News Story

Musician, Pro Photographer, and Ex-Weezer Bassist, Matt Sharp, to Use Fujifilm Neopan Film to Help Capture 365-Day Artistic Journey of Record Making

Valhalla, NY, June 17, 2009 – FUJIFILM U.S.A. today announced that it will collaborate with alternative rock band and New Wave pioneers of the late nineties, The Rentals, on the band’s Songs About Time year-long multimedia project by providing frontman and professional photographer, Matt Sharp, with Fujifilm NEOPAN 1600 black & white 36 exposure photographic film. Sharp, Rentals founder and ex-Weezer bassist, will shoot one roll of the film per day, approximately 14,000 photos in all, as part of the multi-faceted artistic campaign that features photographs about days, videos about weeks, and songs about time. The culmination of the project, which launched on April 7, includes 365 limited deluxe edition boxed sets that will include one of Sharp’s undeveloped rolls of Fujifilm NEOPAN film, helping to visually depict The Rentals’ record making process, and further connecting fans to the band’s music.

“We are flattered that Mr. Sharp has asked Fujifilm to participate in Songs About Time,” said Kayce Baker, director of marketing, Professional Markets, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. “To be a part of an artistic multimedia endeavor such as this is exciting for us because we continue to support a culture of creative photography, and we realize the level of dedication it takes to shoot a roll of film a day. For Mr. Sharp to offer Rentals fans this level of insight in the form of traditional photography is really quite powerful and truly projects the campaign’s theme of time.”

Inclusion of the unprocessed roll of Fujifilm NEOPAN film in the Songs About Time boxed set is intended to give fans an individualized, one-of-a-kind glimpse into the making of The Rental’s latest studio recordings. Exclusive access to a private online photo gallery will be granted to the 365 purchasers to post and share their images with the band.

“I needed to find a type of film that enables me to shoot in really diverse lighting situations. I try to shoot using only natural available light and I often find myself shooting in very dark studios one moment and then in direct sunlight the next and NEOPAN simply gave me the best results,” said Matt Sharp, The Rentals. “Not only do the 35mm images capture the more nostalgic and romantic side of people and places I’ve found myself running into, but there also seems to be something more emotionally true at the center of the images that I don’t seem to be able to find with digital.”

The complete, three chapter Songs About Time campaign revolves around three, four song EPs that will be released throughout 2009. Giving fans full insight into The Rentals artistic journey, digital photographs taken by Sharp are posted daily to the band’s website documenting the making of Songs About Time, while French inspired new-wave videos are posted weekly, chronicling and revealing a cinematic and at times playful look inside the band’s creative process.

The first chapter of three EPs, The Story of a Thousand Seasons Past was released on April 7 and is available for purchase, or to stream for free exclusively through the band’s official web site, www.therentals.com where fans can also download pictures from Songs About Time. The second EP will be released in July, and the third in October. Limited deluxe editions of Songs About Time are currently available for pre-order and include a complete multi-vinyl set, CD, DVD, hardcover coffee table book of exclusive images, VIP backstage passes, along with the undeveloped roll of Fujifilm NEOPAN film.

Fujifilm has been committed to the culture of photography for more than 70 years through a broad spectrum of film and digital technologies and continually strives to enhance these technologies, supporting photographers with solutions that encourage the expression of their creative vision. Serving the professional, commercial, and consumer photographer, Fujifilm offers a range of professional films, digital cameras, and instant film and camera solutions in addition to the following photofinishing solutions: Frontier digital lab systems; GetPix™ kiosks; a complete line of paper, display materials, ink and lab products.

About FUJIFILM

FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, providing digital and analog photographic Imaging Systems and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses. For more information on Fujifilm U.S.A. products, customers can call 800-800-FUJI or visit www.fujifilmusa.com. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Corporation (NASDAQ:FUJI) brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 15 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2008, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2009, had global revenues of $24 billion. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

About The Rentals

The Rentals released their debut album Return of The Rentals in 1995, brilliantly incorporating Moog synthesizers, boy/girl harmonies, and soaring violins all rolled into sweet and simple pop songs. Their single "Friends Of P." (# 6 on Billboards Modern Rock Chart) broke through The Billboard Hot 100 and MTV’s Buzz Bin reviving elements of new wave and bringing the analog synthesizer back to the forefront of pop music. The band supported Return Of The Rentals on the road opening for such well known acts as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blur, Alanis Morrisette and Garbage.

The band’s sophomore effort Seven More Minutes was an open love letter to Barcelona and the European music scene. The critically heralded follow up featured a whirlwind of collaborations including members of Blur, Elastica, Lush, Weezer and Ash.

In 2007 the band resumed their recording career again, first with a low-key collection of home recordings titled, The Last Little Life EP, followed by the launch of “Songs About Time” in 2009.
 

For more information, please contact:

 ###

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.