Move the film to a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Any source of heat--such as a light bulb, radiator, or sunlight--can ignite nitrate film. Ideally, the film should be stored in a metal canister with a loose lid away from anything that could catch fire.
Find a professional licensed transfer facility. Contact a local archive repository that may be able to suggest a facility. The Library of Congress provides a list of commercial moving image services (see References below).
Contact the post office, UPS or FedEx hazardous material department about shipping nitrate film before sending the film to the transfer facility.
Transferring nitrate film to digital video should be done by using a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a scanning laser. A CRT scans the film to capture the image. A projector could ignite or damage the film during transfer.
Ask a professional archivist in your area or the transfer facility staff about maintaining or disposing of the original film. If you are a private individual you may be able to find a local repository that will preserve the original film in its facility.
Disposing of the film requires following local hazardous waste transfer guidelines. Contact your state's waste management facility to find out how best to transfer and dispose of nitrate film.