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By Chris Tribbey

In case you hadn’t heard, Paris-based Technicolor is celebrating a century of being in the film business this year. One of Hollywood’s biggest names — DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg — is certainly aware.

“Technicolor was a partner for DreamWorks [Animation] from the very outset, when [Steven] Spielberg, [David] Geffen and I put the company together, Technicolor came forward as a partner, made its services and all of its support available to us, and our filmmaking and animation,” Katzenberg said in a video celebrating Technicolor’s 100-year anniversary. “In many ways they helped DreamWorks on to its feet right out of the box, and we’ve never forgotten that. They’ve always been a meaningful and important partner to us.”

Katzenberg shared how important Technicolor’s work has been to Hollywood with a simple example: the first time he saw The Wizard of Oz was in black and white on TV. The second time he saw it? In glorious Technicolor.

“That was a transformative moment for all of us, where we went from black and white to color,” he said. “Technicolor has always been on the cutting edge, and as the industry has evolved, as the techniques around film and filmmaking and the processing of film and the move to digital and complete transformation by special effects, the delivery systems … they’re involved with every step along the way. It wouldn’t be Technicolor [otherwise].

“Technicolor was there at the beginning, and Technicolor was there in the middle, and Technicolor is here today,” Katzenberg added. “Fortunately we’re not at the end. We’ve got more chapters to go.”

Katzenberg isn’t the only one in Hollywood recognizing Technicolor’s achievements: the Hollywood (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce is giving the company a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, marking only the second time a corporation will receive a “Star of Recognition” honor for the famous attraction. The star will be dedicated March 30th at 10 a.m. Pacific, in front of Technicolor’s facility at 6040 Sunset Blvd.

“Technicolor has been an integral part of the Hollywood film and television landscape from the very beginning,” said Technicolor CEO Frederic Rose. “We have been at the forefront of creative and technological innovations that have wowed filmmakers and audiences alike. We are honored to be recognized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for our role in shaping Hollywood.”

Technicolor relocated its facilities to Hollywood in the early 1920s and has since provided post-production services for thousands of films, along with providing new technologies as the industry continues to move forward in the digital era. That’s why it deserves the honor, according to Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

“One hundred years is a very good reason to celebrate,” he said. “We are delighted to have such an innovative company as Technicolor as a major stakeholder in Hollywood. We congratulate them on this milestone and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”