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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom, 2008/08/13 - A range of nostalgic DVDs will be launched in Essex this month, looking back at the history of the county through archive film - ArchiveFilmShop.co.uk.
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Essex sees its history come back to life as a series of DVDs from the East Anglian Film Archive are launched in the county this month.
The DVDs tell the story of life in Essex through a half century of change, including archive footage of war-time East Anglia, bygone days of farming and summer day-trippers and holidaymakers flocking to the Essex coast in the 1930s.
The series of 10 titles, made using rare footage from the East Anglian Film Archive, were released due to demand from the public – and are launched in Essex with two brand new titles, Essex Past: Part 1 and Part 2. The films take us on a journey through bygone days in the county from 1916 through to the 1960s, when Essex was a largely rural community, before parts of the county were swallowed up by the capital.
The DVDs will be launched at a free event at the University of Essex, Colchester at 7pm on Tuesday 19th August. The evening of nostalgic will kick off with an informal drinks reception, followed by the first public screening of Essex Past: Part 1.
Andrew Gray, Managing Director of Independent Studios said, “These DVDs are a first for Essex. Until now, people have only been able to see the county’s past in photographs. Now we can all watch, on film, previous generations before us going about their daily lives in the places we know.
“The DVDs are the nearest we will get to time travel – a chance to look back at a chapter of East Anglian life that has gone forever.”
The other titles in the range include The Home Front: East Anglia at War; Floods of East Anglia 1912-1953; Working the Land: Farm Life in East Anglia and for railway enthusiasts, Railways of East Anglia and its follow up The Lost Railways of East Anglia.
Essex Past: Part 1 and Part 2 includes rarely seen footage of towns and villages all across the county including a zeppelin raid in Colchester in 1915 and street scenes, showing life in the town in both the 1930s and the 1960s. The earliest piece of film shown is now approaching 100 years old and this, like the other footage, would have been lost without careful preservation from film archivists.
"Over time, film will deteriorate, unless it is kept under very carefully controlled conditions” says Director of the East Anglian Film Archive, Richard Taylor. “Our archive has the equipment and expertise to preserve this film for generations to come.
“The public don't often get to see the gems from decades past stored here, so we are delighted to be able to share our local history on film with the wider community. These DVDs mean everyone has the chance to see what life was like through the years, by watching film shot by professionals and amateurs from all over the East of England."
The free screening is open to the public and starts at 7pm. To reserve seats, call +44(0)16 0325 1744.
The East Anglian Film Archive DVDs cost £9.99 each from selected retailers across Essex or online at Archive Film Shop.
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