Library and Archives Canada approached 76design to undertake the project of digitizing 250 minutes (50 films) of unique and rarely seen film footage and bringing them to life online. These films can only be found at Library and Archives Canada. Four themes of interpretation were used to present these films which include some of the earliest films in Canada’s history as well as more modern productions from the 1940’s and 1950’s such as:
- First World War (1914 – 1918)
- Canadian Agriculture and Industry (1916 – 1920)
- Travelogues (1917 – 1950)
- Snapshots of Canadian Life (1902 – 1940)
Along with each theme, the works of various early Canadian film agencies like the Associated Screen News, the Ontario Motion Picture Bureau, the Canadian War Records Office and Edison films were featured.
76design assumed the best design approach to be based on a vintage movie theatre; the intent was to transport users back to the era in which the films were made. We made use of design elements like marquees, ticket booths, concessions, ornate interiors and velvet curtains to help create an enjoyable user experience.
Stock photos and custom shots of local venues such as Barrymore’s Music Hall, the Mayfair and the Bytowne were used to create the backgrounds and graphic elements. 76design also made use of Flash to bring the visuals to life and truly re-create the vintage movie theatre feeling.
In 2005, this site was recognized by Macromedia as a Site of the Day.
