ShoWest 2010: Turning Many Corners

http://www.digitalcinemareport.com/node/1628

Submitted by Nick Dager on Sun, 03/28/2010 - 16:04.

There was a genuine sense of the changing of the guard – or guards – at ShoWest 2010. The obvious one was the fact that this was the last ShoWest ever; the National Association of Theatre owners will take over the convention next year. The new show will be called CinemaCon and it will be held at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. There was also the fact that Motion Picture Association of America president Dan Glickman announced that he is resigning to become president of the charitable organization Refugees International. But for most attendees the big news was the fact that the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners has finally received its funding, meaning that corner has been turned at last and the digital roll out can proceed in earnest.

All of this took place with a backdrop of one of the most successful box office years in history that saw exhibition take in nearly $30 billion worldwide.

"There are many reasons for this tremendous success," NATO president John Fithian said in his opening address. "Movie theatre owners have invested millions in new theatres with the latest technology, providing our patrons a better viewing experience with more comfortable seats and unobstructed sightlines in stadium seating. Modern multiplexes provide moviegoers with unprecedented convenience in selecting movies and show times. Online ticketing and automated kiosks make ticket purchases simple and hassle free. In many locations, exhibitors have begun to offer premium experiences with reserved seating, valet parking, concierge services and restaurant and bar services. And of course, digital cinema and 3D projection have begun to provide the ultimate immersive visual experience."

The industry still faces many challenges and Fithian touched on three key ones: the ongoing threat of piracy; exhibitors' wish to have more good movies released in the fall and spring; and the studios' wish to shrink the theatrical window so they can sell DVDs when a hit movie is still fresh in the public's mind. He acknowledged that progress has been made on all three issues and said discussions continue.

Thanks in large part to last year's box office success there were a significant number of business deals announced and many new products introduced. What follows are the business and technology highlights of the show.

Business

The DCIP deal dominated most conversations.

DCIP represents nearly 14,000 movie theatre screens across North America, including screens operated or managed by AMC, Cinemark and Regal and has secured a total of $660 million in financing from JPM, GE Capital, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Barclays Bank, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Citi. The junior capital was placed with third party investors identified by Blackstone.

"We are excited that with the continued support of our owners, studio partners and financial advisors we have completed this critical step in our process," says Travis Reid, CEO of DCIP.

"Over the next few years, we'll be aggressively implementing the transition to digital technology in theatres across North America. Guests will enjoy enhanced presentation and additional entertainment options at their favorite theatres as exhibitors and content providers capitalize on the flexibility enabled by digital technology, including many upcoming releases using digital 3D. Having this substantial financial package and our studio partnerships in place, we're pleased to launch this new era of technology to guests looking for an exceptional out-of-home experience."

"AMC is a strong advocate of the industry's move to a digital platform, as we believe digital cinema delivers a new world of programming opportunities for exhibitors, along with a more efficient method of supplying content to our theatres," says Gerry Lopez, president and CEO of AMC. "Most importantly, digital cinema will provide an enhanced entertainment experience for our guests."

"Digital cinema is an industry transforming technology, allowing us to significantly enhance the use of our auditoriums. The success of 3D reflects the potential of digital cinema, differentiating the theatre experience from other entertainment venues and providing additional value to our patrons," says Alan Stock, CEO of Cinemark. "DCIP's funding will allow us to capitalize on this opportunity."

"The rollout of digital cinema is an historic milestone for our industry. Our patrons have overwhelmingly embraced digital 3D and the alternative programming made possible by digital projection. Regal is confident that this technology enriches the movie-going experience and greatly enhances our business," says Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group. "The completed funding of DCIP allows us to expedite the pace of Regal's digital cinema deployment."

The DCIP news helped unleash a large number of business deals.

Sony Electronics announced it has entered into purchase agreements with Digital Cinema Implementation Partners, under which Sony Digital Cinema 4K projection systems will be deployed to both AMC Entertainment Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group theatres across the United States.  AMC and Regal are the two largest theatre chains in North America.

"We are pleased that AMC and Regal have recognized the benefits of Sony's 4K technology and we are now moving forward," says Gary Johns, vice president of Sony's digital cinema systems division. "AMC and Regal's commitment to Sony 4K will significantly accelerate the expansion of digital cinema, and also enable exhibitors to provide their customers with a more dynamic and immersive movie-going experience on a much broader scale."

"We believe digital cinema enables the future for our industry, as it provides us versatility and delivers our guests a better entertainment experience," says AMC president and CEO Lopez, president and CEO of AMC.  "Sony's 4K digital systems take the customer experience to the next level.  We are proud to install their systems in our circuit."

"Regal Entertainment Group selected Sony 4K systems because they provide the highest resolution possible for a picture-perfect presentation," says Regal CEO Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group.  "Regal is now poised to expedite our nationwide digital rollout of Sony 4K projectors and 3D technology.  Regal continues to accelerate the expansion of RealD locations and our capacity for presenting 3D movies. Digital 3D movies have already proven to be a big hit at Regal's box offices. Patrons have enthusiastically responded to our Sony 4K projectors for a truly state-of-the-art experience."

Doremi Cinema has an agreement with DCIP to exclusively provide 2K- and 4K-server technology to Cinemark Holdings for their digital cinema deployment. Under the multi-year agreement, Doremi will be the sole server supplier for Cinemark's digital cinema roll out. Doremi will also support Regal and AMC for their ongoing deployment requirements.
 
"Our relationship with Doremi is solid. They've been supplying systems to our theaters for over two years," says Cinemark CEO Alan Stock. "Doremi has been an exceptional partner with outstanding technical support and proven 4K expertise. Their outstanding experience in large deployments is an added benefit given the scale of this agreement. We are very excited that all the final details and funding are now in place to proceed aggressively with installations."

"Doremi has remained focused on our clients needs and dedicated to staying at the forefront of technology," says Michael Archer, vice president of Doremi Cinema. "Customers trust our ongoing commitment to integrating "future-proof" features into our servers that will continue to benefit the industry as digital cinema becomes the norm."

Barco announced a purchase agreement with DCIP for the supply and installation of more than 3000 digital cinema projectors to Cinemark

Cinemark announced the opening of five new Cinemark XD, Extreme Digital Cinema auditoriums in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Moosic, Pennsylvania; Jacksonville, Florida; Valley View, Ohio; and Des Moines, Iowa.

"The Cinemark XD auditoriums have become very popular with our customers across the nation and now we have the ability to share this new experience with our valued guests in five more cities," says Cinemark CEO Stock. "Each week we will show the newest and biggest 2D and Real D-3D movies in our Cinemark XD auditoriums."

Cinemark has transformed one auditorium at the Tinseltown 20 theatre in Colorado Springs , the Cinemark 20 in Moosic, the Tinseltown 20 in Jacksonville, the Cinemark 24 in Valley View (Cleveland area), and the Century 20 Jordan Creek in West Des Moines into a cinema experience unlike any other. The new auditoriums feature large, wall-to-wall & ceiling-to-floor silver screens, plush seating, custom JBL sound systems featuring crisp, clear digital sound, and digital images delivered by Doremi servers and Barco digital projectors.

Christie announced that Studio Movie Grill has selected its 4K-ready Solaria series digital cinema projectors for 60 screens in multiplexes across Texas, Missouri and Georgia. SMG audiences watch the latest first-run movies while enjoying restaurant-style table service with upscale foods that include gourmet pizza, BBQ ribs and fresh salads.

"The contrast and brightness of Christie digital cinema projectors are unparalleled. We foresee a much lower cost of operation while providing a new level of excitement for our audiences, especially with all the great new 3D movies coming down the pipeline this year," says founder and President, Brian Schultz of Studio Movie Grill.
 
In addition to retrofitting all existing theatres across Texas, SMG will also install Christie projectors in two new theatre complexes – Zona Rosa in Kansas City, Missouri, and Holcomb Bridge in Atlanta, Georgia.

"SMG is making the investment to go all-digital to ensure that customers enjoy an enhanced cinema experience. With 35 percent of our screens currently featuring 3D, we look forward to displaying the most vivid images, and benefiting from the more efficient optics and lower lamp wattages of Christie projectors," says Schultz.  

"SMG is proud to partner with a company of the caliber of Christie, with whom we have always had a great working relationship. They also share our vision for the next generation in movie going, and their superior quality products represent not only the future of cinema but an unrivalled viewing experience for our customers." 
 


Craig Sholder, vice president of entertainment solutions for Christie, says, "SMG has truly thought of everything.  They have transformed their cinemas into the ultimate destination for out-of-home entertainment – it doesn't get much better than full service treatment, dinner and a spectacular feature presentation."


Christie also announced that Sonic Equipment Company has ordered 100 Christie Solaria Series 4K-ready Series 2 digital cinema projectors. Kansas-based Sonic Equipment Company, which also offers full-service consulting, remodeling and new construction to motion picture exhibitors, is also a certified reseller of Christie digital cinema projectors.  With more than 400 screens across thirteen states, they have been rapidly expanding over the past several years to become one of the industry's fastest growing companies. 
 


"Having the latest technology is extremely important to us.  We want to make sure our customers are getting the best and widest range of products, with the highest quality technical support.  We recommend Christie DLP Cinema projectors because they have proven to be the most reliable and affordable over the years we have installed them," says Eric L. Olson, director of operations for Sonic. "The Christie Solaria Series offer exceptional brightness and resolution, and at the same time are cost-efficient, which makes our customers confident with our choice of projection solutions." 
 


Mike Covey, Digital Cinema manager at Sonic, says, "We installed digital equipment in over 70 screens in 2009.  Christie has been with us every step of the way and their excellent technical staff has helped us through the many questions that come up in transitioning from 35mm to digital.  Their products and technical expertise ensure the smoothest installations, whether retrofitting existing screens or helping customers design new facilities from the ground-up."


In addition Barco announced that R/C Theatres has selected Barco Series-2 projectors for installation in three cities across their circuit.  A total of 42 projectors will be installed at multiplexes in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Hanover, Pennsylvania, and Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

Barco's turnkey installation and warranty service, which also includes servers by GDC Technology, will be supported by Barco's NOC (Network Operations Center) and 24/7/365 Call Center.

"We've been working hard with Barco and Cinedigm to realize this deployment, and we're very excited that Barco's Series-2 fits our mix of theatres so perfectly," says Scott R. Cohen, CEO of R/C Theatres.  "The conversion to digital is the best thing to happen to our business in years, and our partnership with Barco, both in technology and service, is guaranteed to yield great results."

"As the founders of the R/C brand, the Cohen family has been setting standards in movie exhibition since the 1932," says Barco's Freidberg. "Because R/C has always been the primary champion of the independent exhibitor, their choices are closely watched by their peers.  I'm so pleased to see R/C Theatres validating the Barco model of high operational performance, low cost of acquisition, and superior customer interface."

Memphis-based Malco Theatres has chosen Barco for all 320 screens in the Malco circuit.  Installation of the new projectors will commence in late summer 2010.  

For Mike Thomson, CTO of Malco Theatres, their "all Barco" decision was based on performance, versatility and serviceability.  "The new Barco Series 2 models put out a brighter picture than any other projector," Thomson says. "With 3D, it's all about bright images, and by far, the new Barco projectors are the brightest on the market, making them ideal for 3D."   

Thomson also notes that Barco's software and product design facilitates the industry's fastest and most accurate projector set-up.  "We pioneered the use of dual projectors for 3D, and Barco is by far the easiest for doing a dual convergence.  Barco's also been great about making the technology as easy to use as possible, and that's important because we do most of our own servicing," he says.   

According to Joe DeMeo, director of sales for Barco Digital Cinema, North America, feedback of this nature is an essential component of Barco's on-going efforts to improve its product lines.  "Malco is one of our long-standing digital cinema customers, and they're among the very first circuits to go digital," says DeMeo.  "Our relationship with Malco is based on our mutual passion for providing the very best viewing experience for moviegoers. To us, this latest agreement represents more than the sale.  It's about moving forward with a digital cinema pioneer as a technology partner, and one who provides us with essential feedback and suggestions for our next generation products.  Malco is 100 percent committed to our technologies as we are to them."  

Barco also announced success overseas. In one deal it has signed a contract for the deployment of 100 digital cinema systems for Zhejiang Time Cinema, China's seventh largest cinema chain. The contract calls for the deployment of Barco's Series 2 digital cinema projector family, including the extremely bright DP2K-32B and the compact DP2K-20C and 12C projectors.

"Having previously used Barco projectors, we are very familiar with their solutions' extremely high quality and the company's quick response service program," says Zheng Jintian, Zhejiang Time Cinema's technical director. "Our order for 100 projectors shows how truly confident we are in Barco as both a solution provider and business partner in our rapid growth."

"We are excited in launching Barco's next generation 2K Digital cinema projector line," says Yan Fei, manager director of Barco Greater China. "Equipped with the latest DLP Cinema chip, the new DP2K-series offers the brightest and most cost-effective projection solution available on the market today. We are delighted to be installing the new series II projectors with Zhejiang Time Cinema as this contract honors our continued efforts developing innovative products and solutions."

And Barco has signed a contract for the deployment of 200 digital cinema systems for Jinyi Zhujiang Movie Circuit, China's sixth largest cinema chain.

"We have been extremely happy with the performance of the 100 Barco digital cinema systems we installed last year," says Xu Binbiao, GM of Jinyi. "Needless to say, the quality of Barco products speaks for itself. As we pursue the expansion of our cinema's, it's only natural that we partner again with Barco in our continued expansion into digital cinema." 



"We're happy to continue our relationship with Jinyi," says Barco's Yan Fei. "Building upon last year's order, an additional 200 digital cinema projects is sure to enhance Jinyi's profile as a top cinema provider. This type of domestic growth bodes well for our investment in technical development and localized production to meet the customer demands of the China market."

NEC Display Solutions of America announced an exclusive agreement with Southern Theatres, owners of The Grand Theatres and AmStar Cinemas, to provide digital cinema projectors at locations in nine states.  The exhibitor has more than 30 NEC digital cinema projector systems already installed.

"Our relationship with Southern Theatres has been a strong one for quite some time, but we're especially grateful for the trust they have placed in us with this exclusive agreement," says Pierre Richer, president and COO of NEC Display Solutions. "The 3D juggernaut is upon us, and NEC is prepared to help forward-looking exhibitors, such as Southern Theatres, capitalize on the powerful opportunities presenting themselves to the industry."



NEC Financial Services is providing the financing for the project, which will be rolled out in three phases over the course of this year and early 2011.  Phase I will be completed in time for the movie releases, How to Train Your Dragon 3D and Clash of the Titans 3D.

Ballantyne of Omaha is supplying the ancillary digital components, screens and installation for the 18 Southern Theatres locations, which consist of 268 screens.



"Ballantyne Strong's relationship with Southern Theatres extends back to its start as a theatre circuit.  We have been providing projectors and associated equipment to the Solomon family since the '70s," says John Wilmers, president and CEO, Ballantyne Strong, Inc.  

"Southern has aggressively been equipping theaters over the past two years to keep up with the 3D demand, and we are excited they are committed to lead the pack as the industry transitions to digital cinema." 

"We pride ourselves on offering the best movie-going experience to the public," says George Solomon, president of Southern Theatres. "NEC and Ballantyne Strong are playing crucial roles in that objective."


Doremi announced that it shipped more than 850 DCP digital cinema servers in February alone bringing its worldwide install base to more than 11,300 units. Doremi first demonstrated its digital cinema server prototype at IBC in 2004.   

"Our line of DCP-2000 & DCP-2K4 servers are the lynchpin products behind Doremi Cinema's expanding client base," says Doremi's Archer. "Thanks to our customers, dealers and integrater partners, Doremi's digital cinema server remains the number one installed server globally."



With financial backing for digital cinema deployments finally coming to fruition, exhibitors worldwide are pressing forward in securing systems for their screens.  "We have spent years researching and developing technology that has allowed us to incorporate a multitude of additional features into our server.  Many of these are not part of the DCI spec, but are seen as necessary value adds by our customers when choosing our product", says Archer. "It is our job to make sure that exhibitors can take advantage of tent pole films like Avatar and Alice in Wonderland, leverage the top down studio marketing that comes with them, and deliver the latest digital content to their theater patrons, who are packing theaters for these films and paying a premium ticket price."


MasterImage 3D announced that Montreal-based Guzzo Cinemas has chosen to convert 43 of its screens to stereoscopic 3D projection with MasterImage 3D digital theatre systems.

The chain, which encompasses 148 screens in 11 theatre complexes in the greater Montreal area, began implementing the MasterImage systems last December.  Twenty-seven systems are installed today, with all 43 expected to be in place this month.

"The MasterImage system hit every point we were looking for," says Vince Guzzo, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Guzzo Cinemas.  "The presentation is high quality of course, and MasterImage offers single-use glasses, which to us, is preferable to cleaning and re-using glasses.  A big benefit of the MasterImage system is that it can be very easily moved and redeployed in different theatres along with the projection system in the weeks after a movie opens. It doesn't require us to call in a technician. Finally, we absolutely prefer to own our systems outright. That is critical for us."

"We're pleased and honored to support Guzzo Cinemas as they continue to expand their 3D offering across the Montreal area," says Peter Koplik, executive vice president at MasterImage.  "They are a forward-thinking exhibition company and with the completion of their 43 screen conversion, this will be the largest installation of MasterImage 3D theatre systems in North America."

Screenvision has signed long-term extensions with regional exhibitors Classic Cinemas, Uptown Entertainment, and Studio Movie Grill. Through these deals, Screenvision says it furthers its position in important markets such as Chicago, Detroit, Dallas and Houston. 
 

"Our partnerships with Classic Cinemas, Uptown Entertainment, and Studio Movie Grill demonstrate Screenvision's ability to provide advertising, technology and entertainment solutions that add real value to exhibitors across the country," says Darryl Schaffer, executive vice president, exhibitor relations, Screenvision. "These chains are strong in markets such as Chicago, Detroit, Dallas and Houston all of which are important for our network and I am delighted they have renewed with us."
 


Sonic Equipment Company has signed a sales, service and installation agreement with B&B Theatres to provide equipment and service.  B&B Theatres, a member of the National Association of Theatre Owners, Cinema Buying Group is participating in Cinedigm's Phase 2 digital cinema deployment. 

B&B Theatres brings their 205 screens to the program and plans for a complete deployment over the next 24 months.  "We have been providing our PM service to B & B Theatres for their 35mm systems and are pleased to be able to continue our relationship into the digital era," says Sonic's director of business management, Steve Zimmerman.  "We look forward to this exciting transition."

"I am pleased that B&B can continue our long term relationship with Sonic Equipment Company as we move into the digital age.  Sonic was one of the top installers of digital equipment in the United States last year and so we are confident in their knowledge and experience.  Eric Olson and his well-trained techs have installed all of our current digital equipment and we have had perfect presentations and no failures.  We look forward to working with Sonic as we transform our company to an all digital circuit over the next two years," says Bob Bagby, president of B&B Theatres. B&B Theatres has one fully digital Cineplex in Hannibal, Missouri. Plans are made to fully convert at least 50 percent of their remaining theatres to digital in 2010.

Cinedigm also announced that Starplex Cinemas would participate in its Phase 2 digital cinema deployment program by transitioning 102 screens from analog to digital cinema projectors. Starplex will become Cinedigm Certified in eight locations.

"We are pleased to welcome the Starplex group of theatres to the Cinedigm family," says Cinedigm chairman and CEO Bud Mayo. "We share a vision to improve the movie-going experience and to provide choices for Starplex's customers that only digital cinema allows."

Steve Holmes, CEO of Starplex Cinemas, says, "Starplex is very excited to be transitioning our circuit to digital cinema. Enabling our theatres to use the latest technology to bring feature movies and other exciting content to our customers is an opportunity to distinguish our theatres from others. We believe Cinedigm is the best partner for this transition and look forward to our work with them."

"Starplex Cinemas is continually enhancing the movie-going experience for their audiences," says Chuck Goldwater, president of Cinedigm's Media Services Group. "Their innovations in theatre design and operations have been leading the way in the industry, and this is one more giant step in that direction. Cinedigm is honored to have been chosen as their partner in entering the digital world."

SmartJog and XDC have signed a non-exclusive partnership agreement.

 Under the terms of the agreement XDC will offer the SmartJog solution to exhibitors under contract with them, as part of their portfolio of services including electronic distribution and storage of content.

 Exhibitors who are part of the XDC network will have the possibility to deploy the SmartJog Central Library Servers for the electronic reception and storage of Digital Cinema Packages into their cinemas.

SmartJog's and XDC's equipment will be integrated to provide exhibitors a complete solution for the management of content within their cinemas.

 In addition, XDC and SmartJog have inked a digital distribution partnership agreement enabling XDC to use the SmartJog digital delivery platform to deliver DCPs to cinemas under contract with XDC but also to any connected cinemas to the SmartJog network in Europe.

"After an initial phase of testing, we have decided to broaden our service offering to include the SmartJog solution. Our cinema customers will have the possibility to receive digital cinema content via SmartJog and our XDC Digital Content Lab will also offer to theatrical distributors a digital delivery service to all cinemas connected to the SmartJog network," says Fabrice Testa, vice president sales and business development of XDC. 



"SmartJog is thrilled about this agreement as our XDC & SmartJog services complement each other, allowing distributors and exhibitors to benefit from an integrated and complete solution for content distribution and storage," says Nicolas Dussert, European theatrical sales director for SmartJog. 



D-Box Technologies has an agreement with San Diego-based UltraStar Cinemas to equip two additional theatres with its D-Box MFX Seats, bringing the total number of UltraStar theatres offering the D-Box experience to five.

UltraStar's Mission Marketplace will equip an auditorium with 26 of the D-Box MFX seats while the Poway Creekside theatre will feature 18. With both theatres scheduled to debut with D-Box this March, moviegoers can continue to live the action at two current area locations, Apple Valley Cinema in San Bernadino and Mission Valley in San Diego as well as one of the first D-Box equipped location, namely, UltraStar Cinemas Surprise Pointe near Phoenix.

"We are very proud to continue our expansion with UltraStar Cinemas who was the first exhibitor chain to sign on with D-Box," says president and chief executive officer of D-Box Technologies, Claude Mc Master. "About this time last year we were preparing to debut the first D-Box theatrical system to the public at their Arizona location and now audiences throughout North America, and even Japan, can enjoy the D-Box experience."

"The team here at UltraStar Cinemas could not be more pleased with our partnership with D-Box. After almost a full year of operating D-Box's motion system in my theatres, I can truly say that this is a technology that has made an impact and a difference in our business. Our current installations successfully draw guests from miles around, and continue to generate additional income. It only made business sense to expand our D-Box offering," says Damon Rubio, executive vice president of operations UltraStar Cinemas.

Technology

The good news for exhibitors is that the sea change days for digital cinema are over, at least for the near term. The new challenge is sorting through a fairly dizzying number of upgrades and enhancements that all manufacturers are adding to their product lines.  Technology changes – at least major ones – are unlikely to happen for the next two-three years or so as manufacturers operate overtime to meet the current demand to convert film screens to digital.

Texas Instruments announced that all DLP Cinema subcomponents for DLP Cinema 2K and its upcoming Enhanced 4K platforms have recently completed testing for Digital Cinema Initiative standards by passing the procedural test administered by CineCert, the leading third-party authorized test facility. This enables DLP Cinema's OEM licensees, Barco, Christie Digital and NEC, to complete final testing of their new DLP Cinema next-generation electronics platform models and ship in the coming months.  

"We are very pleased to confirm that the DLP Cinema next generation platform is the first device to clear procedural testing in our lab," said John Hurst, CTO of CineCert. "Our goal is to facilitate and guide manufacturers, integrators and exhibitors on the technical details and testing required for compliance. DLP Cinema-based projectors are expected to meet each requirement to ensure the highest quality motion picture experience."

"Having reached this major milestone, we are unwaveringly confident that our OEMs will be able to ship compliant DLP Cinema 2K projectors in the very near future," says Nancy Fares, business manager for Texas Instruments, DLP Cinema Products. "These latest projector models will have a seal of security while upholding the unmatched advantages of the DLP Cinema platform."

Texas Instruments was also proudly proclaiming that the company won the 2009 Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering. Acknowledged during a private award ceremony, D. Scott Dewald, Greg Pettitt, Brad Walker and Bill Werner were recognized for their contributions furthering the design and refinement of the Texas Instruments, DLP Cinema projector, achieving a level of performance, which enables color-accurate, digital intermediate previews of motion pictures.

The fact that the projectors in theatres today do not meet the Digital Cinema Initiative specifications has been widely known and widely overlooked, for the most part, because the systems in place were doing a good job. But as the roll out matures that issue is certain to become more critical and the studios, exhibitors and manufacturers have taken note.

Barco announced that its Series 2 digital cinema projector has successfully passed the procedural test for DCI compliance administered by CineCert, the leading third party authorizing test facility. With these tests completed, Barco has reached another important milestone in the rollout of its brand-new DP2K projector series.

"We are thrilled to be the industry's first digital projector manufacturer that has successfully passed the stringent assessment procedures carried out by the DCI approved testing agency, CineCert," says Wim Buyens, vice-president of Barco's Digital Cinema division. "It is a reward for the rigorous quality and security standards applied in our labs during the development of this new DP2K projector series. For our customers, this will result in the most secure, high-quality and low-risk projector solution available today."

"We are very pleased to confirm the DP2K-20C is the first digital cinema projector to complete procedural testing in our lab," says CineCert's Hurst. "It shows that DCI compliance testing is not only possible but also quite practical."

Barco also announced its Diagnostics Companion, a new optional software module that enables users of Barco Series I and Series II projectors to identify, diagnose, troubleshoot and remedy error conditions — without technical support assistance.  

The Diagnostics Companion is integrated in Barco's Communicator software, starting with version 4.0. The Communicator runs as a standard PC application, or more conveniently, runs on Barco's Communicator Touch Panel, a multi-user projector control center that's optimized for quick and efficient operations.

The Diagnostics Companion works with Barco's DP-1200, DP-1500 and DP-2000 Series I projectors, and will be shown on the new Series II projectors at ShoWest 2010. To obtain the Diagnostics Companion, current Series I users can upload the version 4.0 Communicator update.

As an interactive module, the Diagnostics Companion runs in the background until needed.  If an error condition occurs and the projector's red "tail lights" turn on, a pop-up message appears in the Communicator — informing the user about the specific condition.  If more information is available, the user can click an adjacent icon, which automatically opens the Diagnostics Companion.  Within the Companion's window, comprehensive tables are provided that outline the situation and the solution.  In addition, step-by-step troubleshooting procedures are provided, including detailed pictures of specific components.  

"If a problem arises, the majority can be solved using the Diagnostics Companion, without requiring Technical Support," says Andrew Gaweda, product manager for Barco Digital Cinema, NA.  "As a built-in troubleshooting guide, the Companion actually empowers the user with a wealth of knowledge, right at their fingertips.  It goes one step beyond basic error messaging, with clear diagnostics and proven steps to resolve problems."  

"The goal of the Diagnostics Companion is to enable users to perform on-site technical analysis, and to that end, the Companion succeeds brilliantly," says Todd Hoddick, vice president of digital cinema for Barco NA.  "With this application, and the intelligent power that it places right on the Communicator touch panel, a new and highly interactive level of diagnostics is immediately available across the Series I and Series II product lines.  The result is greater up-time, and an increase in the customer's working knowledge of our projectors."

And Barco announced an expansion of its advanced Network Operations Center, a comprehensive set of monitoring tools and services available to all Barco digital cinema customers.  As a proactive service designed to ensure the optimum performance of each customer's digital cinema network, the NOC now offers expanded monitoring capabilities for networked projectors, servers, theatre management systems, automation controllers, switches and Uninterruptible Power Supply units.  

Now well into its second year in operation, Barco's NOC provides theatre owners, service providers and system integrators with a common platform for monitoring, servicing and maintaining their projector fleet.  Based on the overwhelmingly positive customer response, new NOC services have been added, including expanded remote network analysis, new remote upgrade and configuration capabilities, 24/7/365 site schedule and content verification, plus enhanced real-time network snapshots.

"It's all about keeping pictures on our customers' screens," says Jim Wickenhiser, NOC and Call Center Manager for Barco Digital Cinema, NA.  "At any given customer site, particularly when staff resources are at a premium, the NOC provides our exhibitors with the confidence that their equipment, schedules, servers and switches are being monitored.  More importantly, we have the ability to be proactive. Not only do we have knowledge of all these network devices, but we can reach out into the network, to diagnose and troubleshoot remotely.  We've had scenarios where the customer isn't aware of a network problem, yet we're already working on it.  Overall, the NOC enables our customers to concentrate on business, yet know that they have a direct interface to Customer Service, 24/7."

Dolby announced it is working with Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to deliver a new audio format, Dolby Surround 7.1. The new format, which was being demonstrated at the show, will be launched in select theatres with the release of Toy Story 3 in 3D this June.



"For 40 years Dolby has not only provided content creators with the tools to create a more realistic audio experience, but has also enabled the exhibitor to deliver audiences the ability to experience the content as the creator intended," says Page Haun, senior director, marketing, cinema market segment, Dolby Laboratories. "The release of Toy Story 3 in a discrete 7.1 mix will raise the bar for movie theatre owners and their patrons."

Dolby Surround 7.1 provides content creators four surround zones to better orchestrate audio channels in a movie theatre environment. The four surround zones incorporate the traditional Left Surround and Right Surround with new Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right zones. The addition of the two Back Surround zones enhances directionality in panning 360 degrees around the theatre.

Dolby Surround 7.1 format comprises 8 channels of audio and has the following channel layout: Left, Center, Right, Low-Frequency Effects (LFE), Left Surround, Right Surround, Back Surround Left (new), and Back Surround Right (new). In order for exhibitors to deliver the new format, Dolby will be providing Dolby Surround 7.1 playback capabilities in the Dolby CP650 and Dolby CP750 digital cinema audio processor lines.

Dolby also announced it has reduced the price of its reusable 3D glasses. Starting today, Dolby exhibitors can purchase new 3D glasses at a list price of US $17, reduced from US $27.50. Dolby is also offering additional cost savings through new, bundled pricing for its standard Dolby 3D single projector kit with up to 500 pairs of glasses as well as a Dolby 3D bundle for its large-screen solutions 3D kit with up to 1,000 pairs of glasses.

"Since our market entry just over two years ago, Dolby has shipped more than 3,200 3D systems to over 400 exhibitor partners in 67 countries. This growth in the number of Dolby 3D equipped digital cinemas around the world has enabled us to reduce the price of our glasses further," says John Carey, vice president, worldwide sales, products, and services, Dolby Laboratories. "Our eco-friendly glasses are designed to be used repeatedly, bringing per-ticket costs well below disposable single use 3D glasses."

Datasat Digital Entertainment introduced the AP20 and unveiled a dealer certification program for the 16-channel audio processor. "With a product as feature-rich as the AP20, a certification program like the one we have developed assures each and every theatre will be tuned to the highest quality possible and soundtracks will sound as they were originally designed," says Dusty Thomas, vice president of sales at Datasat Digital Entertainment.

Certification will involve technical training of the audio processor's many features including Dirac Live Room Optimization, a technology new to the cinema space. This certification mirrors that which is required for a majority of digital cinema enhancements.

"Audio cannot be left stagnate in this pivotal time in our industry's advancements," Thomas says. "This processor and supporting certification programs greatly advance the audio options available to the cinema environment."

First sessions of the dealer certification program will begin late April. 

Harkness Screens introduced its Digital Screen Selector. Intended as an aid to theatre operators seeking to optimize their investment in digital cinema, the Digital Screen Selector can help to reduce operating costs for 2D and optimise light levels for both 2D and 3D.

The Digital Screen Selector is available through the Harkness web-site; it has a user-friendly interface with no software download required and uses industry-accepted standards and vendor data to compare different operating scenarios.  The Selector is intended to be a guide for theatre operators when consulting with projector, lamp, and 3D technology providers.

"We are very pleased to be able to offer our new Digital Screen Selector to cinema professionals around the world," says Andrew Robinson, managing director of Harkness Screens.  "By answering a few quick questions about the screen size and equipment being used in a particular theatre, the Selector suggests Harkness screen options to optimise performance and cost."

Harkness was also highlighting its Perlux gain screens, which the company says reduce digital cinema projector brightness requirements significantly relative to matt white screens, enabling the use of smaller lamps that are cheaper, last longer, consume less power, roughly halving operating costs.  Additionally, if the screen is considered at the same time as the projector investment, a smaller (and cheaper) projector can be an option.  

"We are committed to the trend in digital cinema and will continue to develop our products to optimize this application," says Robinson.

QSC Audio was showing upgrades to its DCP 300 Digital Cinema Processor. The DCP 300 now offers Windows 7 driver compatibility, RS-232 serial automation control, SNMP network remote control and monitoring, and matrix surround decoding for its non-sync and surround EX inputs.

The new SNMP capability offers simple and easy integration into third party Theatre Management Systems and remote monitoring via Network Operations Centers.   

The DCP 300 covers cinema systems ranging from three to five screen channels, and is configurable for passive, bi-amp, tri-amp or quad-amp operation.  Sixteen digital AES inputs provide the flexibility to reproduce current and future soundtrack formats.  The DCP 300 is also compatible with all analog cinema processor formats including Dolby Digital Surround-EX and DTS-ES and features a 10-channel analog input for integration with 35mm audio systems.

QSC also announced a new addition to its digital cinema speaker family, the new SB-15121 subwoofer.  The SB-15121 has been designed for use in premiere cinemas and post-production applications. The 1500W, 21-inch low-frequency transducer features a 6-inch diameter voice coil in a vented, neodymium magnet structure that is designed to dissipate extreme amounts of heat and allow for excursion that is double that of typical 18-inch transducers.  This ensures cool operation, even at high power levels, increases driver lifespan and decreases power compression at high drive levels. 

The large, ported enclosure ensures response to the lowest audible frequency for bass. In fact the frequency range extends to below 25Hz without the need for B6 EQ filters.

Barry Ferrell, QSC senior director, cinema solutions says, "The SB-15121 is a unique product with no direct competitive equivalent.  It was designed with the most advanced measurement tools available to produce a rugged and nearly unbreakable transducer that is also capable of incredibly low distortion.  Strength and finesse are combined in a truly state of the art component. As a result, premium cinemas can offer increased subwoofer performance to go along with enhanced seating and upscale concession items — and achieve a distinctive level of performance compared to their competitors."  

In addition, QSC introduced the new purpose-designed DCS SC-424-8F flyable, four-way, tri-amplified speaker system for Dome and Large Format cinemas that require suspended mounting of screen channels, or point source surround channels.

Both the Mid/High and LF enclosures are built with common dimensions to facilitate easy installation in vertical or horizontal arrays and are constructed of heavily braced, 15mm concert tour-grade plywood.  In addition, 16 M10 attachment-points-per-enclosure are provided for safe and easy suspension.

The DCS SC-424-8F also features a unique coax HF/VHF diaphragm, which has less mass than traditional diaphragms, resulting in exceptional dynamic range, extended high frequency response and lower distortion.

Francois Godfrey, QSC director of sales, cinema, says, "This system has been developed specifically for the unique requirements of Multi-Purpose, Large Format and Dome motion picture playback.  The two main units comprise the MHV-1090F mid-high / very-high-frequency system, and the LF-4215-8F low-frequency system aimed purposely at applications where a point-source surround channel or screen channel must be suspended or flown rather than mounted on a platform or floor."   

Laser Light Engines, a developer and manufacturer of ultra-high brightness, laser-driven light sources, announced that it has demonstrated the first laser light source to completely eliminate laser speckle, reaching the level of performance required for exhibition of artifact-free, laser images suitable for digital 2D and 3D movies.
This development paves the way for commercialization of LLE's RGB (red/green/blue) lasers as what the company believes is an improved high-brightness, solid-state illumination source for projection manufacturers.

The company says that RGB illumination will dramatically reduce operating costs for movie theater owners for a potential per screen savings of $10,000 a year by eliminating the need to replace expensive Xenon arc lamps (projector bulbs) and reducing electricity use as much as fifty percent.

"LLE lasers will reduce power consumption and cooling costs providing a cost effective and green alternative to Xenon arc lamps," says Bill Beck, co-founder and executive vice president of business development, Laser Light Engines. "Unlike Xenon lamps that rapidly decline in output, the LLE system will provide full brightness over the lifetime of the projector, serving as a solution for digital cinema, large venue projection and digital signage applications."

"As the motion picture industry continues to expand 3D and large venue exhibition offerings, laser illumination offers tremendous benefits including higher-brightness, long lifetime solid-state performance and in the future, expanded color space, increased contrast and bit depth," says Doug Darrow, Laser Light Engines president and CEO. "In addition to constant brightness that ultimately could surpass bulb illumination by three to five times, laser illumination will offer significant operational cost and environmental savings for exhibition, eliminating Xenon bulb replacement and reducing power and HVAC costs."

Finally, there were three companies at the show hoping to capitalize on the fact that film distribution and exhibition still dominate the industry leaving many film-only theatres with no way to capitalize on the current popularity of 3D. Technicolor, Oculus and SoliDDD all drew sizable crowds of people curious about their products.  It remains unclear how many, if any, of the studios will actually support these systems, which are all based on the over-under system.


SoliDDD CEO Neal Weinstock made the case for his own company but could have been speaking for the others as well. "For motion-picture producers and distributors, SoliDDD lenses can be hugely important," says Weinstock. "There is a shortage of theaters for 3D. Our lenses are inexpensive enough to be included in a moderate production budget and then provided to theaters along with each release print. We can create a pipeline for distribution of releases that could otherwise find only short, cramped theatrical windows."
  

"This business is not simply a short-term play on film in the several years left before digital takes over," Weinstock says. "We are able to adapt the technology to fit digital projectors, too, and continue to offer a system that is far superior to others, and less expensive than others, in what will likely be a mostly digital market in about a decade."


Across the exhibit hall Oculus3D announced that it is working with Cereplast to offer what it says are the world's first biodegradable/compostable 3D glasses as part of the OculR 3D viewing system to movie theaters. The glasses are manufactured using Cereplast's bioplastic resins and are expected to be available for summer 2010 distribution to movie theaters.

"We are very glad to be associated with Oculus3D, a company that understands and is concerned about the environmental impact associated with traditional petroleum-based plastic. Through the collaboration of our joint effort, we can offer the Hollywood community meaningful 'green' benefits requiring little effort and providing large impact," says Frederic Scheer, founder, chairman and CEO of Cereplast. 



"By using Cereplast's resins in our 3D biodegradable and compostable glasses we can now help the entertainment industry reduce its carbon footprint and provide movie theaters with smarter choices for both affordable 3D systems and compatible 3D eyewear," says Marty Shindler, co-founder and CEO of Oculus3D.