Film Restoration Comes to the Fore

Visual Data Media has expanded its media supply chain capabilities with the appointment of Theo Gluck as director of library restoration and preservation.

Gluck joins the Burbank provider of media services, distribution and content management from Walt Disney Co. where he served as director of library restoration and preservation for the entertainment and media giant, also based in Burbank.

At Visual Data Media, Gluck will focus on growing the company’s restoration business to serve the increasing global demand for media across multiple platforms, the firm said in a release.

“Audiences have so many distribution platforms and content viewing options to choose from,” Gluck said in a statement. “That opens the door to new creative possibilities for preserving, presenting and delivering the titles people want to see.”Gluck’s experience combined with workflow technologies, including such Visual Data products as MatchMaker scanning and remastering workflow, offers content owners and distributors a comprehensive suite of media services, the company said in its release.

John Trautman, chief executive of Visual Data, called Gluck’s knowledge and expertise in restoration and preservation second to none.

“As we continue to broaden and enhance our media supply chain capabilities, we will look to Theo, who has been instrumental in establishing the foundation for restoration, to help us engage with the industry and deliver on our mission to provide a truly customer-centric experience,” Trautman said in a statement.

Steve Spear, senior vice president of Global Media Operations for Visual Data, said that it’s rare to have a conversation about restoration without Gluck’s name being mentioned.“His exceptional level of technical knowledge and creative depth paired with his unique ‘studio perspective’ make him an ideal fit for our restoration servicing team and ensures we are well positioned to meet our clients’ needs,” Spear said in a statement.  Gluck is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He sits on the Academy’s Science and Technology Council and serves as chairman of the Technology History Subcommittee.

He is a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and the Association of Moving Image Archivists.Founded by Trautman in 1995, Visual Data has grown into a company with offices in the San Fernando Valley, London and Bangalore and has gained a reputation for delivering media solutions, including restoration, remastering, dubbing, translation, digitization and content management. Its clients include Disney, Netflix Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc.