Kodak profitable again thanks to Star Wars - Blu-ray Forum

The Debts · 12-22-2015, 05:42 PM

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/beh...dak-ceo-848593

Quote:

With Help From 'Star Wars,' Kodak CEO Says Its Film Business Will Return to Profitability

The force is with Kodak, the last remaining motion picture film manufacturer.

J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which premiered Monday evening in Hollywood, was shot on film by cinematographer Dan Mindel. Also shot on film are a string of additional Oscar contenders including The Hateful Eight from Quentin Tarantino — which will also be offered as a 70mm film Roadshow — as well as Sam Mendes’ Spectre, Todd Haynes' Carol, David O. Russell’s Joy and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies.

Looking ahead, Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke said, "It is our understanding that director Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin are planning to shoot Star Wars: Episode VIII on Kodak film. They are in preproduction and we are working with them to bring their vision to the screen the way they intend it.”

Clarke estimated that, in total, 90 studio and indie movies (in addition to television work) were shot on film this past year. And while that's a far cry from catching up to digital cinematography, Kodak is bullish on keeping film alive as another option for filmmakers. According to the chief executive, thanks to its film push and restructuring efforts, Kodak went from losing $100 million annually on its film business to "breaking even the last three quarters," and he expects it to be profitable in 2016.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter as The Force Awakens premiered, he called Abrams “an extraordinary supporter of film. His advocacy was a key part of Kodak's decision to keep making film when we were down 96 percent.”

flash.over · 12-22-2015, 05:45 PM

Good. Film>digital, anyday

Mandalorian · 12-22-2015, 05:46 PM

That's really cool. It would've been interesting if they took a stand and went 2D-only. Sure it would've resulted in less profits... Well, never mind then.

Doctor Jack · 12-22-2015, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandalorian

That's really cool. It would've been interesting if they took a stand and went 2D-only. Sure it would've resulted in less profits... Well, never mind then.

But then they wouldn't have been the biggest opening of all time. They wouldn't have been able to puff out their chest and say mine is bigger than yours.

CinemaBlu · 12-22-2015, 06:55 PM

Yeah, it's all because of Star Wars.

Honestly, having Star Wars in the title of the article is really just clickbait. It's good clickbait because it's promoting a good cause, but to say Star Wars saved Kodak is inaccurate. Sure the people behind Star Wars did their part to keep film alive, but they did no more than anyone else who contributed by deciding to shoot film. If anyone deserves the most credit it's people like Tarantino and PT Anderson who have shot their recent films in 70mm.

EDIT:
Sorry, correction: The article isn't inaccurate, it's pretty fair. The title of this thread is inaccurate.

Kaiju · 12-22-2015, 07:20 PM

Film will always look better.

Arch Stanton · 12-22-2015, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiju

Film will always look better.

It won't.

This is nice news, though.

Kaiju · 12-22-2015, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

It won't.

This is nice news, though.

Please.

ajburke · 12-22-2015, 08:02 PM

As a native Rochesterian, it's always really nice to hear good news regarding Kodak. A few decades ago it seemed like everyone in the greater Rochester area either worked there or was related to someone who did. Now I only know one person still there. It's just good to hear that the once proud company isn't completely forgotten about.

spectre08 · 12-22-2015, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiju

Film will always look better.

yeah no.

I'm a big film supporter, I love when movies are shot on film.

But digital is also amazing.

The key is that the cinematographer, and also in large part the colorist, knows how to use the format to its maximum.

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Social Network are 100% digital, and look better than the sweeping majority of film movies.

Using RED cameras helps...a lot.

dvdmike · 12-22-2015, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectre08

yeah no.

I'm a big film supporter, I love when movies are shot on film.

But digital is also amazing.

The key is that the cinematographer, and also in large part the colorist, knows how to use the format to its maximum.

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Social Network are 100% digital, and look better than the sweeping majority of film movies.

Using RED cameras helps...a lot.

RED is holding back digital looking better

spectre08 · 12-23-2015, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvdmike

RED is holding back digital looking better

we're gonna come to fisticuffs over this one day, I know it

Bates_Motel · 12-23-2015, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvdmike

RED is holding back digital looking better

I hate the look of the RED, but it's hardly holding anything back. There are many companies making many different cameras. In fact, the ARRI is more of the Hollywood standard than the RED.

Kaiju · 12-23-2015, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectre08

yeah no.

I'm a big film supporter, I love when movies are shot on film.

But digital is also amazing.

The key is that the cinematographer, and also in large part the colorist, knows how to use the format to its maximum.

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Social Network are 100% digital, and look better than the sweeping majority of film movies.

Using RED cameras helps...a lot.

Just my opinion. I have no problem with digital, but film genuinely looks better to me. Simple as that.

klauswhereareyou · 12-23-2015, 08:16 PM

Fincher's movies looked better when he shot film. I'll admit he's the only director that has used The Red that has put out movies that I find visually impressive. Take any of those directors or cinematographers that can make great digital films, and their work visually pales next to what they shot on film.

The Debts · 12-22-2015, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Yeah, it's all because of Star Wars.

Honestly, having Star Wars in the title of the article is really just clickbait. It's good clickbait because it's promoting a good cause, but to say Star Wars saved Kodak is inaccurate. Sure the people behind Star Wars did their part to keep film alive, but they did no more than anyone else who contributed by deciding to shoot film. If anyone deserves the most credit it's people like Tarantino and PT Anderson who have shot their recent films in 70mm.

EDIT:
Sorry, correction: The article isn't inaccurate, it's pretty fair. The title of this thread is inaccurate.

Sorry. I was in a rush to get off the computer and tried coming up with a title that connected to the article well. Would you prefer it if I changed it?

CinemaBlu · 12-22-2015, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Debts

Sorry. I was in a rush to get off the computer and tried coming up with a title that connected to the article well. Would you prefer it if I changed it?

Don't worry about it, I was just venting my frustration at the overabundance of Star Wars threads in this forum. In the case of this thread, it just seemed unnecessary to make it about Star Wars.

The Debts · 12-22-2015, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Don't worry about it, I was just venting my frustration at the overabundance of Star Wars threads in this forum. In the case of this thread, it just seemed unnecessary to make it about Star Wars.

Yeah I'll give you that, heh.

applemac · 12-22-2015, 11:28 PM

I ran across this article the other day:
http://www.theblackandblue.com/2014/...s-alexa-color/

There are definitely positives to the look of film or ARRI wouldn't be this invested in a process to make their digital cameras look more like film. Digital still has a way to go before it reaches its potential, currently it seems to be "good enough" but isn't there in some aspects, and is yet to match a 5/70 or 15/70 negative quality (4K projection is arguably close to the release prints though).

On ARRI:
"As Adams says, “Video is inherently an additive color medium, and most video cameras embrace that aesthetic. That’s one of the reasons why film and video have such distinctive looks. Alexa seems to buck that trend by emulating the functionality of a subtractive color model in an additive color system.”

To sum it all up, he adds, “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that Arri is ’emulating’ film so much as they are pursuing a film aesthetic in a digital medium.”

dvdvhsvcd · 01-30-2020, 04:07 AM

Studios Re-up Kodak Deals to Keep Celluloid Film Alive
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/be...alive-1274709?

12-22-2015, 06:55 PM	#5
CinemaBlu Power Member Member since:Mar 2012 Location:NYC 4K collection:193 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:101	Yeah, it's all because of Star Wars. Honestly, having Star Wars in the title of the article is really just clickbait. It's good clickbait because it's promoting a good cause, but to say Star Wars saved Kodak is inaccurate. Sure the people behind Star Wars did their part to keep film alive, but they did no more than anyone else who contributed by deciding to shoot film. If anyone deserves the most credit it's people like Tarantino and PT Anderson who have shot their recent films in 70mm. EDIT: Sorry, correction: The article isn't inaccurate, it's pretty fair. The title of this thread is inaccurate. Last edited by CinemaBlu; 12-22-2015 at 07:09 PM.

12-22-2015, 05:45 PM	#2
flash.over Power Member Member since:May 2014 4K collection:43 Blu-ray collection:241 Blu-ray reviews:1	Good. Film>digital, anyday

12-22-2015, 05:46 PM	#3
Mandalorian Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Sep 2010 4K collection:1140 Blu-ray collection:2793 Trading Score:252	That's really cool. It would've been interesting if they took a stand and went 2D-only. Sure it would've resulted in less profits... Well, never mind then.

12-22-2015, 07:20 PM	#6
Kaiju Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Oct 2008 4K collection:449 Blu-ray collection:1234 Trading Score:102	Film will always look better.

12-22-2015, 08:02 PM	#9
ajburke Active Member Member since:Feb 2012 Location:Rochester, NY 4K collection:89 Blu-ray collection:1058 Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:2	As a native Rochesterian, it's always really nice to hear good news regarding Kodak. A few decades ago it seemed like everyone in the greater Rochester area either worked there or was related to someone who did. Now I only know one person still there. It's just good to hear that the once proud company isn't completely forgotten about.

12-23-2015, 08:16 PM	#15
klauswhereareyou Blu-ray Knight Member since:Mar 2012 4K collection:233 Blu-ray collection:2200 Digital collection:25 Prime collection:1	Fincher's movies looked better when he shot film. I'll admit he's the only director that has used The Red that has put out movies that I find visually impressive. Take any of those directors or cinematographers that can make great digital films, and their work visually pales next to what they shot on film.

12-22-2015, 11:28 PM	#19
applemac Special Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2015 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:73 Trading Score:16	I ran across this article the other day: http://www.theblackandblue.com/2014/...s-alexa-color/ There are definitely positives to the look of film or ARRI wouldn't be this invested in a process to make their digital cameras look more like film. Digital still has a way to go before it reaches its potential, currently it seems to be "good enough" but isn't there in some aspects, and is yet to match a 5/70 or 15/70 negative quality (4K projection is arguably close to the release prints though). On ARRI: "As Adams says, “Video is inherently an additive color medium, and most video cameras embrace that aesthetic. That’s one of the reasons why film and video have such distinctive looks. Alexa seems to buck that trend by emulating the functionality of a subtractive color model in an additive color system.” To sum it all up, he adds, “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that Arri is ’emulating’ film so much as they are pursuing a film aesthetic in a digital medium.”

01-30-2020, 04:07 AM	#20
dvdvhsvcd Active Member Member since:Apr 2018 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:-	Studios Re-up Kodak Deals to Keep Celluloid Film Alive https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/be...alive-1274709?

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