Summer Momentum

Welcome to the June 16 edition of the Mainspring Narrative Films newsletter! We’re pleased to report that progress on both Curating Modernism and Corsi: The World’s First Super Model is moving forward steadily. These two deeply researched documentaries reflect our ongoing commitment to cultural, architectural, and art history—and there’s more to come. We are currently in the early planning stages for additional productions that we’ll be announcing soon.

Meanwhile, final production work is wrapping up on Googie, a Design Onscreen film directed by Mainspring president Jake Gorst.

In addition to film work, Gorst continues his tour of events promoting Andrew Geller: Deconstructed, with several book signings and lectures scheduled over the coming months.

We’re grateful you’ve taken time to explore what’s new with Mainspring. This edition contains several announcements. Thank you for being part of a growing community that values history, storytelling, and preservation.

Crafting Emotion Through Music

While Mainspring has occasionally used stock music in past documentaries, director Jake Gorst strongly prefers the depth and emotional resonance that comes from collaborating with talented composers. 

For the 2006 film Farmboy, Gorst hired Richie Saccente and S. Cosmo Mallardi to create an original score—work that earned the film an Emmy Award for musical composition. He later partnered with acclaimed jazz musician Hayes Greenfield on several Design Onscreen productions, creating memorable soundscapes that complemented the visual storytelling. 

Looking ahead, Gorst is teaming up with UK-based composer Christina Zoina for the soundtrack to Corsi: The World’s First Super Model. Zoina’s unique blend of texture, tone, and mood will help bring Corsi’s extraordinary journey to life. 

These collaborations reflect Mainspring’s ongoing commitment to artistry and authenticity, ensuring that every note supports the narrative. Music is more than background—it’s a vital storytelling element, and we take it seriously.

Make a Meaningful Impact Through Film

Have you ever wanted to make a lasting impact on culture and history? By supporting Mainspring Narrative Films, you can do just that—and see your name in the credits while you're at it.

With a $5,000 donation, you’ll be credited as an Associate Producer on Curating Modernism, our upcoming short film about the ongoing effort to preserve groundbreaking architectural design. At the $25,000 level, you’ll receive the same title on Corsi: The World’s First Super Model, our feature-length documentary about Antonio Corsi, whose legacy shaped visual culture in the early 20th century.

Your support directly fuels research, filming, and editing—but more than that, it helps ensure important stories are documented and remembered. It’s about doing good for society, supporting the arts, and contributing to a more thoughtful and informed world.

Interested in Executive Producer credit? Contact us at info@mainspringnarrative.org to learn more.

Nancy Sinatra Donates Autographed Records to Support Mainspring

We are deeply honored to announce that the legendary Nancy Sinatra has generously donated three autographed 45 RPM records from her own personal collection to support Mainspring Narrative Films’ ongoing production work. Each signed single is now available for purchase, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting our film projects.

The records include:

• “100 Years”
• “God Knows I Love You”
• “Good Time Girl”

Each is being sold by Allene’s Attic on Etsy.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nancy Sinatra, her family, and everyone who helped make this collaboration possible. Your support helps bring our storytelling, preservation, and research efforts to life — one frame at a time.

Grab a piece of music history and support independent film while you're at it!

Now Streaming on Amazon Prime

Several of our films are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime:

• Leisurama
• Farmboy
• The Model’s Artist
• New England Modernism: Revolutionary Architecture in the 20th Century

Coming soon: The Rise and Fall of Books

You can also search "Jake Gorst" on Amazon Prime to find additional titles he directed for companies such as Design Onscreen.

Preserving the Poetry of the Everyday

At Mainspring Narrative Films, we recognize that history lives not just in headlines and architecture, but in the intimate, fleeting moments people captured for themselves. Our archive includes hundreds of 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm home movies—silent witnesses to parades, picnics, vacations, classroom antics, family parties, and long-forgotten corners of everyday life.

These reels, once stuffed in drawers or left in attics, are now treated with care. We clean, scan, and preserve them as time allows, building a visual archive of cultural history from the ground up. These films often find new life: we share short clips on social media to spark curiosity and memory (see samples at tiktok.com/@mainspringfilms), and sometimes use them in our documentaries, where their ephemeral beauty adds depth and emotional resonance.

They show us how people lived, dressed, danced, and celebrated—details often overlooked in traditional historical accounts. In preserving these seemingly small moments, we safeguard a vast, personal, and emotional dimension of the past that might otherwise disappear.

Our work reminds us: history isn’t always monumental. Sometimes it’s a laughing child, a dinner table, or a quiet walk through a neighborhood that no longer exists—but that still has something to say.

Showing Support One Splice at a Time

Mainspring Narrative Films has just updated its Amazon Wishlist to reflect our current needs for film restoration and audio recording—and we need your help.

Right now, one of our top priorities is acquiring 16mm Movie Film Splicing Presstapes. These essential supplies allow us to safely repair and prepare archival film for scanning, a critical part of our preservation work. We’re seeking 10 packets to meet the demands of upcoming restoration projects. These clear, double-perforated presstapes are ideal for fixing torn sprockets without sacrificing frames, and unlike cement splicing, they produce no toxic fumes—making them both safe and environmentally friendly.

We’ve removed fulfilled items and added new, time-sensitive materials. Every donation—large or small—supports our mission to preserve cultural history through film.

Donors will receive a letter of acknowledgment suitable for tax purposes.

Browse the list and join us in this important work:

Mainspring Amazon Wishlist

Thank you for helping preserve the past for future generations.

Broadcast Shifts and Tough Choices for Documentary Filmmakers in 2025

In 2025, the landscape for documentary distribution is in flux. Public television has long been a trusted venue for thoughtful, mission-driven work—but with federal arts funding under renewed scrutiny, future stability is uncertain. Filmmakers must weigh the risks: while PBS still offers reach and credibility, shrinking budgets can limit visibility and long-term licensing.

Commercial streaming platforms remain attractive, offering global exposure and occasionally generous licensing fees. Yet competition is steep, and independent voices often get buried beneath celebrity-driven content.

Live screenings, once a staple of grassroots outreach, are seeing renewed relevance. Film festivals, museum events, and educational venues provide direct community engagement—something algorithms can’t replicate.

The smartest path? A hybrid approach. Combining festival buzz, streaming distribution, and institutional partnerships may offer the widest audience and greatest resilience in an uncertain media climate. Flexibility and long-term strategy are more important than ever.

Mainspring's Annual Auction Returns this Fall

Plans are underway for the 2nd annual Mainspring Narrative Films Benefit Online Auction, set to take place this October! Following the success of last year’s event, we’re excited to bring you another opportunity to support our mission—while bidding on rare and meaningful items.

We’ve already begun receiving generous donations, including autographed books from acclaimed journalist Maureen Dowd and celebrated designer and educator Debbie Millman. These are just the first of many unique offerings to come.

This summer, we’ll launch the official auction platform and begin unveiling the full slate of items. From signed memorabilia to vintage treasures, there’s sure to be something for every supporter and collector.

All proceeds from the auction will go directly toward Mainspring’s ongoing documentary work—preserving art, design, architecture, and cultural history through film.

Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for being part of the Mainspring community. Your support makes everything possible!

Wire Recorder: A Glimpse into Transitional Technology

Tucked away in the Mainspring Archive is a fully intact late-1940s wire recorder—a fascinating piece of transitional audio technology that briefly bridged the gap between lacquer discs and magnetic tape. Though Mainspring does not currently hold any wire recordings, the presence of this machine serves as a reminder of how rapidly media formats can evolve—and vanish.

Wire recorders used spools of thin stainless steel wire to capture sound magnetically. They were marketed for both military and domestic use, but their time in the spotlight was brief. By the mid-1950s, reel-to-reel tape recorders rendered the wire format obsolete.

The Mainspring wire recorder is part of our broader effort to preserve the tools and artifacts of media history—not just the content itself. These machines tell stories of innovation, accessibility, and impermanence.

We hope to one day acquire compatible wire reels and bring this machine back to life.

Corsi Fact of the Day - The Washington Square Studio: A Cultural Hub

When Antonio Corsi established his home and studio at Washington Square in New York City in 1901, he secured more than a residence—he claimed a strategic foothold in the heart of the city’s creative and cultural life. While most of his professional modeling was done at artists’ studios throughout the city, Corsi’s own space functioned as a carefully curated headquarters. There, he stored the costumes, props, and personal effects that defined his theatrical approach to the art of modeling.

More than a storage space, his studio became a gathering place for artists, patrons, and cultural figures intrigued by his larger-than-life persona. In the bohemian spirit of the neighborhood, Corsi entertained guests, shared stories from his travels, and solidified his image as both muse and myth. The prestige of a Washington Square address bolstered his reputation, reinforcing his role not only as a model but as a fixture in New York’s artistic circles.

Click here for more information about the upcoming Corsi film!