A film comprising a regioselectively substituted cellulose ester comprising: (a) a plurality of chromophore-acyl substituents; and (b) a plurality of pivaloyl substituents, wherein the cellulose ester has a hydroxyl degree of substitution ("DS OH ") in the range of from about 0 to about 0.9, wherein the cellulose ester has a pivaloyl degree of substitution ("DS Pv ") in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.2, wherein the cellulose ester has a chromophore-acyl degree of substitution ("DS Ch ") in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.6, and wherein the regioselectivity is such that the sum of the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C2 and C3 ("C2DS Ch " and "C3DS Ch ") minus the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C6 ("C6DS Ch ") is between about 0.5 and about 1.6, wherein the chromophore-acyl is chosen from (i) an (C 6-20)aryl-acyl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (ii) a heteroaryl-acyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1- to 4- heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (iii) wherein the aryl is a univalent group formed by removing a hydrogen atom from carbon in an arene, and wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; or (iv) wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1, wherein each R 1 is independently chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl; halo(C 1-6)alkyl; (C 6-20)aryl-CO 2 -; (C 6-20)aryl-; (C 1-6)alkoxy; halo(C 1-6)alkoxy; halo; 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S; or (a) a plurality of chromophore-acyl substituents; and (b) a plurality of pivaloyl substituents, wherein the cellulose ester has a hydroxyl degree of substitution ("DS OH ") in the range of from about 0 to about 0.9, wherein the cellulose ester has a pivaloyl degree of substitution ("DS Pv ") in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.2, wherein the cellulose ester has a chromophore-acyl degree of substitution ("DS Ch ") in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.6, and wherein the regioselectivity is such that the sum of the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C2 and C3 ("C2DS Ch " and "C3DS Ch ") minus the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C6 ("C6DS Ch ") is between about 0.5 and about 1.6, wherein the chromophore-acyl is chosen from (i) an (C 6-20)aryl-acyl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (ii) a heteroaryl-acyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1- to 4- heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (iii) wherein the aryl is a univalent group formed by removing a hydrogen atom from carbon in an arene, and wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; or (iv) wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1, wherein each R 1 is independently chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl; halo(C 1-6)alkyl; (C 6-20)aryl-CO 2 -; (C 6-20)aryl-; (C 1-6)alkoxy; halo(C 1-6)alkoxy; halo; 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S; or wherein the cellulose ester has a hydroxyl degree of substitution ("DS OH ") in the range of from about 0 to about 0.9, wherein the cellulose ester has a pivaloyl degree of substitution ("DS Pv ") in the range of from about 0.1 to about 1.2, wherein the cellulose ester has a chromophore-acyl degree of substitution ("DS Ch ") in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.6, and wherein the regioselectivity is such that the sum of the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C2 and C3 ("C2DS Ch " and "C3DS Ch ") minus the chromophore-acyl degree of substitution at C6 ("C6DS Ch ") is between about 0.5 and about 1.6, wherein the chromophore-acyl is chosen from (i) an (C 6-20)aryl-acyl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (ii) a heteroaryl-acyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1- to 4- heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (iii) wherein the aryl is a univalent group formed by removing a hydrogen atom from carbon in an arene, and wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; or (iv) wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1, wherein each R 1 is independently chosen from (C 1-6)alkyl; halo(C 1-6)alkyl; (C 6-20)aryl-CO 2 -; (C 6-20)aryl-; (C 1-6)alkoxy; halo(C 1-6)alkoxy; halo; 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S; or (i) an (C 6-20)aryl-acyl, wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (ii) a heteroaryl-acyl, wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1- to 4- heteroatoms chosen from N, O, or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; (iii) wherein the aryl is a univalent group formed by removing a hydrogen atom from carbon in an arene, and wherein the aryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1; or (iv) wherein the heteroaryl is a 5- to 10-membered ring having 1-4 heteroatoms chosen from N, O or S, and wherein the heteroaryl is unsubstituted or substituted by 1-5 R 1,