If Joe Dunton Buys Kodak

What if Joe Dunton were to purchase Kodak? I have often quipped that Joe Dunton never saw a camera company he didn’t want to own. (Among his collections are Moy and Mitchell Camera Company.) Joe Dunton, MBE, BSC had a mischievous smile when I saw him at the BSC Show on Saturday.  Headlines taken out of context quickly become rumors and an aggressive blogger could spread a contagion of speculation by dropping “If” from our headline.

“It would be run like a boutique,” Joe said. “You would order quantities and emulsion for the production at hand.” It would be bespoke Kodak: edge numbers with the name of the cinematographer indelibly etched, perhaps. Or rolls of professional still film with your name on the yellow box. Kodak is one of the legendary brand names of our industry, and Joe is a legendary managing director with a passion for the business.

Joe has been managing director of JDC and an executive at Panavision. He has made an art of personal service and technological catering to cinematographers and directors, has a loyal following worldwide. He is an MBE (Member of the British Empire) which is only a few steps from being Sir Joe Dunton. He received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 2010 and the 2008 Lifetime achievement award from the Society of Operating Cameramen. He never saw a piece of equipment he didn’t want to modify—or buy the company that made it. He is famous for his anamorphic lenses and specialty lenses.

Some of Joe’s many inventions include the Ladderpod, some of the first video assists, the Moy Bazooka, the Mitchell Vitesse geared head and a digital camera magazine. Could Kodak be next?

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3 Responses:

  1. Mark Forman says:

    Society of Camera Operators is the current name for the S.O.C.

  2. Jeff Kreines says:

    A film person running Kodak? What a novel idea! Perhaps Joe could bring back B&W stocks (including print stocks) with high silver content?

    But there is a fatal flaw, I’m afraid — what does Joe know about Kodak’s core mission: making mediocre inkjet printers?

    Jeff “watching Kodak shoot itself in the foot since the Hunt Brothers fiasco” Kreines

  3. Pingback: Film and Digital Times: If Joe Dunton Buys Kodak | Kelly On A Tangent

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