ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project

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ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project
The Manila Metropolitan Theater (Metro Manila Districts; 2023-08-20) E911a 15.jpg
Established2011;13 years ago (2011)
Chair Leo Katigbak
Address ELJ Communications Center, Eugenio Lopez Drive, Diliman, Quezon City
Location
Philippines

ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project or also known as Sagip Pelikula, is a digital film restoration project of ABS-CBN Corporation in partnership with Central Digital Lab. The project is headed by Leo Katigbak of ABS-CBN Film Archives and Manet Dayrit of Central Digital Lab. The goal of the project is to digitally restore and remaster select Filipino films from the archives of ABS-CBN.

Contents

Since the beginning of the project in 2011, the project has successfully digitized, restored, and remastered over one hundred Filipino films into a 1080p or 2K Digital Cinema Package format with a maximum resolution of 2048x1080 pixels at 24 frames per second. These films have been released through a wide array of platforms including limited theatrical runs, film festivals, free-to-air and cable television, DVDs, pay per view, and over-the-top content platforms such as iTunes. [1] All of the restoration process are done by Central Digital Lab in the Philippines with the exception of Kakabakaba Ka Ba? and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos which were commissioned by ABS-CBN to be restored abroad by L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy and was supervised by Davide Pozzi. All copyrights to the films restored and remastered are owned in perpetuity by ABS-CBN. [2]

On August 31, 2020, the film restoration project unit downsized its operations as part of the retrenchment by the company after its new legislative franchise for the company's broadcasting operations was denied by the House of Representatives. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Restoration process

The first stage of the process is the scanning of the film negatives or prints into a digital picture and sound raw format. Depending on the film's condition, it may undergo a physical cleaning before the scanning could begin. The scanned materials will then undergo an automated and a painstaking frame by frame digital restoration process. The process involves the digital removal of dirt, scratches, fingerprints, discolorations, molds, tape marks, and other damages in the scanned materials. The process also involves the correction of color, brightness, and contrast into its original form often consulting the original cinematographers of each films whenever possible. Subtitles and watermarks, if present, are also removed in the process. The process also involves the restoration and remastering of sound. This involves the syncing of sound to the picture and the removal of unnecessary noises such as eradicate pops and whistles. Extreme measures were also done to remove copyrighted songs from some films. Dozens of technicians, engineers, and artists work hundreds of hours for each film with restoration cost ranging anywhere between twenty-five thousand pesos and ten million pesos per film. [7] [8]

List of notable films restored

A still image from Ishmael Bernal's 1982 film Himala illustrating the difference between the old and the restored version. Himala-Restoration.jpg
A still image from Ishmael Bernal's 1982 film Himala illustrating the difference between the old and the restored version.
TitleDirectorYearVideo restoration facility
Year releasedYear restored
Himala Ishmael Bernal 19822012Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Home Along Da Riles: The Movie Johnny Manahan 1993
Madrasta Olivia M. Lamasan 1996
Oro, Plata, Mata Peque Gallaga 1982
Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon Eddie Romero 19762013
Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi Danny L. Zialcita 1983
Isprikitik (Walastik Kung Pumitik)Efren "Loging" Jarlego1999
Hindi Nahahati ang Langit Mike De Leon 19852014
Milan Olivia M. Lamasan 2004
Kapag Langit ang Humatol Laurice Guillen 1990
Minsan, Minahal Kita Olivia M. Lamasan 2000
T-Bird at Ako Danny L. Zialcita 19822015
Tanging Yaman Laurice Guillen 2000
Bagong Buwan Marilou Diaz-Abaya 2001
Bata, Bata… Pa'no Ka Ginawa? Chito Roño 1998
Dekada '70 2002
Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa Romy V. Suzara1995
Maalaala Mo Kaya: The Movie Olivia M. Lamasan 1994
Nagsimula sa Puso Mel Chionglo 1990
Sana Maulit Muli Olivia M. Lamasan 1995
Pare Ko Jose Javier Reyes
Kakabakaba Ka Ba? Mike De Leon 1980 L'Immagine Ritrovata (Bologna, Italy)
Karnal Marilou Diaz-Abaya 1983Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Virgin People Celso Ad. Castillo 1984
Ikaw Ay Akin Ishmael Bernal 1978
Anak Rory B. Quintos 2000
Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising Mike De Leon 19772016
Cain at Abel Lino Brocka 1982
HaplosAntonio Jose Perez
Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos Mario O'Hara 1976 L'Immagine Ritrovata (Bologna, Italy)
Magic Temple Peque Gallaga 1996Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Kasal? Laurice Guillen 1980
Basta't Kasama Kita Rory B. Quintos 1995
Labs Kita... Okey Ka Lang? Jerry Lopez Sineneng19982017
Hihintayin Kita sa Langit Carlos Siguion-Reyna1991
Moral Marilou Diaz-Abaya 1982 L'Immagine Ritrovata (Bologna, Italy)
Hataw Na Jose Javier Reyes 1995Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Sa Aking mga Kamay Rory B. Quintos 1996
CedieRomy V. Suzara
Tag-Ulan sa Tag-Araw Celso Ad. Castillo 1975
High School Scandal Gil Portes 1981 L'Immagine Ritrovata
(Bologna, Italy)
Karma Danny L. Zialcita
Langis at Tubig1980Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Don't Give Up on Us Joyce Bernal 2006
May Minamahal Jose Javier Reyes 19932018 L'Immagine Ritrovata
(Bologna, Italy/Hong Kong)
Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal Carlos Siguion-Reyna1992Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Sa Init ng ApoyRomy V. Suzara1980 L'Immagine Ritrovata
(Bologna, Italy)
Banaue: Stairway to the Sky Gerardo de Leon 1975Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Nunal sa Tubig Ishmael Bernal 1976
John en Marsha '85 sa ProbinsyaJett C. Espiritu1985
Omeng SatanasiaFrank Gray Jr.1977
Minsa'y Isang Gamu-gamo Lupita Aquino-Kashiwara1976
Biyudo si Daddy, Biyuda si MommyTony Y. Reyes1997Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Paano ang Puso Ko? Rory B. Quintos 1997
Saan Ka Man Naroroon Carlos Siguion-Reyna19932019
Bad Bananas sa Puting Tabing Peque Gallaga 1983Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Mga Bilanggong Birhen Mario O'Hara & Romy Suzara1977Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Ang TV Movie: The Adarna Adventure Johnny Manahan1996
Biyaya ng Lupa Manuel Silos 1959ABS-CBN Film Archives
(Quezon City, Metro Manila)
Malvarosa Gregorio Fernandez 1958
Tisoy! Ishmael Bernal 1977Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Misteryo sa Tuwa Abbo Q. dela Cruz1984Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd. (Thailand and India)
L'Immagine Ritrovata (Bologna, Italy)
Bulaklak sa City Jail Mario O'Hara Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Aguila Eddie Romero 1980FPJ Studios (Quezon City, Metro Manila)
Captain BarbellJose Wenceslao1973Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Kailangan Kita Rory B. Quintos 20022020Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin Chito S. Roño 1994
Markova: Comfort Gay Gil Portes 2000
Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin Carlos Siguion-Reyna1995
Ibong AdarnaVicente Salumbides1941ABS-CBN Film Archives
(Quezon City, Metro Manila)
Badjao Lamberto V. Avellana 1957
Anak Dalita 1956
Radio Romance Jose Javier Reyes 19962021Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Kung Mawawala Ka Pa Jose Mari Avellana 1993
Tinimbang ang Langit Danny L. Zialcita 1982Kantana Post-Production Co. Ltd.
(Thailand)
Soltero Pio De Castro III1984
Prinsipe Teñoso Gregorio Fernandez 1954ABS-CBN Film Archives
(Quezon City, Metro Manila)
The GraduationLuciano B. Carlos1969
Hey Babe Joyce Bernal 1999Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Paano Kita Iibigin 2007
Ang Pulubi at Ang PrinsesaJerry Lopez Sineneng1997
Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo Jose Javier Reyes 2006
Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin Olivia M. Lamasan 1997
Sandata at PangakoF. H. Constantino1961ABS-CBN Film Archives
(Quezon City, Metro Manila)
TripletsFlorentino Garcia19602022
My Juan En OnlyFrank Gray, Jr.1982Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)
Mutya ng PasigRichard Abelardo19502023ABS-CBN Film Archives
(Quezon City, Metro Manila)
Giliw Ko Carlos Vander Tolosa1939
SumpaanSusana C. De Guzman19482024
Shake, Rattle & Roll Emmanuel H. Borlaza, Ishmael Bernal & Peque Gallaga 1984
Praybeyt Benjamin Wenn Deramas 20112024Central Digital Lab Inc.
(Makati City, Metro Manila)

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References

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