I have seen their press releases, where they state as they kill a film, mind you, that they most certainly continue support film.
Can you really not see the hypocritical lie and insult that is?
You only need to look at the lineup of films from Fuji 10 years ago, and today and ask yourself if it is a truth or a lie that Fuji "continue to support film".
Fuji’s press release said,
‘FUJIFILM PRO 400H film is a unique product that is coated with a fourth layer – requiring specialized raw materials and chemicals. As it has become increasingly difficult to procure the raw materials needed to produce PRO 400H, we regret to inform you that after careful consideration, Fujifilm has made the difficult business decision to discontinue PRO 400H.’
In response to that, someone said,
“It (the discontinuance .ed) is not about being short of materials or "difficult" processes.” which sounded all the world to me like accusing Fuji of lying about their “real” reason for discontinuing the film. This happens all the time. No matter what Fuji supplies as a reason for discontinuing a film, there are always voices raised to claim, without any evidence at all, that the reason supplied by Fuji is not the “real” reason. It’s puzzling, this certainty.
I have no idea if Fuji is “lying” or not, but neither does anyone else as far as I have ever been able to tell. As someone else here noted, Fuji keeps it pretty close to the vest and there are never any leaks from inside the company to contradict the official reasons given, so we’re left to either accept the truth of the statements as written, or go forth with alternate explanations based on nothing but our pique.
Whether Fuji is “committed to film” is an entirely different, if related, discussion, but if, in fact, they truly cannot produce 400H reasonably, for the reason they have given, then there is no contradiction between their being committed to film and discontinuing 400H. Who knows? I have no idea if they are committed to film or not, not even sure what the phrase might mean in real terms, but I can understand the feeling of betrayal if they discontinue a film stock. At least I could if I believed that Fuji owed me something. Which I don’t.
Just because I don’t believe something, doesn’t mean that the other party is lying. It just means I don’t believe it.
So, no, I “can’t see the hypocritical lie and the insult that is.” Perhaps my feelers have been dulled by drink, and my sharp edges rounded over by time, but it’s been a very long time since I have felt insulted by a conglomerate. If ever.
400H had become the only C41 film I’d use, so I’ll miss it.
