TI exec: Let's get serious about digital

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ib8b5060e33b9624e30a9302ef30064a6

 

By Carolyn Giardina

March 11, 2008

LAS VEGAS -- "We are in a war against all other forms of entertainment," Texas Instruments' Doug Darrow said Monday at the International Day lunch at ShoWest. "We need to be diligent and serious ... about bringing better content onscreen and a better experience in the movie theater."

Darrow noted that there are more than 6,000 digital-cinema installations worldwide, and TI is celebrating its 10th year offering DLP Cinema technology to the theatrical market.

"3-D and alternative content are some of the tools that we have available to fight with," he said. "We have to get serious about enabling the transition to digital cinema, particularly in the international market. I don't believe (that projector costs) in the long run will be a limiting factor to our success but rather a limited vision of the competitive threat we face."

Sergei Bodrov, helmer of Picturehouse's "Mongol," received the International Achievement in Filmmaking Award during the lunch. The award was presented by Picturehouse president Bob Berney.

"You have to be insane to make a big epic with a limited budget," Bodrov said. He saluted Berney and Picturehouse by adding, "Bob had my back from the beginning."

International Exhibitor of the Year honors went to the Greater Union Organization. Accepting the award was Ross Entwistle, managing director of the Greater Union's parent company, AHL Entertainment.

Kinepolis Group CEO Joost Bert was presented the ShoWest Digital Cinema Award for excellence in marketing.

Sponsor Awards were bestowed on lunch sponsors Imax and Nielsen EDI, which like The Hollywood Reporter, is owned by the Nielsen Co.