TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month , a time dedicated to reflecting on the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of AANHPI communities across the United States. Nearly 50 years ago, this began as just a single week in May. Since then, it has evolved into a month-long celebration observed nationwide, featuring events and storytelling that both honor heritage and engage with the ongoing struggles faced by these communities. Today, AANHPI Heritage Month isn’t just about cuisine, traditions, or fashion, though those are essential parts of AANHPI culture. It’s also a time to acknowledge these communities by engaging in meaningful conversations about their grief, resilience, activism, and the pursuit of justice. The rise in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic only deepened the urgency for these conversations and reminded us why visibility and representation matter more than ever. One of the most powerful ways to highlig...

(Chalinee Thirasupa - Reuters) The 2025 Lunar New Year is here! Rooted in over 3,500 years of history, the Chinese New Year is one of the most significant festivals in Chinese culture. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, among other countries . It follows the lunar calendar, with celebrations lasting for fifteen days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, the holiday represents a time to honor ancestors, welcome prosperity, and embrace fresh beginnings. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun, the lunar calendar follows the moon's cycles to determine days, weeks, and months. The Year of the Snake in 2025 begins on January 29 and will conclude on February 16, 2026. The snake is the sixth sign in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, appearing once every dozen years.  According to Chinese mythology, the order of the zodiac animals was determined by a big race where creatures race...

"Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.” ― Bruce Lee Johnny Yune and his classic They Call Me Bruce ? are an inextricably linked one two punch. One being Yune and his comedic brilliance discovered early on by none other than the late great Johnny Carson. And two, They Call Me Bruce ?, the byproduct of Yune’s genius that was far ahead of its time. So far ahead that one may even say he helped pave the way for amazing, topical shows like Fresh off the Boat.  But it is also entirely likely that Yune also felt the underrepresentation of the times, foreshadowing even today where, according to NBC News, a recent  study on Asian American representation in Hollywood  found that only 3.4 percent of Hollywood’s top-grossing movies featured Asian American or Pacific Islander leads. For its time, grossing over $16 Million at the box office deems this a rarified hit starring an Asian American. Even in today's standards. While IMDB describes The...

Film restoration is a tedious process that produces wondrous digital remasters of cult classic films. Films are fully restored to present an updated version of the movie once enjoyed by many audiences, years and years ago. The restoration involves many parts and working with film scanning technicians and editors - from color correction to sound cleanup - giving the film a fresh face and new life – elevating it to Ultra HD. The process starts with scanning the film. Before scanning, our film technician inspects the film, and if necessary, physically cleans off dirt and smudges – any ‘interferences’ that may disrupt the quality of the film to be scanned. Then, by scanning each frame of the reel individually, the film is converted into pixels as a raw digital file, and therefore a "digital replica," so that the digital remastering process can begin. This is where the coloring, sound and overall editing can begin to restore the flick. Here, things can get labori...