Kodak announced that it has finalized new film supply agreements with all six major Hollywood studios. As part of these agreements, Kodak will continue to provide motion picture film to 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Warner Bros. Entertainment, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures for their movie and television productions.
Fujifilm exited the film business in 2013, leaving Kodak’s Rochester, New York facility as the last remaining supplier of film. The agreement will save the factory from shuttering. With the advent of digital cameras, the company has seen film sales drop by 96% since 2006. However, film is still a vital necessity for the studios, especially when it comes to archiving and restoration.
“Film has long been – and will remain – a vital part of our culture,” said Jeff Clarke, Kodak chief executive officer. “With the support of the studios, we will continue to provide motion picture film, with its unparalleled richness and unique textures, to enable filmmakers to tell their stories and demonstrate their art.”
Kodak has been engaged in broad discussions with prominent filmmakers, studios, independent artists, production companies, and film processors to enable film to remain a fundamental medium. Last July, the studios made known their intent to play a key role in leading this industry-wide effort.
Prior to the agreements being finalized, several highly acclaimed films were produced on film, including Oscar nominees Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Foxcatcher, Into the Woods, Leviathan, Inherent Vice and The Judge. Upcoming 2015 films shot on Kodak film include Star Wars: Episode VII –The Force Awakens, Mission: Impossible 5, Batman v. Superman – Dawn of Justice, Jurassic World, Ant-Man, Cinderella, Entourage and Trainwreck.
The agreements will make it possible for Kodak to continue to manufacture motion picture film. This also enables the company to continue supplying camera negative, intermediate stock for postproduction, and archival and print film.
“With the support of the major studios, the creative community can continue to confidently choose film for their projects,” said Andrew Evenski, Kodak’s president of entertainment and commercial films. “We’ve been asking filmmakers, ‘what makes a project FilmWorthy.’ Their responses have varied from the need for its exceptional depth to its distinctive grain, but overwhelmingly, the answer is ‘the story.’ They need film to tell their stories the way they envision them, and hold a strong desire for it to remain a critical part of their visual language.”
