Hollywood, CA - Kodak motion picture film is still a star, albeit a fading one in Hollywood.
On Thursday the Kodak Theatre sign was covered up at the home of the Academy Awards.
A bankruptcy judge released Kodak from its naming rights contract last week.
Kodak film is still used to shoot movies and television shows.
Seven of this year's nine best picture nominated films were shot on Kodak film.
Looking back to 1995, cinematographers raved about shooting on Kodak film.
"As far as I'm concerned, the people in Rochester, if I had a hat on, I'd take my hat off because nobody does it better," said Cinematographer Ozzie Smith in 1995.
All Kodak motion picture film is still made in Rochester.
Ironically, one of Kodak's big marketing pushes at the Oscars in 1995 was digital photography.
Photographs were handed out to the winners almost as soon as they stepped off the stage.
No one knew then how quickly digital photography would rock Kodak's world.
Today in Hollywood, Kodak is still in the special effects business and it preserves movies.
But the real moneymaker is still in the motion picture film itself.
The problem is Kodak's biggest customers here are also among its biggest creditors in bankruptcy court.
And that's enough to dim even the brightest of stars.
You can watch the Academy Awards on 13WHAM Sunday.
Red carpet coverage begins at 7.
