Book excerpt: The history of cinema is full of love stories, but none has been as essential as the love between projectionists and their machines. The Art of Film Projection-A Beginner's Guide is a comprehensive outline of the materials, equipment, and knowledge needed to present the magic of cinema to an enthralled audience. Part manual and part manifesto, this book compiles more than fifty years of expertise from the staff of the world-renowned George Eastman Museum and the students of the L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation into the most authoritative and accessible guide to film projection ever produced. No film comes to life until it is shown on the big screen, but with the proliferation of digital movie theaters, the expertise of film projection has become rare. Written for both the casual enthusiast and the professional projectionist in training, this book demystifies the process of film projection and offers an in-depth understanding of the aesthetic, technical, and historical features of motion pictures. Join in the fight to save the authentic experience of seeing motion pictures on film.