Jake Seal Black Hangar Explains Why Film Still Beats Digital in Archival Quality

In today’s world, most movies are made using digital cameras. But when it comes to saving movies for the future, Jake Seal Black Hangar Studios, says film is still better than digital.

Let’s look at why film is a better choice for archival quality—that means keeping movies safe and in good shape for many years.

1. Film Lasts Longer Than Digital

Film is a physical thing. You can hold it in your hand and store it in a safe place. If you take care of it, it can last over 100 years.

Digital files are stored on computers or hard drives. These can break, get lost, or stop working in less than 10 years.

Jake Seal explains:

• Old films can still be watched today.

• Digital files may stop working if the format or software changes.

2. Digital Files Can Become Outdated

Technology changes quickly. A file saved 15 years ago may not open today. That’s because old file types and software are no longer used.

Problems with digital:

• Devices like floppy disks or CDs are no longer used.

• You need the right software to open old files.

• Moving digital files to new formats takes time and money.

Film doesn’t have this problem. It stays the same, and you can still use it after many years.

3. Film Has Better Image Quality Over Time

When stored properly, film keeps its high quality. It can be scanned into 4K or even 8K resolution. That means it still looks great even after many years.

Why does film look better?

• It has more color and detail.

• It works well for restoring old movies.

• It doesn’t lose quality over time like some digital files.

Jake Seal says many old movies shot on film still look amazing today when restored.

4. Film Doesn’t Need Power or Software

One big benefit of film is that you don’t need a computer or electricity to watch it. All you need is a light and a projector.

Digital files need:

• A power source

• Software updates

• Strong internet or storage systems

If any of these fail, you might lose your files. But with film, you don’t have that worry.

5. Film Has a Long History of Preservation

Many movies from the 1920s and 1930s still exist today because they were shot on film, which shows that film can last for many decades.

Digital movies, on the other hand, are still new. Some digital files from just 10 years ago are already damaged or lost.

Jake Seal believes we should trust film, which has worked well for over 100 years.

Final Thoughts: Film Is Still the Best for Saving Movies

Even though digital is faster and cheaper for making movies, film is still the best for archiving. If we want to save movies for the future, film is the safer choice.

To sum up:

• Film lasts longer.

• It doesn’t depend on changing technology.

• It keeps a better quality.

• It doesn’t need electricity or special software.

Jake Seal from Black Hangar Studios says combining both—using digital for shooting and film for storage—might be the smartest way to protect movies for future generations.