Kodak is un-bankrupt.

[AgX]

Will the whole movie world really stop using film in 2015? I find that impossible to believe. There must be an endless number of movie studios world wide and now that Fuji is out of the business, only Kodak makes film for all these studios. Surely a large percentage will be using film after 2015.

Where does that date 2015 come from? Did I overlook something?

 

[lxdude]

how does that expected drop in the demand for film products overall play into the viability of the films we all love to buy and use if they still need to coat it a mile at a time?

I wonder if they can coat narrower masters on the same equipment...

 

[Paul Howell]

Where does that date 2015 come from? Did I overlook something?

my understanding is the majior US studioes will no longer distubute films to the theaters in 2014, but I dont know if no one will shoot in 35mm.

 

[Prest_400]

That is incorrect. When the deal is consummated, around September 1, the new film marketing/distribution company will not only purchase film from Kodak in Rochester to re-sell, it will also own the Harrow plant that still makes color paper. It could theoretically decide (if and when the still undisclosed terms of the agreement allow) to begin making film at Harrow as well. What those films would be like, and how closely they would resemble current Kodak films, if at all, is not knowable at this time.

In that way, KPP will control Harrow and their manufacturing lines (Chromogenic Paper). So they should have full control of manufacturing & distribution of Paper. As of film, it should be possible to adapt the Harrow coater but IIRC on a past discussion about it PE deemed it a hard endeavor.
I guess they could adapt the films to a modified Harrow coater but it would need the retooling of the machine plus the extensive reformulation for each product. Writing about this, Kodak did coat film in the past in the UK, was it Harrow?

I too got 2015 on my mind because of the MP contract between the studios and Kodak. After that, who knows.

 

[kb3lms]

Didn't they make film at Harrow as well at one time in the not-so-distant past? It was my understanding that they did. In my freezer are several boxes of Portra 160VC that clearly say "Made in Great Britain." The Pension Plan might do very well to explore bringing back that capability once things are up and running.

Personally, I am more comfortable with a UK based operation rationally looking at the business case of film production at Harrow (or elsewhere outside of Rochester) and developing a business plan to move forward.* UK businesses seem to far more comfortable taking sensible risks** and making the necessary investments to pull off the plan than US companies and their Wall Street mandated profit non-sense. That's been my experience anyway.

* Maybe they'd even consider specialty product runs, not unlike Ilford's ULF runs. Maybe we could see E6 products again (or maybe even Koda... Nah, I ain't going there! )

**as opposed to stupid risks, so I'm talking about things that could reasonably be expected to pan out

 

[blansky]

don't k now if you've seen this one as well.

http://www.laweekly.com/2012-04-12/film-tv/35-mm-film-digital-Hollywood/

 

[Prest_400]

Didn't they make film at Harrow as well at one time in the not-so-distant past? It was my understanding that they did. In my freezer are several boxes of Portra 160VC that clearly say "Made in Great Britain." The Pension Plan might do very well to explore bringing back that capability once things are up and running.

Personally, I am more comfortable with a UK based operation rationally looking at the business case of film production at Harrow (or elsewhere outside of Rochester) and developing a business plan to move forward.* UK businesses seem to far more comfortable taking sensible risks** and making the necessary investments to pull off the plan than US companies and their Wall Street mandated profit non-sense. That's been my experience anyway.

What? Portra 160 made in britain? That seems great, and perhaps they could produce again if they didn't get rid of special machinery and people. But it could be like Ferrania; Needing a readaptation process. As of chemistry, they do colour paper so...
I was thinking they made film in the UK but eons ago, glad to hear it wasn't that long ago.


Blanksy, that's what I've seen around for a while. I quite disagree with those politics, especially because small theaters will find themselves out of the business. Aside of this, pure digital projection seems like a glorified youtube.

 

[clayne]

I don't know why you guys keep going on and on about film being made in Harrow. Just because KPP owns the operation does not necessarily mean anyone would think it were a good idea to move everything there. There is zero reason to do that and zero reason (aside from corporate legality games) to not just continue with what they're doing by contracting everything from the Kodak that is making the film now. Moving it all to the UK would be a stupid move of the highest order.

 

[railwayman3]

Didn't they make film at Harrow as well at one time in the not-so-distant past? It was my understanding that they did. In my freezer are several boxes of Portra 160VC that clearly say "Made in Great Britain." The Pension Plan might do very well to explore bringing back that capability once things are up and running.

Film was certainly made in Harrow, I'd guess up to 7-8 years ago. Master rolls were shipped about 150 miles up the M1 Motorway to be cut and packed at the factory at Annesley, near Nottingham (Robin Hood country ). There was a large modern Kodak finished factory there (all now gone), and I have several Ektachome boxes "Finished and packed at Annesley, Nottingham, England". It was quite usual to spot several Kodak trucks whenever travelling on the motorway.

(I'm wondering if, even if film coating resumed at Harrow, there is any finishing equipment left there, as the Nottingham finishing plant was in operation something like 15-20 years...not got the dates to hand, but I know they're on the web somewhere).

 

[ME Super]

Film was certainly made in Harrow, I'd guess up to 7-8 years ago. Master rolls were shipped about 150 miles up the M1 Motorway to be cut and packed at the factory at Annesley, near Nottingham (Robin Hood country ). There was a large modern Kodak finished factory there (all now gone), and I have several Ektachome boxes "Finished and packed at Annesley, Nottingham, England". It was quite usual to spot several Kodak trucks whenever travelling on the motorway.

(I'm wondering if, even if film coating resumed at Harrow, there is any finishing equipment left there, as the Nottingham finishing plant was in operation something like 15-20 years...not got the dates to hand, but I know they're on the web somewhere).

If not, I'm sure Simon's crew at Ilford Photo in Mobberly would be happy to finish Kodak film. I'm sure they still have the equipment, since they do it in B&W and finishing color I can't imagine would be too terribly different from B&W.

 

[Prest_400]

Interesting fact as of film being made in Harrow until ~2006. Now, possibility of making film products again would depend as if they got rid of the specific machinery for it I guess.

I don't know why you guys keep going on and on about film being made in Harrow. Just because KPP owns the operation does not necessarily mean anyone would think it were a good idea to move everything there. There is zero reason to do that and zero reason (aside from corporate legality games) to not just continue with what they're doing by contracting everything from the Kodak that is making the film now. Moving it all to the UK would be a stupid move of the highest order.

Completely agree. As of now, if Rochester is sustainable; nothing should change.
But concerning (doomsday) thoughts about building 38 being too big and if MP demand dwindles deeming building 38 unsustainable (elaborating further on an apocalyptic situation) shutting down... The KPP wouldn't have its main source of still film.

If not, I'm sure Simon's crew at Ilford Photo in Mobberly would be happy to finish Kodak film. I'm sure they still have the equipment, since they do it in B&W and finishing color I can't imagine would be too terribly different from B&W.

Indeed, finishing is a different stage of the product and could be outsourced. If not, in mainland EU there are more options too.
You just reminded me of the "Made in USA, finished in Mexico" of Kodak film. From Rochester to wherever in Mexico there is a long way...

And let's see when KPP wakes up and says something about the film & paper they now control. :munch:

 

[RattyMouse]

And let's see when KPP wakes up and says something about the film & paper they now control. :munch: