For nearly three decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with moving image materials and spending my days preserving the magic of cinema. Along the way, I’ve seen it all — the triumph of restoring a forgotten masterpiece, the digital transformations that make assets ageless, the heartbreak of losing artifacts to decay or mold, and the ongoing race against time to safeguard our shared film culture. Film preservation isn’t just a technical process; it  ensures the stories we tell on screen remain part of our collective history.

I joined the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA) not long after finishing graduate school. Not only was it a gateway to parts of the field I might never have discovered on my own, but many of the colleagues I met became informal mentors, shaping the career I love today.

AMIA is a global network of media professionals dedicated to the preservation and use of moving image media. Our members work across the spectrum — in universities, studios, public broadcasting, museums, libraries, government and corporate archives, arts organizations, service providers, and beyond. We are archivists, librarians, curators, educators, technologists, artists, collectors, students, and advocates. I’m proud that our community represents so many corners of the field, and prouder still of our ongoing efforts to include even more voices.

Almost a decade ago, I decided to run for the AMIA Board for the first time. I had served on several committees (and even founded one), but this was an opportunity to help guide AMIA’s future in a time of rapid change. Just as importantly, it is a chance to pass along my institutional knowledge to the next generation of archivists.

This December, AMIA will host its 35th annual conference in Baltimore. Last year’s event drew more than 500 attendees, and we expect even more this year. It’s three days packed with panels, screenings, exhibitos, trivia, local tours, and special events — all designed to spark conversations, build skills, and explore how we preserve and provide access to our media heritage in both analog and digital forms.

Last year, I co-led a panel with my colleague Jeff Briggs, Senior Archivist at Warner Bros. Discovery Global Archives & Preservation Services, alongside Hillary Howell, Director of Premium Archival Services, and Alisha Perdue, Senior Marketing Manager, both from Iron Mountain Media and Archival Services. Together, we shared the story of the Jack L. Warner Bound Scripts Collection, a collection of 600 bound scripts originally created for Warner Bros. co-founder Jack Warner between the 1920s and 1970s.

The collection is nothing short of extraordinary. Some volumes even include handwritten notes and signatures — including Jack Warner’s himself. Among the most exciting discoveries is the bound script for Main Street (1923), a silent film believed to be lost. Though the film itself may be gone, the script preserves a record of its existence.

We partnered with Iron Mountain and for the first time, this collection will be fully digitized. Our colleagues Hillary and Alisha discussed their “white glove” approach to the collection, ensuring that every page, cover, spine, and taped-in publicity still is captured in exquisite detail. This approach will not only safeguard the scripts for future generations but also make them accessible to researchers, educators, and film lovers worldwide.

And this year in Baltimore, I’ll be back on stage — this time to share how we’re partnering once again with Iron Mountain to safeguard our costume collection. The clothes that bring  cinema history to life – from the shirt Paul Newman wore in Cool Hand Luke to the two-piece ensemble Natalie Wood donned in The Great Race.

For me, these presentations are about more than showcasing collections; they’re about sharing what I’ve learned with the wider community. Every conference, I come away inspired by the insights of my colleagues — and eager to return to work with new ideas, strategies, and collaborations.

The work to save our moving image heritage is a shared responsibility. How can you help?

• Recognize the value of our cultural heritage — and the urgency of protecting it.
• Join AMIA. Get involved in our events, connect with our community, and consider presenting your own work at a future conference.
• Connect with us. Reach out to learn more about what we do

Together, we can ensure that the magic of cinema lives on — not just as entertainment, but as a powerful tool for education, reflection, and connection across generations.

October, 2025

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Randal Luckow is the Director, Global Archives & Preservation Services at Warner Bros. Discovery. Past positions include Director of HBO Archives, Sr. Director of Metadata & Media Services at Turner, and a manager at DreamWorks, SKG Archives. Randal currently serves as an officer on the AMIA Board of Directors. He is also a Board Member for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.

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AMIA Members can view the Jack L. Warner Bound Scripts Collection presentation here.