CT Newsreel

QSC Brings ‘Avengers: Endgame’ to life for a blockbusting premiere

AUDIO SPECIALISTS QSC WERE proud to providesound for the spectacular world premiere of “Avengers: Endgame” on 22 April at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Guests at the blockbuster’s premiere enjoyed a stunning presentation of film in Dolby Vision and Atmos using QSC loudspeakers, amplifiers, and signal processing featuring Q-SYS in a custom-built auditorium.

In total, the installation consisted of 102 loudspeakers, 29 subwoofers, and an estimated 800,000 watts of power with over half a mile of networking cable. Jon Graves from QSC and his team set up and tuned the system over the course of six days. The result was premium movie theatre despite the acoustic challenges of a concrete enclosed exhibit hall. The theatre seated more than 2,000 guests using temporary stadium seating. Q-SYS, a software based audio, video and control ecosystem, provided the distribution and processing backbone for the installation.

“Everyone attending the premiere was impressed with the superior quality of the sound and picture, which fully immersed them in the cinematic experience,” said Michael Kern, VP special events production at Walt Disney Studios.

DCM extends partnership with Unique X

IN APRIL, THE UK’S leadingcinema advertising entity, Digital Cinema Media (DCM) announced the renewal of an agreement with Unique X to provide advertising and distribution services. Using Unique’s Advertising Accord ad management software, the platform integrates and automates the advertising workflow from

DCM’s Campaign Planner and Sales Booking system, for campaign delivery, direct into each cinema’s scheduled showtimes. The DCM- Unique network will continue to provide over 100,000 advertising playlists to UK exhibitors on a weekly basis, with DCP content delivered to sites over Unique’s Movie Transit network

Cinionic’s Series 4 laser heads to CineEurope

CINIONIC HAS ANNOUNCED IT will be showcasing the Barco Series 4 Laser Projection and Laser as a Service at this year’s CineEurope.

For the second year, Cinionic is the CineEurope’s projection partner, giving the best image quality to every studio presentation and screening. The company will be showing the first four projector models in the new Barco Series 4 line-up. These Series 4 units can deliver 4K, RGB-Laser, as well as being ready for 4K 120fps high frame rate, high-dynamic-range and onboard

Barco Colorgenic, for wide-color-gamut capabilities. Cinionic's Laser as a Service (Laas) product is designed to extend the life of Barco Series II projectors and deliver benefits of laser Laas offers streamlined operations and reduced expenses.

www.cinionic.com/CineEurope

NEC laser projection for Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont

NEC LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED thecompletion of a partnership with the French cinema integrator ADDE to deploy its digital cinema projectors in Les Cinémas Pathé Gaumont’s (LCPG) La Joliette cinema in Marseille.

LCPG, the leading chain in France, selected NEC to provide a total of 13 laser projectors in this new site. ADDE installed three NC3541L 4K RB laser projectors, designed to power the premium and large format screens as well as three NC2041L RB laser projectors, and seven NC1700L RB laser projectors for mid-sized screens. This was supported with a range of lens options.

“France has long had a love affair with the cinema screen, but even here cinema has suffered from competition from other media,” said Mark Kendall, head of business development for digital cinema at NEC. “Cinema is fighting back by creating a range of stunning experiences for movie-goers, and one of the most important factors will always be the quality of imagery projected up on the screen.” www.digital-cinema-nec.com

Unique X expands SE Asia footprint

UNIQUE X, A LEADING digital cinema software solutions provider, recently announced the expansion of its operations in South East Asia with a new deal with expanding Indonesian cinema chain, Cinemaxx.

The agreement will see Unique X install RosettaBridge TMS, RosettaNet and Basekey KDM solutions across all 47 of Cinemaxx’s sites, currently incorporating a total of 239 screens.

Cinemaxx, owned by the property conglomerate Lippo Group, has recently received investment from Mexican exhibition giant, Cinepolis, to fund its expansion plans. As Cinemaxx’s number of sites and screens expands, the combination of Unique X solutions will deliver significant efficiencies by enabling central management and automation of cinema operations.

“Cinemaxx has an ambitious vision to build Indonesia’s most preferred cinema group. Unique X’s innovative solutions offer us a way to streamline our operations across all screens and support us in delivering a consistently premium experience to our guests,” said Gerald Dibbayawan, CEO at CIneamaxx. Unique X’s range of solutions already support more than 25,000 screens in over 70 countries www.uniquex.com

Wanda opens world’s first all-LED multiplex with Samsung

WANDA CINEMAS, CHINA’S LARGEST film distributor and cinema operator,recently partnered with Samsung and Harman Professional Solutions to create the world’s first all-LED cinema multiplex. The Shanghai ARCH Wanda Cinema features Samsung’s Onyx LED screens in each of its six premium auditoriums. By providing so many Onyx cinema screens in one location, Wanda Cinemas’ Shanghai ARCH location raises the bar for premium multi-function cinemas.

The Samsung Onyx screens in each of Shanghai ARCH Wanda Cinema’s theatres are supported by Harman audio systems. JBL Sculpted Surround cinema speakers, subwoofers and surrounds bring movie soundtracks to life and the speaker systems are powered by Crown DCi-N amplifiers and optimised by BSS 160 digital audio processors. https://displaysolutions.samsung.com/

THX forms strategic PLF relationship with Cinionic

Renowned for the certification of world-class cinemas, THX has announced the launch of its THX Ultimate Cinema — the Regency Westwood Village Theatre in LA. The company is working closely with Cinionic — the Barco, CGS, and ALPD joint venture — to deliver a new visual standard with enhanced services and tech solutions, bringing the THX Ultimate Cinema experience to consumers. This PLF cinema integrates Barco’s dual-laser system, which delivers a 4K resolution image, with CGS remastered content exclusively shown at this location. The Regency Westwood Village theater is home to some of Hollywood’s most lavish redcarpet premieres.

Sale and leaseback of 17 US Cineworld sites announced

In May, Cineworld announced the signing and completion of a sale and leaseback deal for 17 of its US-based multi-screen cinemas, totalling 251 screens.

The sale is consistent with Cineworld’s existing business model of operating a predominantly leasehold estate. As part of the deal, Cineworld is selling its cinema sites to subsidiaries of Realty Income Corporation for $286.3m and leasing them back under 15-year leases on customary terms.

Emerging Cinema conference to stage second outing

FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL inaugural Emerging Cinema Markets conference in Istanbul last November, DCS Events has announced its 2019 conference will return to the city on 19-21 November. The organisers have confirmed the agenda will feature a mix of presentations from experts in the cinema, leisure and property sectors, with special focus sessions on Turkey, Africa, the Balkans, Central Asia and other emerging countries. There will also be an update on the Gulf Co-operation Council cinema industry hosted by The Big Picture Cinema Consultants.

“ECM2019 will provide industry stakeholders including trade suppliers,

exhibitors and content providers from the region the chance to come together at #ecmistanbul to explore developments and innovations that are central to the industry today,” says Rob Arthur, founder of DCS Events and partner at The Big Picture consultancy. “With growing saturation of established markets and the proliferation of alternative platforms for viewing films, the need for the industry to discover growth territories is vitally important.” www.ecm19.com

Harkness launches new Clarus XC 290 3D/2D screen

LEADING SCREEN technologycompany Harkness announced the launch recently of the latest addition to its industry-leading Clarus XC screen family — the Clarus XC 290.

Clarus XC 290 is an improved high performance 3D/2D screen that combines high reflectance with outstanding levels of performance that includes rich colours, sharper clarity, wide viewing angles and deeper 3D depth. Its technology allows exhibitors to improve both 2D and 3D cinema presentation as never before.

“Clarus XC 290 is the result of significant development in our Clarus screen coating technology,” explains Matt Jahans, director of cinema technology at Harkness, “Through this step-change in technology we’re able to improve

our previous high-brightness Clarus product without compromising on any aspect of the visual performance thus providing exhibitors and indeed movie-goers with an incredible viewing experience. Clarus XC 290 also

allows exhibitors to improve on screen brightness by up to 20% (in comparison to a traditional silver screens) whilst still improving light distribution.” www.harkness-screens.com

Visual Data Media acquires Soho Digital Cinema

In April, Visual Data Media Services announced that it has acquired Soho Digital Cinema (SDC), the leading provider of digital cinema mastering and distribution services. The acquisition enables Visual Data to add digital cinema mastering and cinema distribution to its service suite. As with its existing broadcast, streaming and VOD offerings, Visual Data can now offer every step in the digital cinema content supply chain.

Customers of both companies can now take advantage of SDC’s D-Cinema services including Screenfast, its award-winning digital cinema cloud distribution platform, as well as having access to Visual Data’s wide range of media distribution services.

“Visual Data and Soho Digital Cinema had worked together on several projects and we saw clear synergies between our two companies, with our complementary product and service offerings and adjacent or converging markets,” said Symon Roue, MD of Visual Data Media Services. “The acquisition is a positive move for all of our customers, enabling them to master and distribute all deliverables from one place, significantly streamlining the distribution process while saving time and money.”

Understanding Netflix – new report launched

THE SPECIALIST EXHIBITION-FOCUSEDmanagement consultancy, The Big Picture has published a recently commissioned report, “Understanding Netflix’s Global Cinema Strategy”, compiled by Patrick von Sychowski, Editor of Celluloid Junkie and CT contributor. This report aims to explain what is driving Netflix, its relationship with Hollywood, its motivation in the recent “Roma” controversy”, how it is ‘dividing and conquering’ on national levels and what cinemas can do to counterbalance the growing power of Netflix.

Rob Arthur, senior consultant at The Big Picture, says, “The impact and strategy of

Netflix is very much at the fore-front of cinema exhibitors’ and film distributors’ minds. Never before have we seen the traditional exhibitor and distributor relationship so aligned, as disruptive streaming technology makes an impact. It comes at a time when global box office is on the ascendancy; at a time when we are in a golden age of technology options and opportunities; and when the diversity of audience and of cinema offers is increasingly broad”. The report is available free on request from The Big Picture – https://the-bigpicture. com/contactus.php

IMIS update – a busy year so far!

2019 kicked off with a bang for the International Moving Image Society, writes COO Bryan Cook. In January the society celebrated a year of growth with its ‘Post-Holiday After Party’ at the Phoenix Artist Club in London, one of a series of regular get togethers the society has planned.

In February IMIS honoured all the accomplishments and achievements of its members and others in the industry with our 88th Annual Awards Ceremony and our Annual Bernard Happé Lecture (see below). This year’s lecture was presented by the BBC’s Phil Layton, head of broadcast and connected systems, with Andrew Cotton, principal technologist. They discussed recording, production and broadcast of the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a landmark in both UHD and HDR broadcasting. The BBC plans to implement the technology further.

GDC showcases SR-5400 and SR-6400C media servers

GDC HAS EXPANDED its “SR Series”Standalone IMB product line to include the SR-5400 and SR-6400C, revolutionary media servers designed for advanced cinematic imagery. The series will be the centrepiece of the company’s showcase at CineEurope.

The products won the Catalyst Award for Best New Technology of CinemaCon 2019 for its ultra-reliability and innovative FAST (Flexible Architecture Stable Technology) engineering design featuring the world’s highest bitrate and frame rate.

SR-5400 Series is capable of playing DCP content in 4K 3D and 4K at 60fps, compatible with the new DLP Cinema projectors including SR-5400B for Barco, SR-5400C for Christie, SR-5400N for NEC.

SR-6400C is capable of ground-breaking playback at 4K 3D and 4K at 120fps, and compatible with the new Christie projector featuring RealLaser illumination and CineLife+. SR-6400C can also playback 4K at 240 fps in 3D mode with the Cinity Cinema System.

CinemaNext equips Les 7 Batignolles with Sphera

CINEMANEXT, THE SPECIALIST inexhibitor services has announced the launch of its Sphera premium cinema concept at the new Les 7 Batignolles complex in the 17th arrondissement in Paris. The cinema boasts the second Sphera auditorium in Europe after that at Village Cinemas in The Mall Athens in Greece.

“We chose this concept because we considered it the most advanced premium offer, combining the latest existing technologies. The wow factor of the Sphera auditorium means we can offer our audiences a moment of escapism. One in five moviegoers currently chooses Sphera, making it the most popular auditorium at our cinema.”” explains Dorothy Malherbe, manager of the 7 Batignolles cinema.

The Sphera auditorium at Les 7 Batignolles features 352 seats and a 15m-wide wall-to-wall screen. It is HDR and EclairColor HDR-compatible thanks to the latest generation 4K 3D projectors in the booth. The Dolby Atmos sound system is reinforced by a powerful subwoofer benefiting from the latest developments in energy transducer technology (see pages 48-50). Acoustic walls equipped with dynamic ambient lighting and an entrance hall concept specific to Sphera finesse the design. www.spheracinema.com