North 19th

I haven't been on North 19th street in several years, but many years ago I'd be there every Friday night during football season. Each Friday I would travel to a non-descript building illuminated by the lights of used car lots and convenient stores.

Why? Back in those days every high school in the surrounding area would film their games. Before the days of “tape” and “digital” – there was actual film. It was my job to bring it to life - to take the cellulose and turn in into celebration.

The process wasn’t difficult, but it was challenging. Film arrived in either color, these coaches were the deity of the profession – they had color. Or it arrived in 8 rolls of 25’ black and white film – “Come on coach, it’s the 80’s. They make film in color now.”

The process lasted about an hour from start to finish for each team. Transferring the film from reel to magazine in the dark, processing the film in an alphabet soup of chemicals, and finally splicing the film to the finished product. By 6 am, the job was complete and the film delivered. Ready for showing in “locker room theaters” across Central Texas.

When I watch a movie today, it’s not about the director or cinematographer – it’s about the editing, post production. Those are “my people.”

But this story will focus on the dark room. In our low budget lab, the dark room was a closet – a REAL CLOSET. Not the kind found in a master bedroom. No, it was “I can’t fully stretch my arms side to side without touching the walls” size. It was small.

As you would imagine, it was also dark – hence the term “dark room.”

Entering the dark room required focus and resolve. Darkness is required, light is destructive. The process starts by knowing the relationship between the undeveloped film and the awaiting magazine. The eight rolls of film waiting like fair haired virgins to be sacrificed to the chemical bath. (I know, a little dramatic). But WAIT! The film must be in order! The coach doesn’t want the climatic game winning drive that catapults the team in to first place mistakenly shown in the third quarter. Did I put the film in the right order? If only I could turn on the light.

The first virgin, I mean film roll, is loaded and ready for winding onto the magazine. Did you know film has an up and a down? If I load the film with the “emulsion side down” the players will be reversed. In the dark, the only way ensure the film is correct is to place it between your lips. If it sticks to the upper lip it is correct. If only I could turn on the light.

Sixth reel, seventh reel, eighth reel, finished! Exciting? Yes. Why? You take a tightly wound 25’ roll of film and drop it at your feet. You’ll find a tangled mess of linemen, running backs and disappointed coaches.

Seal the magazine tight and open the door. Come out of the closet.

Some days are light being back in the dark room.

Too many projects to complete in the time allotted? Sounds like eight rolls of film and anxious coaches.

Something in your life not turn out quite as expected? Sounds like you didn’t check the emulsion.

Find yourself in a mess of your own creation? Sounds like you dropped a roll of film.

The difference is that in life we can turn on the light, come out of the dark room.

No Regrets.