The Little Theatre in Rochester is one of only 51 theaters nationwide that is showing the 35 mm version of the latest movie by Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," shot on Kodak film.
Little Theatre spokesman Scott Pukos said before the arrival of digital, all movies were presented in 35 mm print, and it's preferred by big-time directors like Tarantino.
“The passion that Tarantino uses when he's filming it, I think it's conveyed a little more in this original format, which is 35 mm," he said.
Pukos said special projection equipment and trained projectionists are needed for 35 mm prints, and the Little, which is a subsidiary of WXXI Public Broadcasting, has both.
He said seeing the movie in an art house, on celluloid, elevates the experience.
Vanessa Bendetti, Kodak's global managing director of motion picture film and entertainment, agreed.
“Film makes the experience of the cinema, both from the capture and exhibition side, very different than what we're seeing on our iPhones, our computers, et cetera," she said.
Bendetti said Tarantino also used 16 mm and Super 8 Ektachrome on the project.
She said Kodak is very happy to see Tarantino’s commitment to film and his understanding of the values of it. She added Kodak is seeing growth in its film capture businesses in all formats and segments.
The Little Theatre is a subsidiary of WXXI Public Broadcasting.