Alphacine in Seattle to shut down lab.

[John Woods]

As mentioned in the Detroit lab topic, Alphacine is shutting down their lab but will continue to offer digital post. Its not a surprising announcment, with the end of 35mm distribution there is going to be more lab closures announced.

 

When Deluxe shut down the last lab in Vancouver last year, the manager there told an acquaintence that their business plan relied on handling about a million feet of film a month. I imagine that is the same for many other labs. The manager said there was no serious money left in film support except in the archiving side.

 

I'm curious to hear opinions on the declining lab situtation and what the balance would be. Even if Kodak continues to offer motion picture film products for another 5 years, will there be any labs left? Maybe LA or NY might get enough Hollywood money to keep going but would those labs be interested in doing mail order jobs that the smaller labs do? Or do you think that the last lab standing will be a small one outside of NY/LA?