Meet the Montrealer keeping analog film projectors alive in a digital world
In a time when digital is king, Robert Miniaci works tirelessly to make sure film keeps on rolling.
The Montrealer is one of the few projectionists left in the world who can repair, maintain and even build analog film projectors. Most of his contemporaries are now in their 80s, so Miniaci's work is in high demand.
"I always say yes, and then worry about it after and make it happen," he laughs.
His regular clients include private collectors, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, galleries and museums, including the Smithsonian, as well as independent theatres and festivals still screening movies on film.
Even though he is now in his late 60s and could retire, Miniaci's passion for the medium keeps him going.
As a child in Calabria, in southern Italy, he used to watch movies projected in the village square and became obsessed with film.
By age 12, he was tinkering with projectors -- and never looked back.
"The presentation medium became an obsession, and just the light coming out, this beam, and then seeing the images on screen, it was very impressive," he said.
His obsession hasn't waned. Miniaci has warehouses filled with virtually every type of celluloid projector, including equipment from Expo 67.
"Whatever we cannot have, as much as possible, we repurpose from other industries, but we also when necessary, build it, and have machine shops make the actual parts that are no longer made when necessary."
In his home garage, he is working away on a projector from the Cinematheque, surrounded by film reels, lenses, and other parts that fill the shelves throughout his workshop.
"I will also create special optics that are no longer available because manufacturers no longer provide it for the film side, so I'll build the lenses or whatever is required."
Robert Miniaci, of Montreal, Que., is one of the few projectionists left in the world who can repair, maintain and even build analog film projectors. (CTV News/Angela Mackenzie)
Miniaci is also an inventor. His Technalight system, a smaller light source for film projectors that uses half the energy of the old bulbs but gives 50 per cent more light onto the screen, is now industry standard.
Galeries around the world use his active looper, which can project up to half an hour of 35mm film on a continuous loop.
Even when digital arrived -- and all but killed film -- Miniaci never lost hope.
"Today, with digital, it's too static," he said. "It's like you walk into a box, you come out of a box -- that's not an experience. There has to be an involvement, which is what film used to do. Because of that fact that there's something moving, you hear the clicking, it attracts people a lot more to feel that they're part of an experience rather than just a presentation."
Miniaci is confident there's enough people out there as excited about the medium as he is to keep it going for many years to come.
As he looks to the future, he's hoping to start teaching his craft in order to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
"There's a movement out there, and it's going to continue, and as long as the demand is there it will keep going and preservation will continue forever, I hope."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.