For 20 years, the Standby program in New York has provided post-production services to more than 1,000 media artists, producing over 1,500 titles constituting a remarkable history of video. Initially, Standby facilitated artists’ access to broadcast-quality video editing, pioneering the use of small-format video when broadcasters eschewed consumer formats. Today, when broadcast quality is more accessible and many artists have home-editing equipment, Standby offers low-cost services in video and audio production and restoration. Standby’s recent co-restoration with MoMA of Tony Oursler’s Life of Phillis (1977) opens this tribute.
Organized by Sally Berger, Assistant Curator, Department of Film and Media, in collaboration with Maria Venuto, Executive Director, and Marshall Reese, artist/editor, Standby, and Steve Seid, Curator, Pacific Film Archive.