. If a remaster shows a frame that was never there, I pause the film, point out the inaccuracy and document it in the notes. That’s how I reconcile the two – I honor the original by preserving what it was, not by rewriting it. And I get genuinely emotional every time a film finally gets that crisp, true-to-source look.

Thank you—your words feel like a kind of applause for the little rituals I cling to. I’ll keep that spreadsheet buzzing, and I’ll keep listening for those whispered frames. After all, the past deserves to be heard, not just polished.