MUMBAI: In order to effectively reduce the global footprint of film services, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group and Technicolor have inked three-year subcontracting agreements. Financial details were not disclosed.

According to the agreement, Technicolor will subcontract its 35mm bulk release printing business to Deluxe in North America, while the latter will subcontract its 35mm print distribution business in the US to Technicolor. Additionally, Deluxe will subcontract its 35mm/16mm color negative processing business to Technicolor in London. 

"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," Deluxe president and CEO Cyril Drabinsky has been quoted to have said. "This agreement will help maintain a high consistency of service for our customers through the remaining life of film," he added.

Technicolor will begin servicing Deluxe‘s US 35mm release print distribution in September and Deluxe‘s UK 35mm/16mm color negative processing at its Pinewood facility within the week.

Deluxe will stop negative processing services of 35mm/16mm films at both of its facilities in the London area, one in the Soho district and the other in Denham. It will provide 35mm bulk release printing at its Denham and other European facilities.

The steps taken by either side underscore the approaching end of the era where film dominated the theatrical motion picture industry. For nearly a century, Deluxe and Technicolor have been pillars in film services. 

While Technicolor’s film development business dates back to 1914, Deluxe has been processing films since 1915. Today, the bulk of these competing businesses represent a growing range of digital entertainment services including Blu-Ray authoring, digital post-production and digital cinema distribution.