• M O V I E R E N T A L S •
Guidlines for requesting rental of items for movies, TV, or events.
Preserving History Through Responsible Collaboration
The Computer Church recognizes the important role that authentic historical artifacts play in bringing the past to life through film and television productions. Our collection includes numerous computers and computing devices that are truly one-of-a-kind or among only a handful of surviving examples worldwide. Given the irreplaceable nature of these artifacts and our primary mission of preservation and education, we have established comprehensive policies for lending items to film productions.
Our Commitment to Authenticity
We believe that authentic historical artifacts can significantly enhance the educational value and historical accuracy of film and television productions. When vintage computers appear on screen in their original form, they help audiences understand the true scale, complexity, and aesthetic of early computing technology in ways that replicas simply cannot achieve. However, the rarity and fragility of our collection items require that any lending arrangements prioritize preservation above all other considerations.
Strict Lending Criteria
Following industry best practices established by major institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the British Museum, and other leading cultural institutions, we maintain rigorous standards for any potential loans. Productions must demonstrate legitimate educational or historical value, with preference given to documentaries, educational programming, and historically-focused dramatic productions. Commercial productions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with emphasis on historical accuracy and educational merit.
All borrowing productions must provide comprehensive insurance coverage with "replacement in kind" clauses, acknowledging that many of our items are literally irreplaceable. Professional-grade environmental controls, security measures, and handling protocols must be maintained throughout the loan period. We conduct a thorough condition assessment before and after any loan, and we reserve the right to require professional couriers to accompany extremely rare or fragile items.
Financial Responsibility and Timeline Requirements
Consistent with policies at comparable institutions, borrowing productions bear all costs associated with loans, including conservation assessments, specialized packing and transportation, insurance premiums, courier expenses, and any required conservation work. Loan requests must be submitted with a minimum of 3 months advance notice for domestic productions and 6 months for international projects, allowing adequate time for proper evaluation and logistics planning.
Prohibited Uses and Restrictions
Under no circumstances do we permit modifications, alterations, or special effects applications to original artifacts. Items cannot be "aged," painted, or subjected to simulated damage for dramatic effect. Productions requiring such treatments must use replicas or period-appropriate alternatives. We also maintain strict policies against any use that could be considered exploitative, sensationalized, or contrary to educational principles.
Educational Partnership Opportunities
We encourage productions to view our lending program as an opportunity for educational partnership rather than simple equipment rental. Our curatorial staff can provide technical consultation, historical context, and expert commentary to ensure accurate representation of the technology and its historical significance. We welcome opportunities to collaborate with filmmakers who share our commitment to historical accuracy and public education about computing history.
Alternative Solutions
Recognizing that original artifacts may not always be appropriate for production needs, we maintain relationships with skilled craftspeople who can create accurate replicas based on items in our collection. We also offer consultation services for productions using period-appropriate but less rare alternatives, and can provide detailed documentation and reference materials to support accurate recreation of historical computing environments.
