The Kodak Film Awards 2023 – On the Red Carpet
On a cold, rainy February evening, a swarm of film enthusiasts gathered at the American Society of Cinematographers Clubhouse in Hollywood, California to celebrate artists who have chosen Kodak film to capture their vision.
By Thom Kuo.
The American Society of Cinematographers Clubhouse in Hollywood, California
On a cold, rainy February evening, a swarm of film enthusiasts gathered at the American Society of Cinematographers Clubhouse in Hollywood, California to celebrate artists who have chosen Kodak film to capture their vision. The lists of honorees in attendance were the cream of the cinema crop. The Auteur Awards went to directors Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Babylon) and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), while the Lumiere Awards went to celebrated cinematographer Janusz Kaminiski ASC (Schindler’s List, The Fabelmans) and Rachel Morrison ASC (Seberg, Black Panther). The evening capped off with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to J.J. Abrams (The Force Awakens, Star Trek).
The Clubhouse, ASC’s home since 1937 (a time when Hollywood was still largely a desert), sits directly in back of the historical TCL (formerly Grauman’s) Chinese Theatre. Many historic cameras are housed here, the halls of film cameramen, and the weight of cinema history could be felt at the event, bringing a sense of both continuity and responsibility to those present.
JJ Abrams on the red carpet at the Kodak Film Awards 2023
Needless to say, this was not your ordinary awards show; most of the honorees expressed their appreciation for celluloid and what it means to their craft rather promoting any present project. Their inspiring words explored the origins of filmed arts on celluloid and why it was important for them to continue to use the medium. The enthusiasts in the audience nodded in agreement as they spoke of why film meant so much to cinema and should continue to do so. I was privileged to have attended with local Kodak representative Thais Castrelli, who operates out of the Hollywood office. She brought along Super-8 cameras to capture the event.
Roger Deakins’ Éclair
“Euphoria” show creator and cinematographer Marcell Rev regaled us with a story of how they got Kodak to make Ektachrome for 35mm, and what it meant to the show’s look. Director Michael Morris’s first feature film, To Leslie, expressed how film helped to make the actors invested in their performance. The producers of the film did not consider anything but analog film; they expressed film’s importance in creating the mood.
One of the most inspiring moments came from Visual Artist Award recipient Tyler Shields who, in an unbridled moment, pumped his fist and exclaimed, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t shoot on film! Fight for it!” The audience cheered in agreement.
The Super8 Team: Thais Castralli, Craig Boydston, & Thom Kuo
One of the most inspiring moments came from Visual Artist Award recipient Tyler Shields who, in an unbridled moment, pumped his fist and exclaimed, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t shoot on film! Fight for it!” The audience cheered in agreement.
Film brings people together. Everyone that evening knew that film creates a focused atmosphere on set. They expressed how shooting on film increased attentiveness and drew the crew closer together. The actors felt the importance of being captured on film, a long-lasting imprint on cinema.
The highlight of my night was when I got to speak to J.J. Abrams on the red carpet and tell him that I was the person who scanned and saw the first frame of The Force Awakens and scanned the last frame of The Rise of Skywalker. He was genuinely delighted by that fact.
A giant cake fashioned into cans of film was presented to the crowd to close out the night.
The Kodak Awards film can cake
Images © Thom Kuo 2023.
You might also be interested in this movie made at a 16mm workshop ran by SilvergrainClassics and Kodak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2HwnOClog
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