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Colombia's cinema museum: 'Where the magic begins:' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
When Hugo Suarez Fiat arrived at the workshop where he was repairing a classic car one Saturday morning in 2003, an unexpected discovery awaited him. | When Hugo Suarez Fiat arrived at the workshop where he was repairing a classic car one Saturday morning in 2003, an unexpected discovery awaited him. |
Mr Suarez, a lawyer by trade and a mechanic by hobby, planned to inspect the paint job of a Ford Custom Convertible that he was restoring to its former glory. | Mr Suarez, a lawyer by trade and a mechanic by hobby, planned to inspect the paint job of a Ford Custom Convertible that he was restoring to its former glory. |
But instead he found two huge 1930s cinema projectors rescued from a nearby theatre, which was set to close down. | But instead he found two huge 1930s cinema projectors rescued from a nearby theatre, which was set to close down. |
The projectors had been left at Mr Suarez's workshop in the hope they would land in the right hands. | The projectors had been left at Mr Suarez's workshop in the hope they would land in the right hands. |
They obviously did. "I saw those projectors, and I fell in love with them," recalls Mr Suarez. | They obviously did. "I saw those projectors, and I fell in love with them," recalls Mr Suarez. |
Some 13 years later, he has amassed over 100 more - and that is just part of his collection at Caliwood, as he has called the first cinematography museum in Colombia. | Some 13 years later, he has amassed over 100 more - and that is just part of his collection at Caliwood, as he has called the first cinematography museum in Colombia. |
Located in the eastern town of Cali, the museum boasts more than 600 exhibits, from posters to a mini cinema that screens films using antique projectors. | Located in the eastern town of Cali, the museum boasts more than 600 exhibits, from posters to a mini cinema that screens films using antique projectors. |
It opened in 2008. As well as archiving analogue technology, the museum pays tribute to a golden generation of local filmmakers whose ideas defined Colombian cinema in the 1970s. | It opened in 2008. As well as archiving analogue technology, the museum pays tribute to a golden generation of local filmmakers whose ideas defined Colombian cinema in the 1970s. |
One of them was Andres Caicedo, a maverick director who committed suicide at age 25 and whose Yashica Super 600 camera is one of Caliwood's most treasured possessions. | One of them was Andres Caicedo, a maverick director who committed suicide at age 25 and whose Yashica Super 600 camera is one of Caliwood's most treasured possessions. |
Another of Mr Suarez's favourites is a Multilith Cameragraph 1450, built in the US in 1928. | Another of Mr Suarez's favourites is a Multilith Cameragraph 1450, built in the US in 1928. |
Billed by the owner as "the world's largest camera", it looks almost comically enlarged - even by vintage standards - and sits on an iron slider used to adjust focal length. | Billed by the owner as "the world's largest camera", it looks almost comically enlarged - even by vintage standards - and sits on an iron slider used to adjust focal length. |
Mr Suarez found it hidden above a recycling centre. | Mr Suarez found it hidden above a recycling centre. |
He is constantly following "clues" to new items and recently acquired an Omega watch used by the 007 character in Bond films such as Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough. | He is constantly following "clues" to new items and recently acquired an Omega watch used by the 007 character in Bond films such as Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough. |
Perhaps the most mysterious piece is a Cali Magic Lantern, named after the city even though its true origin remains unknown. | Perhaps the most mysterious piece is a Cali Magic Lantern, named after the city even though its true origin remains unknown. |
"We know it's a chimney lamp that was used to illuminate celluloid plates and project them on screen," explains Mr Suarez. | "We know it's a chimney lamp that was used to illuminate celluloid plates and project them on screen," explains Mr Suarez. |
"But we've not even been able to identify the country or company that made it." | "But we've not even been able to identify the country or company that made it." |
He contacted museums in Spain and the US, with no luck, but vows to continue his quest for answers. | He contacted museums in Spain and the US, with no luck, but vows to continue his quest for answers. |
The 67-year-old is a former commercial attorney who has clearly lost none of his appetite for closing cases. | The 67-year-old is a former commercial attorney who has clearly lost none of his appetite for closing cases. |
Mr Suarez is ably assisted by Santiago Cardenas, a projectionist with three decades of experience who shares the founder's obsession for all things cinema. | Mr Suarez is ably assisted by Santiago Cardenas, a projectionist with three decades of experience who shares the founder's obsession for all things cinema. |
They met completely by chance, before the museum existed. | They met completely by chance, before the museum existed. |
Mr Suarez's two original projectors were on display in the window of his downtown office; Mr Cardenas could not resist taking a closer look as he passed by. | Mr Suarez's two original projectors were on display in the window of his downtown office; Mr Cardenas could not resist taking a closer look as he passed by. |
"The projector is where the magic begins," he says. "In cinemas, people always look back at where that primordial light is coming from." | "The projector is where the magic begins," he says. "In cinemas, people always look back at where that primordial light is coming from." |
Childhood dream | Childhood dream |
As a child, Mr Cardenas made deliveries for his father's pharmacy. | As a child, Mr Cardenas made deliveries for his father's pharmacy. |
When a hung-over projectionist called for emergency headache pills on the job, young Santiago felt that magic for the first time. | When a hung-over projectionist called for emergency headache pills on the job, young Santiago felt that magic for the first time. |
"I was nine years old, desperate to try… and he let me light the projector's lamp!" Mr Cardenas remembers, his eyes lit up in excitement. | "I was nine years old, desperate to try… and he let me light the projector's lamp!" Mr Cardenas remembers, his eyes lit up in excitement. |
Years later, his projecting career was halted by the birth of a daughter. | Years later, his projecting career was halted by the birth of a daughter. |
After dabbling in business ventures, Mr Cardenas spent 10 years training as a Catholic deacon, before leaving the church and returning to his original creed. | After dabbling in business ventures, Mr Cardenas spent 10 years training as a Catholic deacon, before leaving the church and returning to his original creed. |
"What I do now is another kind of vocation," says the 57-year-old, who joined Caliwood's full-time staff in 2012. | "What I do now is another kind of vocation," says the 57-year-old, who joined Caliwood's full-time staff in 2012. |
"Being a projectionist is a trade, not a profession," he continues. | "Being a projectionist is a trade, not a profession," he continues. |
"You're the last link with the dream factory that is a film. It's a huge responsibility, because you're in charge of bringing people into that cinematic universe." | "You're the last link with the dream factory that is a film. It's a huge responsibility, because you're in charge of bringing people into that cinematic universe." |
At the museum, Mr Cardenas has meticulously restored dozens of projectors and films on 8mm or 16mm reels. | At the museum, Mr Cardenas has meticulously restored dozens of projectors and films on 8mm or 16mm reels. |
Famous characters include King Kong, Charlie Chaplin, Donald Duck and Zorro; the programme changes every week. | Famous characters include King Kong, Charlie Chaplin, Donald Duck and Zorro; the programme changes every week. |
"This place is like a little time machine," he says. | "This place is like a little time machine," he says. |
"It becomes a channel between kids and their grandparents, and helps people remember their childhoods. It's a window to the past." | "It becomes a channel between kids and their grandparents, and helps people remember their childhoods. It's a window to the past." |
And the Caliwood collection will surely continue to grow. Mr Suarez believes it could reach four times its current size with greater financial resources. | And the Caliwood collection will surely continue to grow. Mr Suarez believes it could reach four times its current size with greater financial resources. |
"The museum makes you feel like it will never end. There are no limits," he says. | "The museum makes you feel like it will never end. There are no limits," he says. |
"But just imagine… if those two projectors hadn't been left beside my car, all those years ago, we probably wouldn't even be here!" | "But just imagine… if those two projectors hadn't been left beside my car, all those years ago, we probably wouldn't even be here!" |