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Technology
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April 27, 2007
Movies 4x sharper than High-Def?
A new digital projector could persuade theater operators to switch over due to the large gap in clarity.
Sony is rolling out a new digital cinema projector that can display theatrical movies at a resolution four times clearer than High-Definition TV.
For more, go to TV Predictions.
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March 30, 2007
500+ Digital 3-D Engagements For Disney’s “Meet The Robinsons”
On March 30, Disney will be releasing their latest animated movie, “Meet The Robinsons,” in more than 500 U.S. & Canadian theatres equipped for 3-D Digital Cinema presentation. (The movie is also being released in 2-D Digital Cinema and, of course, 35mm.)
D-Cinema systems (with 3-D capability) have been installed in hundreds of theaters over the last few weeks allowing “Meet The Robinsons” to be seen in over four times the number of venues as did Disney’s previous 3-D release, last fall’s re-issue of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Here is a link to FromScriptToDVD.com’s list of theatres that will be showing “Meet The Robinsons” in digital 3-D.
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March 21, 2007
New digital media blog
DigiMediaFinance.com covers the complex issues surrounding the convergence of historical and emerging Hollywood and Silicon Valley business models and what it means for the Digital Entertainment consumer, entrepreneur and investor alike.
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January 5, 2007
The New Yorker on the future of the film industry
A very interesting commentary in the New Yorker appeared that discusses a number of topics brewing in movies. David Denby writes about the fate of films if they’re to be seen on iPods, the mentality of big studios heeding to the wishes of investors counterpointed with the workings of specialty divisions, and of course the state of the modern movie theater.
The neighborhood theatres that thrived at the same time were easier to deal with. Slipping in and out of them, we avoided the stern white-shoed matrons who patrolled the aisles; sometimes we arrived in the middle of the movie and stayed on until it reached the same point in the next show—we just wanted to go to the movies.
Even now, moviegoing is informal and spontaneous. Still, we long to be overwhelmed by that flush of emotion when image, language, movement, and music merge.
A rewarding piece well worth the time it takes to mine your way through it. To read the full article, visit The New Yorker.
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November 17, 2006
Five L.A. area showcase theaters go NEC Digital
BURBANK, CA — The rollout of the world’s brightest projector is coming to selected Los Angeles theaters. Going for the full splash, they’ll be coming to elite theaters first like Grauman’s Chinese, the Mann Village and the Cinerama Dome.
NEC Corporation of America today announced it is supporting the Technicolor Digital Cinema rollout through the installation of its NEC STARUS™ NC2500S Digital Cinema projector in three of the premiere movie theatres known to the Hollywood film industry. NEC’s STARUS NC2500S, the world’s brightest projector with DLP Cinema® technology from Texas Instruments®, will be projecting Hollywood’s hottest premieres at Mann’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Mann’s Village Theatre in Westwood, and ArcLight Cinema’s Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.
“NEC is honored that Technicolor has selected our digital cinema projectors for installation in these impressive theatres,” said Kurt Schwenk, general manager, Digital Cinema Division of NEC Corporation of America. “We are excited that our projectors will help deliver an unparalleled visual experience for audiences and we expect our top-of-the-line projectors to leave a superior and lasting impression at these top three LA premiere sites.”
To read more, go to The Broadcast Newsroom.
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September 11, 2006
Cinema Ad Firm to roll out digital equipment
Maybe it’s a sign that we are only going to be seeing more advertising at our local theaters very soon or possibly a right step towards cleaner digital presentations. Nevertheless, Screenvision and National Amusements are getting together to bring you a more digital moviegoing experience.
Screenvision, one of the nation’s leading cinema advertising companies, signed an exclusive, multiyear deal with National Amusements Inc. to invest more than $10 million in high-definition digital equipment for more than 1,000 screens.
New York-based Screenvision said it would begin to roll out by year’s end its satellite, networking and projection systems designed to deliver advertising, cartoons and sports for viewing before a film starts.
Screenvision said the systems would be compatible with digital cinema projectors showing feature films.
You can read more in the LA Times.
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August 31, 2006
Marcus CIO on forefront of digital cinema
MILWAUKEE, WI — Jane Durment, CIO of Marcus Corp., is at the forefront of digital cinema, looking at new ways to bring a clearer image to the audience.
Durment certainly has her hands full as a CIO, but as a member of the Technology Committee of the North American Theatre Owners Association, she also is involved with the beta testing of projectors and servers that someday will present digital movies in America’s 37,000-plus movie theaters.
She’s also immersed in the development of a digital certification program to avoid interoperability issues from studio to studio.
You can read more about this in the Wisconsin Technology Network.
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August 4, 2006
Interview with QuVIS on digital cinema
FirstShowing.net had the chance to speak with Larry Jacobson, President of QuVIS' Entertaintment Division, to discuss many aspects of digital cinema and digital theatre, including its future and QuVIS' involvement in it. A great interview from the guys over at FirstShowing.net!
For the whole story, visit the Full FirstShowing Interview.
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February 14, 2006
Winterbottom film continues “day and date” trend
Following in the steps of the recent Landmark Cinemas release of Steven Soderbergh’s film ‘Bubble’, which was released on DVD and in theaters on the same day, British director Michael Winterbottom will also be pushing distribution boundaries with his next film.
According to a report from the Guardian, ‘The Road to Guantanamo’ is set to debut on television, DVD, in theaters, and now online — all at the same time.
The Road to Guantanamo, the story of the three British Muslims who were held at the US military base for two years without charge or trial, premieres today at the Berlin film festival. It will then be shown on Channel 4 on March 9. The day after, the film will be released online, on DVD and in cinemas.
“With a film like this that’s starting with what would traditionally be the last outlet – a television broadcast – we thought it would be better to go with everything else at once,” said the film’s producer, Andrew Eaton. The film-makers are planning to release the film in 30 UK cinemas and are finalising an agreement with an internet company.
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July 28, 2005
Digital Cinema Standards Announced
Digital Cinema Initiatives has finally announced “its final overall system requirements and specifications for digital cinema,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. According to Walt Ordway, chief technology officer of DCI, these specifications “will allow manufacturers to create products that will be employable at movie theatres throughout the country and, it is hoped, throughout the world.”
For more information, read The Hollywood Reporter and Reuters articles.