THE PERFECT PRESENT…!

         With the holidays just over the horizon, I can’t think of a better gift for anyone interested in film technology than Robert Hoffman’s book, Alchemy in Technicolor (2024; Medley Land Scribes).

         In addition to being a wonderful writer, Hoffman – who spent eighteen years of his half-century-long career as Technicolor’s VP of Marketing and Public Relations – is also a meticulous researcher.  Using his privileged access to the company’s archive as reference, he was able to deliver an insider’s view in a meticulous yet entertaining fashion.

         I was flattered when he asked for a promotional statement, and I believe what follows says it all regarding this remarkable achievement:

         “Robert Hoffman’s Alchemy in Technicolor presents the definitive chronicle of a motion picture process whose look, though familiar to millions, is understood by few.  Eminently readable and complemented by beautiful illustrations, the book examines one of our most significant cultural touchstones with an insider’s assurance and a fan’s enthusiasm.  It will appeal to everyone interested in film and will no doubt become the go-to volume for every historian that follows in his wake.”

         Alchemy in Technicolor is coffee table-sized and clocks in at 373 pages with 175 illustrations.  It can be purchased directly from Hoffman’s website, www.moviealchemy.com, through the store at www.the asc.com or from most other popular booksellers.