Kimberly Snyder
President and General Manager
Entertainment and Commercial Films Group
Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company

The proliferation of independent films over the past several years has been an encouraging trend in the entertainment industry. Filmmakers who operate outside of the major Hollywood studios supply a large number of the feature film titles screened in U.S. cinemas. For movie-goers, this means a plethora of unique, compelling stories to enjoy. And as these stories reach viewers through an expanding array of platforms, there will be some amazing opportunities for exploring new content.

If you look beyond the hype, you would find many of the recently celebrated indies originated on film. Independent movies shot on film are having highly successful runs at the box-office. In 2011, the top five grossing indie films in limited release were all shot on film. Indies originating on film didn’t just make an impact at ticket counters; they earned critical praise and the industry’s top awards. You might recognize some of these titles—The Artist, Midnight in Paris, The Descendents, The Tree of Life, My Week with Marilyn, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Pariah, and the list goes on.

Kimberly Snyder
President and General Manager
Entertainment and Commercial Films Group
Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company

It’s no secret that the entertainment industry is engaged in a technology transition that puts high stakes on the line when it comes to the preservation of motion picture assets. “The Digital Dilemma 2,” recently published by the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, takes a thorough and analytical look at the impact of the digital revolution on filmmakers’ assets, and in particular, the assets and processes of independent filmmakers.

The report follows 2007’s “The Digital Dilemma,” which focused on studio content, and like its predecessor, this second in-depth study covers critical topics for the overall industry in terms of securing entertainment assets for the long term.

Kimberly Snyder
President and General Manager
Entertainment and Commercial Films Group
Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company

The motion picture industry’s awards season is in full swing. Many of the winners have already been named, with all roads leading to Oscar® night. I must admit, this is one of my favorite times of the year because it allows us to recognize the many talented filmmakers who have created extraordinary stories and images. In fact, for the 25th year, Kodak will be hosting its pre-Oscar dinner recognizing current and past Academy Award nominees and honorees for cinematography.

This year, films originated on Kodak earned 60 Oscar® nominations (view our Kodak Oscar® Gallery). Seven of the nine Best Picture nominees were shot on Kodak, and 23 of the 36 narrative, live-action feature nominees originated on film.

Kimberly Snyder
President and General Manager
Entertainment and Commercial Films Group
Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company

For our loyal filmmaking community, I wanted to take a moment to address the latest news from Kodak.

Firstly, everyone at Kodak, and particularly those within our Entertainment Imaging team, greatly appreciates the support we have received from our partners in the industry since the announcement that Kodak filed for Chapter 11 reorganization.

Kim Snyder, President
Kodak’s Entertainment Imaging Division
Vice President of Eastman Kodak Company

When a New York newspaper reported that Mark Twain had been lost at sea, he is said to have replied, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

We know the feeling.

There has been much speculation about the fate of Kodak motion picture film over the last few weeks. We at Kodak refuse to let the volatility of the market or the rumors distract us from our mission – to provide the highest quality tools to tell your stories.