First watch the video link below… you only need to watch the first minute or two of the video where Mr. Hayzlett is speaking about film and digital- then click on the audio logo to listen to the discussion…
Video Jeffrey Hayzlett CMO Eastman Kodak Company
Viva la Revolution-
Stephen
Figital Revolution 
I wonder if part of the problem here is that film is a fine art material, and as such, at least on an unconscious level it’s subject to the same prejudice against the arts as idle, immoral, wasteful, irreverent or somehow diverting resources away from other important things that comes up whenever politicians attack public funding of the arts, schools cut back arts and music programming etc. (Even though the studies always seem to show that investment in arts and culture always pays huge dividends– typically 160% return on investment was the last thing I read somewhere) It’s a bit of a stretch maybe, but I think for a lot of corporate types the idea of being associated with artists is kind of scary.
Hello Stephen,
I’m not sure what to think of this. Yes, he makes a joke at the expense of film photography. But he also makes fun of corporate culture at the Kodak company. I am not an expert, but from my point of view he has what it takes to be good CMO, a charming witty presence with a feel-good message. And if fun making is required, fun making is what he will do. Film photographers raise their eyebrows, a significant percentage of his Kodak colleagues will have a grim look on the their face and the general public has a big smile. For them he is a clown in a suit.
Don’t get me wrong… I think he is the perfect CMO for the Kodak company and again a really nice guy to have a conversation with… I would just like film to get a bigger mention here and there where it is doing great so the general public understands that film is still around and is still very viable and this mention needs to come from the likes of the CMO, otherwise it is just a press release.
I think we are on the same wavelength. But I do not think it will come from this CMO. But I do hope that Scott Di Sabato, Kodak’s marketing manager professional film will kick up some dust here and there. I have heard several interviews with that guy and he is very passionate about film photography. But at the end it does not matter who is delivering the message. It is about the message not the messenger.
I know Scott very well and he is very passionate about film but at the end of the day the CMO makes the loudest noise… I will see Scott in a few weeks and plan on talking about this then.
Cheers-
Stephen
Hi Stephen,I completely agree. Since one and a half years I started again to photorgaph after a very long break. First digital, but after beeing disappointed quickly I bought a medium film camera, then a second…….
I know of many young people who started photographing on film, they took the cameras of their parents and are 15 – 20 years old. For these young people we urgently need faces who endorse film based photography and not only make jokes about it.
Best regards – Reinhold from Germany
At least here in Canada the problem is that it seems neither Kodak nor Fuji really seem to care.
I do live in Vancouver and out here neither of these companies have any sales reps left, they end up dealing through third parties / independents, which right now for example makes it impossible for me to get either bulk (color) film or Chemistry outside of standard Kodak B&W stuff.
“Professional” imaging means for a lot of people digital all the way, the three pro labs we have here in town are quickly reducing their film processing, Costco will stop 35mm processing come February and London Drugs (a large chain) that historically had a Frontier or Noritsu equipment line in every store has gone to the point where they won’t put machines into new stores and it seems if old ones break they won’t get replaced either.
I am sure that LD et. al. will keep a basic availability but it will predominantly be a digital future, Digital is “good enough” and “convenient” enough for the majority of people and I know very few people who still get prints in the first place.
Because of this I can’t see Fuji or Kodak really trying to put a lot of money into the marketing of new film based products. Kodak Ektar took off via word of mouth more than it did via Kodak marketing, I cannot really remember seeing any ads for it anywhere.