Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985) - 35mm Scan [Funding Needed for BTTF1 and the Whole Trilogy!!]

Hey everyone,

Coming at you for the holidays with another 35mm print scanning opportunity.

BACK TO THE FUTURE is my favorite Spielberg classic of the 80s. (Yes, I know he only produced it but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel so definably Spielberg from the 80s setting to the heartwarming tone. 😉 )

Helping out Endocryne and setting up a thread so we can see if there’s any interest in getting this 80s classic scanned by a reliable European scanner! The plan is to get the whole trilogy scanned if we can raise the necessary scanning costs: BTTF2 and BTTF3 are also available to us!

I’m hoping this trilogy (or at very least the timeless 1985 original) can also get some love. Luckily, the fundraiser seems to be doing VERY well already, so hopefully any fans of the film here can keep the momentum going!

Over two dozen donors have already pledged over 500€. We only have 205€ left for scanning costs and then just need to get enough to buy hard drives!

PLEDGES

BTTF 1 (1985) - 714€/714€ - 100% Funded
BTTF 2 (1989) - 503€/682€ - 74% Funded
BTTF 3 (1990) - 33€/722€ - 5% Funded

Hard Drive Storage Costs - $210/$210 - 100% Funded

Post in the thread or PM me if you’re interested in funding this one and/or the sequels! I’m sure you’ll get more out of this than The Fabelmans…

The Aluminum Falcon said:

Hey everyone,

Coming at you for the holidays with another 35mm print scanning opportunity.

BACK TO THE FUTURE is my favorite Spielberg classic of the 80s. (Yes, I know he only produced it but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel so definably Spielberg from the 80s setting to the heartwarming tone. 😉 )

Helping out Endocryne and setting up a thread so we can see if there’s any interest in getting this 80s classic scanned by a reliable European scanner! The plan is to get the whole trilogy scanned if we can raise the necessary scanning costs: BTTF2 and BTTF3 are also available to us!

I’m hoping this trilogy (or at very least the timeless 1985 original) can also get some love. Luckily, the fundraiser seems to be doing VERY well already, so hopefully any fans of the film here can keep the momentum going!

Over two dozen donors have already pledged over 500€. We only have 205€ left for scanning costs and then just need to get enough to buy hard drives!

---

PLEDGES-579€/714€ (premium) -81% FUNDED
The Aluminum Falcon - $20
Donor #2 - $10
Donor #3 - $10
Donor #4 - $10
Donor #5 - $10
Donor #6 - $25
Donor #7 - $10
Donor #8 - $40
Donor #9 - $50
Donor #10 - $40
Donor #11 - $15
Donor #12 - $15
Donor #13 - $15
Donor #14 - $20
Donor #15 - $20
Donor #16 - $10
Donor #17 - $10
Donor #18 - $20
Donor #19 - $40
Donor #20 - $10
Donor #21 -$10
Donor #22- $15
Donor #23 - $34
Donor #24 - $15
Donor #25 - $25
Donor #26 - $10
Donor #27 - $50
Donor #28 - $20

---

Post in the thread or PM me if you’re interested in funding this one and/or the sequels! I’m sure you’ll get more out of this than The Fabelmans…

Are you on the valeyard film archives discord because i want to know if night scenes are going to look like they do on the uhd blu ray when it comes to the darkness levels not looking black instead looking gray on sdr.

Responded elsewhere. But the films haven’t been scanned yet, so would. need to get them scanned before we can find out!

Put me down for 20€ !

I PM’d you. I’ll donate $25
Thanks for the hard work

Thanks alexpeden2000 and javidial!

Happy to throw in $20 for this!

Thanks docded!

Considering a $25 donation. PM with the details and I’ll think about it!

PM’ed you. Let me know if you’d like to proceed Virtus.

Where can I find out progress of the fundraising?

Fullmetaled said:

Where can I find out progress of the fundraising?

Top of the page.

Will donate towards this sporadically.

I can donate $30 for this. Thanks!

Thanks Leatherface! BTTF 1 and the hard drive are fully funded. Need to do some coordination, but donors should expect a PM in January with details.

Happy holidays, all! This is great news.

EDIT: Please keep donations coming for BTTF2 and 3, it’d be great to have those scanned as well 😉

To update everyone again, BTTF1 and the hard drive are fully funded!

BTTF 2 is already up to $503 and just needs $179 more! So, that’s already 74% complete 😃

oh yeah. that sounds good.

Up to $543 now! Only $139 to go for BTTF 2 to get scanned.

Not negative at all! Good question, Jay!

I’d say the main appeals of a scan would be A) open matte, B) theatrical color timing (since these are unfaded), and C) seeing how the special effects blended with the live action footage in a theatrical print (the increased grain and contrast no doubt makes it even more convincing).

The BTTF 4K remasters are fine (certainly better than Star Wars!) but with their brightness and degraining, it’s interesting to compare for reference with theatrical prints.

As I always note, though, this is a print, so while it’s historically representative of how people watched it in 1985, it shouldn’t have comparable detail to an OCN scan (unless that OCN scan is degrained and botched totally like, say, Star Wars).

But it still could give us an idea what it would look like if competent hands were in change it would probably look like this but 10 fold.

I’d like to donate too, please. Can you send me the details on how to do so?

@JayArgonaut and @jollysight we are currently just taking pledges until BTTF2’s scanning/preservation costs can be funded.

Sent you both a PM!

Back to the Future 1 and Back to the Future 2 have reached their pledge goals. Will send donors instructions next month.

Let me know if anyone is interested in BTTF3 😃