ASMR in the BFI National Archive’s Conservation Centre
We frequently welcome visitors to the BFI National Archive’s Conservation Centre, but we wouldn’t usually tuck you in with a blanket and a herbal tea or feel that drifting off during the demonstrations might actually be a good thing.
A very special video went online on Sunday that showcases the archive in this new way, made by the ASMR artist Emma Smith, aka WhispersRed.
ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is a genre of online video that focuses on sound and sensory triggers to create calming experiences. Emma has been one of the pioneering creators in this area, both before it became wildly popular and also in her work today.
Examples of her videos have recently been preserved in the national collection as part of our online video collecting. This project has enabled us to not only update the national collection with one of the defining genres of online moving image but to collaborate with Emma as an artist and learn about the craft of creating an ASMR video. After hearing some of her observations around the archive, I will now forever see the “safety” film stickers on our film cans through a therapeutic perspective.
Even for those who don’t get the tingles, the value of this often misunderstood genre could still align with what we all need as human beings: mental health tools, sleeping aids, sensory escapes, joy and social surrogates in times of global anxiety and increasing isolation. I’m proud to have worked on this video alongside colleagues who took the time to demonstrate their work in a way that communicates with a whole new online community and audience.
(Photo: Kristina Tarasova)
Big thanks to Emma for this special experience and collaboration, and our archive stars Claire West, Kay Eldridge and HaoYun ‘Lily’ Cheng, whose openness to try something new has paid off so well. Thanks also to colleagues who helped behind the scenes: Iris Mathieson, Jemma Buckley, Alex Prideaux, Becky Vick, Alan Davis, Andy Bell, Mike Kohler, Saul Carbonaro, Peter Hands, Richard Sears, Angelo Lucatello and the many others who helped along the way, from suggesting sound ideas to adjusting the air-con when we needed silence!
(Photo: Richard Sears)
Reflections from Iris Mathieson:
Getting the opportunity to create an ASMR video with Emma was so exciting! ASMR was one of the gateways into the sound art world that I had while at university, so being able to speak with Emma about how she creates her works, interview her and watch how she sets up different scenes felt very special.
Watching the way Emma finds delicacy and intimacy in a sound was fascinating. She took care with pressing buttons of the machines in the archive, listening to the gentle clicks of the synchroniser and being aware of subtle but surprisingly loud white noise from air conditioning. It made all of us involved highly aware that, even though our spaces may technically be calm and quiet, they are far from silent.
I was already a watcher of the WhispersRed before meeting Emma, and I felt very lucky to be a part of some of the re-recordings of the voice-overs. Such an honour to be a part of the creation! Claire, Kay and Lily did a fantastic job and took Emma’s direction in their stride. I’m so proud of this project and I’m so grateful for all that made it possible.
This collaboration was supported by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
– Kristina Tarasova, Assistant Curator (Acquisition) & Iris Mathieson, Digital Media Specialist (Our Screen Heritage)
BFI National Archive traineeship update
BFI National Archive Conservation Centre Cintel Scanner (Photo: Adam Bronkhorst/BFI)
In February we told you about our work to address workforce challenges at the BFI National Archive, via a grant awarded to the BFI by the Heritage Innovation Fund. The funding was split into three phases, with the first two phases allowing the BFI to develop and test a model for trainee Film Conservators at the archive.
The third phase is now up and running, and we have grown our original 6-month traineeships to three 18-month trainee roles, two in Film Conservation and one in Archive Technology (the department which cares for our specialist equipment that is vital to conserving, preserving, restoring and digitising our collections).
We are pleased to confirm that these roles are now open to applicants, via our partners at Creative Access. You can find more information and how to apply for these roles via the links below:
Trainee Archive Technology Technician
If you would like to hear more about the roles, how to perfect your application and gain valuable insight into a career in film archives, you can also sign up for this webinar being run by Creative Access, with contributions from our archive teams, on Tuesday 15 April, 5pm-5.45pm. The deadline to sign up is Monday 14 April at 5pm.
– Ella Ferguson, Heritage Programmes Coordinator
2025 Charity Film Awards
In one of our recent articles, Animated hedgehogs and a potent Billie Piper drama: the year’s best charity films, curator Ros Cranston celebrates the range of charities and rich variety of filmmaking at the Charity Film Awards.
The awards are free to enter, with most categories based on the annual turnover of the charity. Unsurprisingly, this attracts a lot of submissions, with a whopping 520 films entered this year. To help navigate this plethora of films, let Ros lead you through a few of her favourite 2025 submissions.
– Francesca Worricker, Project Administrator (Our Screen Heritage)
The Inside the Archive blog is supported by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding.
