Deluxe Entertainment Services and Technicolor have formed an alliance that the companies say will ensure continued high quality customer service during the motion picture industry's transition from 35mm film to digital. With digital cinema projectors becoming ubiquitous in North America and film volumes declining Technicolor will subcontract its 35mm bulk release printing business to Deluxe in North America. In addition Deluxe will subcontract its 35mm print distribution business in the U.S. to Technicolor. In London as a result of digital image capture overtaking film capture; Deluxe will subcontract its 35mm/16mm original color negative processing business to Technicolor. Deluxe will provide 35mm bulk release printing at its Denham and other European facilities. In related news The Globe and Mail in Montreal has reported that In the latest blow to the use of 35 mm film prints in North America’s movie houses and on television Technicolor is shutting its release print manufacturing operations in Mirabel Quebec just north of Montreal putting 178 employees out of work. Beginning this week Technicolor will place its 35mm release print orders with Deluxe's film laboratories in Hollywood and Toronto on behalf of its customers. With this new arrangement Deluxe will provide printing services in North America for all the major Hollywood studios. Technicolor will begin servicing Deluxe's U.S. 35mm release print distribution needs in September and Deluxe's U.K. 35mm/16mm original color negative processing needs at Technicolor's Pinewood facility starting next week. Today's agreement with Technicolor is the result of significant changes in our industry enabled by new digital technologies causing the rapid transition from film to digital says Cyril Drabinsky president and CEO of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. This agreement will help maintain a high consistency of service for our customers through the remaining life of film. Deluxe has been processing film since 1915 and until the last few years was known primarily as a film laboratory. Today the bulk of its business is in digital services and technologies. Today's announcement is a further step in Deluxe's transformation into a post-production and digital services vendor to the entire entertainment industry. Deluxe Entertainment Services Group www.bydeluxe.com
