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MINDSHARE THEATREWORLD EDITORIAL
The year 2014 waved us goodbye on a high note with the cinema exhibition industry witnessing several interesting innovations in the realms of audio-visual technology. Going by the cutting-edge offerings lined up in the pipeline, looks like the year 2015 will continue with the upswing.
Issue # 67 January-February 2015
Immersive sound is growing day-by-day with massive installations taking place. Christie’s Vive Audio, which was introduced a year ago, recently completed the landmark 100 installs. GDC Technology’s first standalone IMB SX-3000 is now a preferred IMB for laser projection deployment. Interactive cinema is dubbed to be the next big thing to take off in 2015! Using their smart phones or tablets, moviegoers will be able to interact with and influence outcomes on the big screen. With mobile phone as the controller, the audience gets to control what’s on the big screen. For the cinema exhibitors, the interactive cinema opportunities come from preshow, trailers and dedicated content. The exhibitors can now monetize their digital investment using interactive, branded entertainment during the preshow period and with experiential video walls in their lobbies. You basically get to keep the audience engaged even without a movie! I was quite amazed to witness the demos of Timeplay and Audience Entertainment at CineAsia (9-11 Dec 2014), Hong Kong. The technology drives loyalty, incremental revenue, e-commerce opportunities and can also help the exhibitors survey their audience. In the last quarter, I travelled to Thailand to visit Major Cineplex, the biggest multiplex chain in Thailand with over 500 screens and with 75% of market share. It is amazing to see that the luxury and quality being offered by Major Cineplex is setting high international standards. All cinema halls are massive in size, and each one has a very different ambiance with a unique movie experience. Their popcorn, is in fact, the best that I have ever had anywhere in the world. It has a great taste and texture to it. The popcorn at Major Cineplex is not only relished by moviegoers but is also popular among visitors to the mall. At the end of 2014, India saw the release of the much-awaited film PK, which went on to became the biggest blockbuster of Indian cinema despite being mired in controversies (read PK – On A High Despite Controversies on page TM21). Several activists took to violent protests and disrupted the screening of PK. Fearing trouble, some theatre owners chose not to screen the film, while others were left with little choice but to take the risk in order to mitigate losses. However, with movies like PK, Lingaa and I, one thing is for sure — Indian cinema will soon cross the Rs 1000-crore mark at the box office. And as the cricket-crazy country awaits World Cup 2015, scheduled 14 February – 29 March, the footfall at all the major entertainment venues, including cinemas, is expected to go down. No major film is slated for release in this period – all on hold for the holiday season! Like every year, TheatreWorld is the official media partner at FICCI FRAMES 2015, to be held at Mumbai, India, 25-27 March 2015. With major celebrities from the world of cinema and government officials visiting, FICCI Frames is the only biggest cinema expo in India. Raghavendra T Editor-Publisher
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January-February 2015
Raghavendra T Editor-Publisher +91 9980 208 208 raghav@network208.com
Sandeep Mittal Founder Editor Publisher
Authors & Writers Asra Shaheen Heti Dave Michael Karagosian Savita V Jayaram
Clancy D’souza Sales & Marketing +91 78753 29282 clancy@network208.com
M Naga Bhanu Online & Social Media Printing Ramya Reprographic, Bengaluru Published by Raghavendra T on behalf of NETWORK208 013, Skylark Enclave, 5th Main, Jagadish Nagar, New Thippasandra Post, Bengaluru 560 075, India info@network208.com www.network208.com
RNI # KARENG02795/10/1/2002-TC TheatreWorld is a bi-monthly publication, on the motion picture exhibition industry, for private circulation. It reaches out to subscribers, mainly theatre owners and trade professionals around the world. Additional copies are being promoted at major international industry tradeshows. TheatreWorld seeks the healthy promotion of the theatre industry through dissemination of useful information. Some of the information is compiled from industry sources, trade journals, company brochures for the benefit of readers, especially, theatre owners. TheatreWorld acknowledges with thanks the authors and publishers of these printed materials. Views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not necessarily of TheatreWorld. TheatreWorld is a trademark under registration. The contents of TheatreWorld are under copyright registration. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Unsolicited printed material is welcome but no responsibility is undertaken for the same and will not be returned. TheatreWorld does not take responsibility for the absolute accuracy of information published.
contents
This issue of TW has two sets of page numbers - International pages TW-1 to TW-48 for TW, and India pages TM-1 to TM-28 for TM. TM is inserted between pages TW-42 and TW-43 of TW.
TW-28
FIRST PERSON TW-23
Rendezvous with
Jim Patterson
INSTALLS TW-31 Seattle Cinerama Makeover
INSTALLS
TW-8
Novo Cinemas
Emirati Cinematic Experience!
TECHNOLOGY TW-32 The Future is Here... If You Can See It
TW-35
Film Format Series - III
Explaining Various Film Formats Over the Years!
TRADESHOWS TW-42 Review -
TW-49 Preview -
TECHNOLOGY
TW-33
The Next-Generation
Cinema Experience! TW-55
F
U T U R E
R E L E A S E S
INDIA PLEXING TM-6
Inox Comes to Bhilwara!
TM-10
New Theatre
Goes the Dolby Way TM-14
PVR Cinemas
Strengthening Presence in Madhya Pradesh & Punjab TM-16 God’s Own Country Roaring with Auro 11.1 TM-17
S P E C I A L F E AT U R E
TM-3
TM-18 Sri Renukamba Preview Theatre
At the Forefront with the Latest Technology
Siri Fort Auditorium
Among Top 50 Auditoriums for Cinema Viewing in India!
SPECIAL FEATURE TM-21 PK - On A High Despite Controversies
BUSINESS TREND TM-23
Harvard Business School To Study
PVR's Business Model TM-24
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
A 1000 Weeks ON, the Romance Goes ON… CORRIGENDUM This is with reference to the article Lotte Cinema World Tower: Asia’s Largest Multiplex is Now Open! published in TheatreWorld November-December 2014 issue (page 40). The article stated that “All auditoriums are complete with Christie digital cinema solutions, including the flagship Christie Solaria Series projectors, Christie Vive Audio surround sound systems...” Correction: Christie Vive audio is being used only in 7 of the 21 auditoriums and the remaining 14 screens use QSC Cinema Audio Solutions. The error is deeply regretted and we apologize for the inconvenience.
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Christie Vive Audio Cinema Solution on Track for 100 Installs in Inaugural Year Christie, a world leader in advanced cinema technologies, announced that the company was on schedule to install its 100th Christie Vive Audio cinema sound system. "Christie made history a year ago when it began shipping the world's first audio system to feature a unique ribbon driver technology in a single enclosure line array design, purposely crafted and built for entertainment environments," said Patrick Artiaga, director, business development, Christie. "Since then, the breadth and depth of the Christie Vive product lineup has been expanded to include a wide-range of speakers, amplifiers and audio-video processors. As the creative community expands the envelope in delivering the most realistic audio experience possible to moviegoers, we've developed these Christie Vive audio products specifically to help production teams achieve their creative objectives and exhibitors meet performance challenges," added Artiaga. Designed to support all of the leading cinema audio formats including Dolby Atmos, 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound and Auro 11.1, Christie Vive Audio can be configured to provide the optimal audio solution for any cinema space, from post production studios and screening rooms to traditional auditoriums and premium large formats cinemas. Exhibitors such as Cinemex (Mexico), Wanda Cinemas (China), New Farm Cinemas (Australia), and Southern Theatres (United States) have chosen Vive. As well, many exhibitors embracing the Dolby Cinema program will use Christie Vive, beginning with the first Dolby Cinema install at the newlyconstructed JT Eindhoven cineplex in the Netherlands, which opened in December 2014.
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"We're proud of our tradition of bringing the latest developments in audio technology to our Southern Theatres and Movie Tavern guests with the opening of the Southern Grand 14 Esplanade in Kenner, LA and Movie Tavern Northshore in Covington, La.," said Ron Krueger II, President and Chief Operating Officer, Southern Theatres. "We're the first theater to power every auditorium with Christie Vive Audio, a revolutionary leap in cinema loudspeaker design that provides an improved sound experience for every guest in every seat in the house, and we look forward to continuing this relationship with our plans in 2015 starting with the Movie Tavern Baton Rouge in Baton Rouge, La." "Over the past year, we've raised the bar in next-generation audio technology and implementation, giving exhibitors a true competitive edge that their customers can appreciate," noted Artiaga.
Christie Acquires coolux to Improve Multi-Media and Live Event Experiences Christie, the global leader in visual displays and audio technologies, announced that it has acquired Cologne-based coolux GmbH
('coolux'), a world-renowned developer and supplier of 3D compositing and rendering systems, best known for its Pandoras Box product family. coolux will be integrated into Christie's Global Market Solutions team, maintaining its office in Cologne, Germany. Jennifer Smith, executive vice president, Global Market Solutions, said "Christie is committed to deepen its marketplace lead in supplying a total solution for advanced applications such as projection mapping, broadcast delivery and all manner of large-scale digital canvas creation, so the fit between our products and services and those of coolux is a natural one." Continuing, Smith said "Pre-visualization capability when creating stunning, experiential events - including realtime rendering of same - is increasingly important in the creative plans of entertainment designers and creative visionaries. The acquisition is a boon to those who need multiple display technologies to come together to create both continuous and non-continuous digital canvases, but most importantly, to be able to create and manage the content that flows onto these canvases," added Smith. coolux CEO Jan Huewel, who will report to Jennifer Smith in his new position of senior director, Processing Solutions, commented, "In a world where visual and audio experiences are assuming new importance in inspiring and moving audiences, content orchestration and synchronized content delivery is paramount and with today's news. Christie, with its already impressive presence in this arena, has gained another leading-edge product line and development team to ensure it keeps its lead." Initial reactions to the news of the acquisition were positive among global leaders in augmented reality and experiential-marketing projects, exemplified by award-winning projection designer Bart Kresa of
BARTKRESA design Inc. who said "I've used coolux and Christie products in a number of my productions and value both for their feature-rich gamut and reliability, so I'm excited about what Christie will come up with in future, leveraging its expertise and that of the coolux team." coolux has become a welcome feature at various industry shows, including ISE, NAB, LDI and InfoComm, and this presence will continue in the Christie experiential marketing booths at said shows, beginning with the NAB 2015 show in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 1316, 2015. coolux, on its own and in combination with Christie products, has earned an enviable track record in delivering impactful 3D visualisation and compositing solutions and driving many notable events.
NEC Display's 'Ticket To Digital' Programme Paves Way For Theatres To Make Conversion To Digital NEC Display Solutions of America announces a special financing programme to help the remaining 1,000 screens at movie theatres across America make the conversion to digital cinema. Called the "Ticket to Digital" programme, NEC Display is teaming up with Element Financial to include 100 per cent of the technology necessary to convert to digital requirements, plus the fastest, most affordable way to acquire it. Equipment and terms include: NC900C Projector, Lens, IMS (Server), Installation, Base, Cabling and PC to control system, Freight (to locations in the continental U.S.) and $559/month for 64 months. "Offering an affordable way for exhibitors to convert to digital with little upfront costs is a key part of this
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NEC Display initiative," said Jim Reisteter, General Manager of Digital Cinema at NEC Display. "It is critical that theatres convert to digital in 2015 as the number of movies using traditional film will significantly decrease." Designed for theatres with small screens, NEC's NC900C DLP cinema projector delivers an enhanced theatre experience with pristine images. With its S2K chip set from Texas Instruments, the NC900C is the most compact 2K DCI-certified digital cinema projector on the market. "I commend NEC for offering a leasing programme to exhibitors who haven't yet converted to digital cinema," said John Fithian, President of the National Association of Theater Owners. "Though 95 per cent of the screens in the U.S. have already been converted, there are still a few companies out there who haven't made the transition. As we've said before, the end is nigh."
Samuel C Freitag Elected Chairman of the Board of Ballantyne Strong Ballantyne Strong, Inc, a diversified provider of digital technology services, products and solutions, announced that its board of directors has elected Samuel C Freitag to serve as chairman of the board, effective January 1, 2015. Mr. Freitag succeeds William F Welsh, II, who has chosen to step down as chairman while remaining as a member of the board of directors. Mr Welsh, age 73, has served as chairman of the board of Ballantyne Strong since 2000.
"Since joining the board of Ballantyne Strong in 2011, Sam has demonstrated exceptional leadership capabilities and the skill set required to be an effective chairman of the board," said Mr Welsh. "We determined that it's a good time to transition to new leadership at the board level and we have great confidence in Sam to help guide the continued transition of Ballantyne to a more diversified business model and oversee the growth of our digital media business. It will be my privilege to continue serving as a member of the board and working with the other directors to guide the execution of our strategic plan for enhancing shareholder value." "We would like to thank Bill Welsh for his many years of distinguished service as Ballantyne's chairman and we are very pleased that he will continue to be a valuable member of the board," said Mr. Freitag. "I am excited to assume the role of chairman at such an important time in Ballantyne's history. We have made a great deal of progress in positioning the company for longterm success by entering new markets with strong opportunities for future growth. I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the management team to execute on our vision for Ballantyne and creating value for shareholders in the future." Samuel C. Freitag, age 58, has been an independent private investor since January 2004. From July 2002 to December 2003, he was President of McCarthy Capital Corporation, a private equity fund manager with approximately $300 million in capital. From 1986 until 1997, he held various positions with George K. Baum Merchant Bank, LLC, including serving as Senior Managing Director and Director, Investment Banking. Mr Freitag has served as a director of Ballantyne since June 2011 and has been a member of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance committees.
Moody Gardens & D3D Cinema Celebrate Opening of World's First Institutional Giant Screen Laser Theatre D3D Cinema and Moody Gardens have announced the grand opening of the MG3D Laser Theater at Moody Gardens, the first institution in the world to feature a giant screen 6Primary (6P) laser projection system. Audiences will now experience films on a world-class 60 by 80-foot white screen - the largest in Texas - at nearly three and a half times brighter than the current industry standard, with vibrant colours and new 3D glasses technology. The 6P laserilluminated 4K-resolution 3D dual projector system is manufactured by Christie. The 6P eyewear is designed and manufactured by Infitec GmbH. The 1.4 gain premium white screen was provided by MDI. "This installation marks a great step forward for giant screen projection technology - and Moody Gardens has once again taken a pioneering step with D3D to create a truly great theater experience for their audience," said Don Kempf, president of D3D Cinema. "Their continuing willingness to forge ahead with new cinema technology and branding will help push the museum cinema market forward into a new era of cinema clarity, brightness and profitability. This industry has been waiting for lasers for a long time." "There is a bit of nervous excitement with being the first institutional theater in the world to implement laser technology," added John Zendt, President and CEO of Moody Gardens. "But, when I walked into the theatre and saw my screen light up like never before, I was thrilled! And that first impression was only at 75 per cent of our brightness capability. I can now happily invite my giant screen colleagues to come and see first-hand what D3D, Christie and Infitec are capable of delivering on an 80 foot screen. To be first to market is very exciting. But the results themselves are amazing and it is an experience our guests will certainly appreciate."
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Christie's laser system provides unparalleled image quality using a pair of state-of-the-art 4K laser projection heads, a 6P modular laser light farm with fibre-optic delivery, and Christie 4K 3D high-bitrate IMBs. "We can confidently say that Christie's 6P laser design is a real breakthrough for the industry," said Don Shaw, senior director of product management, Christie. "Our nonflashing 6P architecture is without question the most light-efficient 3D technology on the market, providing four times the 3D brightness versus the competition, and enhanced colour gamut and a remarkable contrast ratio as well. On a specklefree premium white screen, Moody Gardens has achieved a peerless cinematic presentation." Infitec's new 6P glasses deliver a startling 90 percent efficiency unsurpassed in the industry. It's the perfect complement to the 80 foot wide screen in the MG3D Theatre, which is now capable of light levels over 16 foot-lamberts in 3D (measured through Infitec's glasses). This is many times brighter than the theatre's previous 3D 70mm system and far exceeds any "ultrabright" industry standards. "We're thrilled to be a part of this project," said Markus Fritz, COO of INFITEC GmbH. "We had to move a few mountains to
make this happen but the results are incredibly gratifying. INFITEC is now uniquely positioned to provide 6P eyewear technology as giant screen venues turn to laser 3D in the coming years. Moody Gardens is now a flagship theater for us, and we will continue to improve on efficiency capabilities and giant screen eyewear designs in 2015." "I'm so happy with the final result, the brightness and clarity is amazing," added Ronald La Faver, President of INFITEC Inc. "The vision of INFITEC on a pure laser based system came true."
Volfoni 3D at Hong Kong’s CineAsia Volfoni 3D participated once more at CineAsia Hong Kong. Volfoni returned to Hong Kong with their game-changing 3D cinema system: SmartCrystal Diamond. First announced at CineAsia last year, this system follows the success of their previous 3D systems (SmartCrystal Cinema Vertical and Horizontal), which are already installed in over 2500 locations worldwide. Designed in Europe, and powered by Volfoni’s unique “Triple Beam” technology, the brightness achieved by the Diamond surpasses all other passive 3D systems in the market, with an amazing light efficiency (LEF) of 30%.
Expanding HighQuality Cinema in Peru Moviegoers are flocking to the cinema in Peru as theatre circuits expand across the country to offer a unique entertainment experience. Teaming up with digital cinema integrator Cinema Equipment & Supplies (CE+S), Barco helped UVK Multicines enhance the quality of its showings by completing a recent conversion to digital projection. A well-known movie exhibitor offering family entertainment and luxury theatres in Peru, UVK Multicines recently desired to upgrade its cinemas to offer best-inclass digital projection across the circuit in rapid fashion. "Thanks to a very competitive package offered by Barco, CE+S and GDC, we were able to obtain industry-leading projectors and attractive financing to meet our objectives," Monica Ubillus, Director Manager of UVK Multicines. "They worked seamlessly together to meet our very aggressive timeframe, providing top-notch service and support all along the way, from planning through full implementation." In addition to providing a wide range of industry-leading projectors, Barco has invested significant resources in many parts of Latin America, establishing local parts depots at eight locations and offering installation and advanced service certification training is available in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Mexico City, Mexico; and Sacramento, California. "We enjoy participating in these exciting digital cinema projects that enable Latin America exhibitors to offer a unique, high-quality moviegoing experience to their patrons on par with the best experiences in the world," comments Ney Corsino, Senior Vice President, International Sales for Barco. "That is why we've made a commitment to serving this region at a local level, partnering with companies like CE+S
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to ensure that theater owners have the full complement of resources to achieve continued success."
Barco Helping UNIC Promote Cinema in Europe
Royal Films Elevates Cinema in Colombia with Barco Barco and digital cinema integrator Bardan Cinema have joined forces many times over the years to help exhibitors in Latin America take advantage of a growing moviegoing population in Colombia. Their latest collaboration supports a major digital cinema projector deployment for Royal Films, which selected several models from Barco's wide range of projectors to ensure the perfect match for every screen, from small theatres to premium auditoriums. Barco provides 24/7/365 onsite technical support through local service teams, with parts conveniently available from eight depots to service its customers in Latin America. In addition, Barco's installation and advanced service certification training is available in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Mexico City, Mexico; and Sacramento, California. "We take great pride and pleasure in serving our Latin America exhibitors and will continue to grow our resources in the region to ensure long-term support," comments Ney Corsino, Senior Vice President, International Sales for Barco. "As always, we appreciate the opportunity to partner with Bardan and are honoured to support Royal Films as they embark upon a new era in cinema."
In 2014 more than ever, Barco has been able to strengthen its footprint in the digital cinema market, not only as a technology leader but also as a frontrunner and visionary. They have been sharing their vision on the future of cinema as a technical partner of the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) since November! Representing cinema exhibitors and their national associations across 33 European territories (+ 33,000 screens and + 1 billion admissions per year), UNIC was set up to promote cinema in Europe and internationally. It has done a great job so far. Over the past few years, the organization has managed to significantly raise the profile of cinema exhibition vis-Ă -vis European governments and partners from across the film industry, including major studios. To further consolidate its foothold in the market, UNIC launched a 'Partner Program' in 2013. Under the scheme, cinema exhibitors and technology companies, suppliers and vendors get together to network, discuss, learn and, consequently, further enhance the value of cinema exhibition. As a digital cinema leader, Barco stepped into the program in November 2014, joining other companies like Coca Cola, Deluxe, Dolby, IMAX, Orange, Technicolor, and Masterimage 3D. Soon after joining the association, they had a chance to highlight their technological leadership: their laser projector received a great deal of attention from the technical group members during an exclusive demo at the Kinepolis Brussels cinema after the annual technology meeting on 25-26 November.
Weischer.Media Signs Sony Digital Cinema to Its 'CINEMA.RELOADED ready' Programme Theatre Management System software - STM-100 V1.6 - by Sony Digital Cinema has been certified by Weischer.Media as 'CINEMA.RELOADED ready', meaning that STM-100 V1.6 is compatible with Weischer.Media's sophisticated and highly-automated digital cinema advertising solution, CINEMA.RELOADED, when interfaced with the required ONEDCN pre-show system. Weischer.Media launched its certification programme for Theatre Management Systems in June the year. The initiative aims to clarify to exhibitors which TMS solutions are compatible with Weischer.Media's sophisticated and highly-automated digital cinema advertising solution, CINEMA.RELOADED. CINEMA.RELOADED is an evolving product from Weischer.Media that is prevalent across Germany and Switzerland that offers ever more intelligent and effective cinema advertising. It aims to rival the sophistication of digital on-line adverting whilst maintaining the classic qualities of cinema-adding proven value to the medium. "Sony Digital Cinema is proud to announce that its STM-100 V1.6 Theatre Management System has been certified by Weischer Media as CINEMA.RELOADED ready. The certification highlights to exhibitors our TMS solution is compatible with Weischer Media's automated digital cinema advertising solution where the complete pre-programme including all advert bookings for each individual showing is digitally delivered to the respective projector from the ONEDCN pre-show system, the digital system from Weischer.Media, eliminating the need for manual intervention." said David McIntosh, Vice President of Sony Digital Cinema 4K Solutions for Europe and the Americas.
"We're delighted to announce STM100 V1.6 is amongst the first TMSs to be fully certified as CINEMA.RELOADED ready. This will position cinemas optimally for the digital advertising future that meets the needs of the advertising industry: more flexibility, transparency and accuracy." said Stefan Kuhlow, Chief Digital Officer of Weischer.Media and added "So far, CINEMA.RELOADED has been a very welcome innovation by our exhibitor partners and it has brought cinema advertising in Germany and Switzerland back to its old strength. We are dedicated towards its future development and potential applicability to the wider markets." "CINEMA.RELOADED requires specific capabilities from the entire system from client to cinemagoer." says Managing Director of Weischer.Media's development partner Cinedavis, Dr. Marlon Teichfuss, also responsible for the ONEDCN pre-show technology network and interfaces. He adds: "Because of Cinedavis's long period of cooperation with Sony Digital Cinema and the ONEDCN pre-show Interface and corresponding practical experiences I can say today, STM-100 V1.6 is CINEMA.RELOADED ready." "TMS solutions that are certified as CINEMA.RELOADED ready will offer re-assurance to exhibitors that this important element of their wider system is compatible to the current needs of a CINEMA.RELOADED preshow." says Julian Pinn, Managing Director of Julian Pinn Ltd and strategic consultant to Weischer.Media. "So far the desire to join this initiative by leading TMS suppliers has been very encouraging. We expect to be able to make further announcement in due course."
USL, Introduces the New 6-Channel HDMI HSW-602 Switch Ultra Stereo Labs, a leader in digital cinema and alternative content technology, has developed and is now shipping the new 6-Channel HDMI 1.4b HSW-602 Switch. The HSW-602 fills the need for a professional, complete processing unit for alternative content in cinemas. It features a program bus and preview bus allowing the user to preview the next event using a monitor on the preview output and then to switch that input to the projector using the program bus. It also includes a microphone and stereo line input that can overlay on any of the HDMI content. This feature allows a presenter to add live narration to a video presentation. In addition, all the HSW602 devices may be remotely controlled via a wireless tablet using CEC (consumer electronics control). The switch was on display in the USL booth at the CineAsia Convention. The HSW602 Switch features include 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs which all support 1080p 3D video. The audio input includes a live microphone, stereo line input, and an 8-channel AES/EBU input from the cinema server. The audio outputs include S/PDIF over optical and coax, and an 8-channel AES/EBU output to feed the cinema processor. An additional feature included is a browser interface for easy configuration. The HSW-602 Switch may be remotely controlled via Ethernet or contact closures from the digital cinema server or other devices such as tablets or PCs. All HDMI inputs and outputs maintain continuous HDCP security links to prevent attached devices from going into sleep mode. USL, Inc. hardware engineer Troy Fredriks states, "The HSW-602 simplifies HDMI- based presentations by streamlining cumbersome operations into a single, straightforward interface." USL Engineer Jay Wyatt notes that "the HSW-602 is truly a Swiss-army knife for combinations of HDMI playback."
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IMAX Corporation Bolsters Film Slate in China With Jackie Chan's 3D Action Film Dragon Blade IMAX Corporation announced that the 3D action-adventure film Dragon Blade, starring Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Adrien Brody, will be digitally re-mastered in the immersive IMAX 3D format and released by Shanghai Film Group Corporation in IMAX theatres in China on February 19. Golden Network Asia Limited is handling distribution rights to the film elsewhere internationally.
Chinese official, played by Chan. Set in 48 B.C., Dragon Blade tells the thrilling story of heroism, friendship and betrayal, which has never before been depicted on film. Visualizer Films produced the film. Sparkle Roll Media, Huayi Brothers, Shanghai Film Group, Home Media and Entertainment, Shenzhen Tencent Video Culture Communication and China Film all served as primary investors.
In addition to Dragon Blade, IMAX will release the two-part 3D historical epic The Crossing, of which the first instalment release in China in December 2014. The Crossing: Part Two will be released in that market in May 2015.
The IMAX 3D release of Dragon Blade will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customised theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
"Our dedication to bringing unparalleled cinema to China by partnering with the best filmmakers and celebrated actors such as Jackie Chan is paramount to the vision here at IMAX," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "IMAX has been at the forefront of the cinema industry in China for the last 15 years, and with a growing network and the addition of more locally produced films, we expect to help continue to grow the entertainment ecosystem in that country for all parties involved." Chan stated: "From CZ12 to Police Story 2013, and now Dragon Blade, it's my honour and pleasure to work with IMAX again. The Chinese film industry is growing rapidly; and, as such, Chinese audience expectations are also increasing. That's why IMAX's participation in China is very important. I hope IMAX and I will continue to collaborate on future projects, and I am looking forward to see Dragon Blade on IMAX screens during Chinese New Year." Dragon Blade, from director Daniel Lee (White Vengeance, 14 Blades), follows a Roman general (Cusack) who, after crossing into China, befriends a former high-ranking
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100 Dolby Atmos Screens with Cinema 21 Cinema 21 and Dolby Laboratories, Inc. announced that Cinema 21, one of the largest cinema chains in Indonesia, plans to install Dolby Atmos in 100 cinema screens over the next 18 months. Dolby Atmos has now reached the milestone of 200 screens installed or committed to in Indonesia, making it the country
with one of the largest numbers of committed Dolby Atmos screens in the Asia Pacific region. More than 900 screens worldwide have now been or are scheduled to be equipped with Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos unleashes the potential of sound in storytelling by giving filmmakers the creative freedom to easily place or move sounds anywhere in the movie theatre, including overhead, to create the most engaging cinema experience ever. "With consumers becoming more discerning these days, Cinema 21 believes in constantly offering revolutionary and state-of-the art technologies to our patrons to ensure the most epic movie experiences. We have seen an incremental rise in box office taking with the current Dolby Atmos screens installed. The ground-breaking Dolby Atmos sound technology is certainly the way to go, and moving forward, audiences will be spoilt for choice with hopefully more than 100 Dolby Atmos screens to select from in Indonesia," said Catherine Keng, Corporate Secretary, Cinema 21. "Dolby is honoured that Cinema 21 has chosen to equip 100 of its screens with the immersive Dolby Atmos sound technology. With Dolby Atmos, the audience is no longer just watching a movie; they are experiencing it," said Pankaj Kedia, Senior Regional Director, India and South East Asia, Dolby Laboratories. "We are confident that moviegoers will go back again and again for the extraordinary experience that only Dolby Atmos can deliver."
Nu Metro Cinemas first in Africa to Go Live with Auro Immersive Sound and 4K Projection Nu Metro Cinemas, South Africa's second largest cinema operator, makes big investments to pamper its audience. The most recent jewel in its crown: the extreme HD experience cinema at the refurbished 'The Glen' in Johannesburg. The cinema, which opened to the public on 20 November with the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, features Barco's Auro 11.1 immersive sound system and a 4K projector, as well as RealD's Precision White Screen - three firsts for Africa. Nu Metro Cinemas has always been a frontrunner. In 2009, it was the very first cinema chain in Africa with an all-digital cineplex. Four years later, by December 2013, every single Nu Metro theatre was equipped with a Barco digital cinema projector (111 in total). Around that time, Nu Metro's team also discovered Barco's Auro 11.1 immersive sound. "When comparing Auro to other technologies, we found that Auro offers far better sound quality, leaning very much towards the standard 3D sound policy," says Nu Metro's Marketing Executive Nitesh Matai. The first Auro installations went live earlier this month, at two VIP theatres - called 'Scene Xtreme' cinemas - in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria. In addition to Auro, The Glen in Johannesburg also exclusively offers RealD's ground-breaking Precision White Screen format along with Barco's DP4K-23B projector to deliver 4K Ultra High Definition visuals. The screen technology stretches from
floor to ceiling, about three stories high. Moreover, The Glen also boasts the ultimate in luxury seats and SceneVIp, where moviegoers can relax in an upmarket lounge with a bar before enjoying their favourite movie or indulge in a quality dining menu.
Christie Lights up the Screens at Shaw Theatres' New Cineplex in Singapore Christie, a global leader in digital cinema technologies, announced that its state-of-the-art cinema solutions have been installed at Shaw Theatres' new cineplex housed within Singapore's latest suburban shopping complex, The Seletar Mall. Known as Shaw Theatres Seletar, it is the eighth cineplex operated by the 90-year-old cinema chain in the rapidly developing northeastern region of Singapore. It consists of eight theatre auditoriums with over 700 spacious, comfortable seats and modern amenities for a spectacular movie-going experience for patrons of all ages. The cineplex also features Shaw Theatres' first ever boothless projection room, which maximizes space and enhances operational efficiency. All auditoriums are equipped with Christie digital cinema solutions that deliver awe-inspiring projected visuals for a highly immersive
cinema experience. Leading the impressive lineup is the muchheralded Christie Solaria One+ projectors that offer precise, vivid colour with superior contrast ratios ideal for screens up to 35 feet wide. The Christie Solaria One+ is equipped with a motorized lens, custom-designed Xenon lamp, 2D and 3D capability, brightness of 8000 lumens in the DCI colour space, and a Christie Integrated Media Block (IMB) with its own, easy to operate Screen Management Software (SMS). It can also be easily upgraded to play high frame rate (HFR) movies. Control over auditorium functions are accomplished with the Christie ACT Digital Cinema Theatre Control, a very powerful and flexible program that allows exhibitors to adjust light dimmers, masking motors, audio levels, or the projector and server from any web capable device on the same network. Also included is the Christie Network Attached Storage (NAS), which works in tandem with the IMB, and is designed to maximize the brightness and reliability of Christie's digital cinema projection solutions. "We have installed an extensive range of Christie digital cinema solutions, including the high performance Solaria One+ projectors in our latest cineplex at Seletar Mall," said Mark Shaw, executive vice president, Operations, Shaw Theatres. "Christie's visual solutions are well known for their quality and reliability. We are confident that their cinema solutions fitted here will offer quality visual and cinematic experience for all movie patrons." Lin Yu, Vice President, Christie Asia Pacific, said, "Christie is honored to work with Shaw Theatres to have a range of our advanced digital cinema solutions installed in all eight auditoriums of its newest cinema located in one of the fastest growing residential estates in Singapore. The audience can look forward to enjoying our brilliant projections that offer truly exciting visuals and memorable experiences." January-February 2015
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China's Evergrande Again Chooses GDC's SX-3000 Standalone IMB and TMS for Its 2015 Digital Cinema Deployments GDC Technology Limited ("GDC Technology"), a world leading digital cinema solutions provider, announced that it has secured a fresh agreement for the sale of its digital cinema servers, along with its Theatre Management System ("TMS"), from Evergrande Cinema Circuit Management Co., Ltd ("Evergrande Cinema Circuit"). Under the agreement, GDC's SX-3000 Standalone Integrated Media Block ("SX-3000 IMB") and TMS will be installed in the circuit's 30 new cineplexes in 2015. GDC's products are used in all of China's top cinema chains, and this is the company's second order from Evergrande within the short timespan of one year. The agreement further consolidates GDC's collaboration with Evergrande, currently one of the largest cinema circuits in China, after some 300 SX3000 IMBs and 30 TMS units were deployed in 2014. "After the installation of the first order this year, we are very impressed by the exceptional reliability of SX3000 IMB," said Guangwei Li, General Manager of Evergrande Cinema Circuit. "Further contributing to the repeat order is the professional service provided by GDC and the fact that we have an excellent collaboration with the GDC team." Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder, chairman and CEO of GDC Technology, added: "A second order, within a year of the first, is a
significant vote of confidence in the operational advantages delivered by GDC's products and services and it proves that the SX-3000 IMB is a reliable choice for exhibitors. As with the first order, we take great pride in being part of the expansion of Evergrande Cinema Circuit".
GDC Technology's SX-3000 Standalone IMB Established as Preferred Solution for Laser Projection Deployments GDC Technology, a world leading digital cinema solutions provider, announced that its SX-3000 Standalone Integrated Media Block™ ("SX-3000 IMB") has established itself as the preferred IMB for laser projection deployment. To date, there are more than 90 units of DCI compliant, NEC laser projectors used in tandem with GDC's SX-3000 IMB. NEC laser projector, NC1100L is the world's first DCI compliant, DLP Cinema® projector using laser light source. As the industry's first standalone IMB, the SX-3000 IMB which was introduced in 2012, sets the standard for simple, hassle-free digital cinema solutions by significantly lowering installation and maintenance costs while eliminating the need for an attached server. The SX-3000 IMB now the most widely installed standalone IMB in the market, offers High Frame Rate ("HFR") capability in both 2D and 3D, live 3D support, digital connectivity for alternative
content such as 3G HD-SDI and HDMI, as well as image up-scaling. While maintaining support for DLP Cinema® projectors, the SX-3000 IMB allows exhibitors to easily switch between lamp and laser projector without the need for a new IMB, demonstrating that it is a future-proof solution that can meet exhibitors' needs both today and tomorrow. "GDC Technology is committed to protecting its customers' investments and creating a superior ownership experience," said Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder, chairman and CEO of GDC Technology. "With today's ever-changing technology, we understand how important it is for exhibitors to safeguard their longterm technology investments. SX3000 IMB provides unparalleled flexibility for exhibitors - offering them the ultimate freedom to choose from the widest range of digital cinema projectors"
GDC Technology Reaches Deal with Sichuan Pacific Circuit GDC Technology, a world leading digital cinema solutions provider, announced that it has an agreement for the sale of 100 digital cinema servers, along with the company's new Enterprise Storage solution, to Sichuan Pacific Cinema Circuit ("Sichuan Pacific"). The agreement is a repeat order from Sichuan Pacific and involves the rollout of GDC's SX3000 Standalone Integrated Media Block™ ("SX-3000 IMB") in the circuit's newly built cinema multiplexes. Sichuan Pacific was established in 2002 by China Film Group Corporation and Sichuan Film Corporation. As of March 2014, Sichuan Pacific operates 91 multiplexes, with over 530 screens, and has become the largest filmscreening company in South West China. In 2013, it achieved box office takings of RMB700 million, with an estimated market share of 4%.
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"We've proudly been installing GDC media servers since 2011," said Dai Hong, Technical Director of Sichuan Pacific. "Throughout three years of cooperation, our cinema network has been further expanded. GDC's feature-rich media servers and quality services have reassured us that we will be able to deliver a great moviegoing experience to our customers. We have been very pleased with the overall process of working with GDC and the reliability of GDC servers with Enterprise Storage solution is truly exceptional." Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder, chairman and CEO of GDC Technology, said: "We are grateful for Sichuan Pacific's continued trust and use of our products and services. This repeat order of media servers with powerful enterprise storage solution is a testament of GDC's commitment to provide the best-inclass, highest quality products to our customers."
China Film Group Corp Selects GDC's SX-3000 Standalone IMB for Its Digital Cinema Deployment GDC Technology announced that a total of 700 units of GDC's SX-3000 Standalone Integrated Media Blocks™ ("SX-3000 IMB") along with Barco DLP Cinema projectors have been selected by China Film Group Corporation ("CFGC") for its 2014 2015 digital cinema deployment. The deployment of these 700 units of integrated system in which Barco projectors are integrated with GDC's SX-3000 IMB began in Q3 2014. GDC Technology and CFGC have worked in close collaboration in the digital cinema sector since the two signed their first deployment agreement in 2007. GDC's continued success in securing more than 70% market share in China for the last few years are attributed to GDC's early
involvement with CFGC and consistently being the most responsive round-the-clock cinema service in China nationwide. In September 2001, GDC successfully demonstrated its digital cinema solution in Beijing and Shanghai by transmitting Columbia Pictures "Final Fantasy" in digital cinema format to cinemas in Beijing and Shanghai. Over the last 14 years, GDC has developed its comprehensive service footprint that completely covers the whole nation. To date, GDC has more than one hundred employees in China and shipped more than 16,000 digital cinema servers in China. CFGC is the largest and most influential state-run film enterprise in China and it is involved in a variety of operations, including film and television production; film distribution and exhibition; film importation and exportation; cinema circuit management; digital cinema construction; digital print development and processing; film equipment management; ancillary products; advertising; property management; and real estate. CFGC currently runs the largest network of DCI compliant digital cinemas in China nationwide.
Christie DualHead 6P Laser Projection for Superior 3D Experience
Using 6-Primary (6P) colour laser modules, Christie DLPÂŽ CinemaÂŽ dualhead laser projectors are at twice as efficient as today's best 3D systems. They generate a proprietary mix of photoptically-optimized light
wavelengths for each eye directly from the source, in effect eliminating the need for a highly inefficient stage of filtering or polarizing the light as it leaves the projector. This results in vastly improved 3D light levels, image uniformity, viewing comfort, and an enhanced sense of immersion, especially when combined with advanced colour separation glasses technology such as Dolby 3D, versus conventional 3D systems found in cinemas around the world today. Christie's 6P laser technology was recently endorsed by Dolby as a foundation technology for Dolby Cinema, a branded premium cinema offering for exhibitors and movie-goers that delivers the best cinema experience ever. "Christie laser projectors provide industry-leading brightness of up to 60,000 lumens per projector head, wider colour gamut capabilities, higher contrast, and dramatically reduced maintenance requirements, resulting in a better experience for all applications," commented Lin Yu, vice president, Christie Asia Pacific. "We're proud to showcase our most advanced cinema technologies to our distinguished guests at CineAsia and this is a clear testimony that Christie is able to push the capability of high quality visuals to new heights and restore cinematic colours to their intended realism and brilliance." Also, as a product of our ongoing collaboration with Dolby, the 3D system is able to achieve nearly 45 percent light efficiency, which is almost twice as high as the next best 3D system on the market. The amazing visuals are complemented by the innovative Christie Vive Audio solution that envelopes the audience in dynamic, richly detailed and enhanced audio where speech, special effects, music, and alternative content sound more natural and lifelike. One of the biggest advantages of Christie's 6P laser projection system is its scalable and upgradable architecture, which allows users to precisely select the amount of laser January-February 2015
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light needed for their screen, with the capability to simply add more laser modules in the future if they wish to increase the brightness. Moreover, using the industry-proven Christie Duo system, there is no practical limit to the amount of light that can be put on a cinema screen. For maximum reliability, Christie's laser system features integrated cooling in each laser module to provide the right amount of cooling for the lasers that are in use. If the mechanical cooling components in one module experience a failure, then only that module goes dark, but the movie can still play very brightly with the light from other modules. Competitive architectures feature a single cooling unit, which represents a high risk, single-point of failure for the entire system. Christie is the world's first cinema projector manufacturer to receive the US FDA approval of variance, allowing the sale of laser projectors for use in commercial cinemas. So far, its ground-breaking laser projection system has already been installed in premium format theatres at various parts of the world. This includes the world's first commercial pure laser projection system, fitted at the prestigious Shanghai Film Art Center in June 2014 and in November 2014 at the Moody Gardens MG3D Theater and Seattle Cinerama.
Wanda Cinemas Selects Philips Cinema Xenon Lamps for IMAX Screens in China
At the 22nd CineAsia conference, top leaders from Philips and Wanda International Cinemas announced the completion of an agreement which selects Philips as the exclusive supplier of xenon lamps for all of Wanda's IMAX Gen III screens in
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China. As part of this agreement, Philips will supply Wanda with its new XDC 6500B xenon lamp specifically designed for and approved by IMAX for use in the IMAX Gen III projection system. The XDC 6500B provides outstanding performance, reliability and quality that will help Wanda's drive to further build up the leading movie theatre chain in China. With a maximum rated power of 6.5 kW, the Philips XDC 6500B has a broad operating power range to accommodate a wide range of screen sizes and formats. The XDC 6500B features exceptional arc stability, long life and robust construction. All Philips cinema xenon lamps are manufactured in the U.S. using the latest production equipment and technology. The experienced lighting specialists of the Philips global cinema xenon team are ready to provide personalised support, training on best practices lamp installation techniques to minimise total cost of ownership. Established in 2005, Wanda International Cinemas boast 1,315 screens (including 94 IMAX screens) at 150 movie theatres in over 80 cities across China as of 30 June, 2014. In 2014, Wanda accounts for 14.5% of total movie theatre revenue in China. Starting from 2014, Wanda plans to add over 400 screens per year and expects to run 260 movie theatres (with 2,300 screens) by 2016, which will help Wanda to continue to secure the No.1 position in box office revenue.
MPAA Announces New EMEA & Global Leads Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) announced that Stan McCoy will be the new president for MPAA's Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) region. McCoy, who joined the MPA EMEA in April 2014 as Senior Vice President
and Regional Policy Director, replaces Chris Marcich, who had formerly held that post and has been named President, International, a new position created in recognition of the growing importance of the global film and television industry. "In the EU, we are in the midst of sustained efforts to review the copyright protection that has been the cornerstone of the growth of film, television and other creative industries," Dodd said. "Having someone with Stan's knowledge and expertise in intellectual property and innovation lead the Brussels team at such a crucial time will be critically important - not just to our member studios, but to the seven million people who work in the creative sector throughout the EU." "The diverse cultural landscape we experience today is possible only because creative and media companies continuously adapt their business models to provide consumers with ever greater choice of services. For that we need a sustainable legal framework," explained McCoy. "Core-copyright intensive industries generate EUR 509 billion of Europe's GDP, there are more than 3,000 on-demand audio-visual services available to European citizens, and more than 1,500 feature films were produced in the EU last year. It will be my objective to make sure that policy makers understand that making a film is a complex and risky venture." Dodd added: "Stan and Chris are both remarkable individuals who have demonstrated their invaluable leadership talent and government relations expertise," Dodd said. "As movie and television content is increasingly enjoyed worldwide, whether it's on the cinema screen, through broadcasting and cable sources, or over the Internet, their experience is crucial to furthering our efforts to provide our expanding array of creative content to consumers in EMEA and all around the globe."
McCoy represents the MPA EMEA in two key European strategic alliances, the Creative and Media Business Alliance (CMBA) and Creativity Works! -- a coalition of like-minded organizations, federations and associations from the European cultural and creative sectors. Both are based in Brussels. McCoy previously served as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Before joining the USTR, he worked at the law firm Covington & Burling in both Brussels and Washington D.C., where he focused particularly on international intellectual property enforcement and international trade law. McCoy graduated from DePauw University and the University of Virginia School Of Law. Marcich led the MPA EMEA office since 1995. In his new position, Marcich will focus on coordinating and guiding the MPA's international efforts in offices that range from Toronto to Mexico City and San Paulo in the Americas to Singapore and Hong Kong in the Asia Pacific area as well as the EMEA office in Brussels. In his international coordination efforts, he will also be working closely with Joanna McIntosh, Executive Vice President for Global Policy and External Affairs, who came aboard in July to lead global policy and advocacy and is based in the Washington, DC, office. "With the growth of this industry globally it is more vital than ever that we coordinate our work closely with our international partners to help ensure copyright continues to provide protection for the creation, production and dissemination of cultural works," Marcich said. "I look forward to continuing to serve MPAA's members and its international partners and representatives of the creative talent sector - I am very confident about the future of our industry."
Wanda Cinema Announces LongTerm Strategic Partnership with AAM China's Wanda Cinema Line (Wanda), one of the world's leading cinema operators and cinema software company Arts Alliance Media (AAM) have announced that they have entered into a long term, strategic partnership. The partnership will see AAM serving as a primary technology partner to Wanda with the aim of creating efficiencies, increasing revenues and improving customer experience across all of Wanda's cinema operations. The partnership covers both existing business and future developments. John Aalbers, Chief Executive Officer of Arts Alliance Media commented "I am delighted to announce this wideranging, strategic partnership with Wanda Cinema Line. The initial deal represents one of the most significant in cinema software history. What is even more exciting is that Wanda is a global player with big ambitions and we, at Arts Alliance Media, are going to be right there with them making it happen. Being able to work with such a visionary and strategic partner is very exciting, as it will help keep both companies at the forefront of innovation in the rapidly changing cinema industry for years to come." John Zeng (Zeng Mao Jun), Chief Executive Officer of Wanda Cinema Line added "We were very impressed with how technologically advanced AAM's solutions are, as well as their understanding and vision of the future trends in cinema. For those reasons we are very pleased to announce our strategic partnership. We are confident that working closely with AAM will provide Wanda with the most innovative and ingenious solutions to help take Wanda's cinemas to a new level of customer experience." The announcement was made at the CineAsia trade show in Hong Kong.
Screenwriter manages all content and scheduling across screens at an individual site level, automating many tasks which were previously time-consuming and inaccurate. This allows staff to spend less time in the projection booth and more time on customer-facing activities. Screenwriter also proactively alerts users to any upcoming problems, such as missing content or KDMs, in time to fix them and avoid losing shows. AAM's Lifeguard software is specifically designed to power NOCs which monitor and maintain digital cinema screens. Lifeguard continuously monitors all hardware across a circuit from one central place, providing alerts to any exceptions which may threaten shows. Designed to work seamlessly across multiple different equipment brands, Lifeguard enables faults to be fixed faster and often remotely, reducing down time and expensive maintenance visits. Powerful reporting allows the NOC to see detailed information on each piece of equipment from each site, no matter how remote. As well as reducing costs and increasing efficiency across the circuit, AAM software increases revenue generation by managing cinema advertising with AdFuser. AdFuser provides fine-grained ad targeting to specific audience demographics, shows, or titles, along with centralising the advertising delivery process. Playlists are built automatically according to defined targeting rules and delivered from head office direct to the right screens, saving time and increasing accuracy.
Alcons to Showcase its ProRibbon System Dutch audio innovator Alcons Audio will be showcasing its latest proribbon sound system innovations at the upcoming Integrated Systems Europe show in Amsterdam. The joint-venture of InfoComm and CEDIA forms a perfect platform for January-February 2015
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Alcons to display the wide portfolio of its evolutionary audio solutions: From high-power installed sound reinforcement all the way to the finest Home Theatre sound systems, all featuring the same unique 1:1 natural crystal-clear response, with unprecedented low-distortion, very high SPL and wide and deep imaging. Alcons presents a selected choice of its point-source, point-source array, line-source and line-array sound systems, based around the company’s patented Pro-Ribbon technology and its ongoing pursuit of audio perfection. The main focus this year will be on the production version of the CRMSCompact; the Cinema Reference Monitor System is based on the continuing success of Alcons pro-ribbon systems in commercial cinemas across the globe, as used by Lucasfilm, Walt Disney, Berlinale Film Festival, Pathé, NBC Universal a.o. Fitted with a completely new, patented-pending pro-ribbon midhigh frequency transducer, the CRMSC is focused on postproduction studios, screening-rooms, residential home-cinemas; basically any critical listening environment. CRMS consists of pro-ribbon main loudspeakers, timbre-matching proribbon surround loudspeakers, ultrashallow subwoofers and dedicated processing and amplification. The RR12 point-source array has been developed as “building block” to create tight-packed arrays for razor-sharp controlled, seamless sound coverage in the widest variety of audience areas, where a line-array solution is not demanded. The QR24 pro-ribbon line-source column is the solution in acousticallychallenging rooms. A full-range high SPL HiFi sound quality is delivered, with unparalleled speech intelligibility in even the most reverberant rooms, without the necessity of DSP-based beamsteering. The LR7 micro pro-ribbon line-array is one of Alcons’ most successful
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products; A system not wider than 3 CD’s with the industry’s best “size/ weight-to-throw” ratio, suitable for A/V projects, where very compact form factor with perfect line-array projection and imaging are required. The Sentinel amplified loudspeaker controllers are the drive engines behind the Alcons pro-ribbon sound systems. The proprietary-developed amplified processors offer 4-in/4-out, 192kHz AES/EBU digital inputs, Linux-based operation, full-color touch-screen and encoder control and up to 10kW. true audiophilegrade amp.stages. These highresolution drive engines significantly raise the bar in very high-output, high-end HiFi sound reproduction. With Architect Colour Option, ACO any Alcons system can be ordered in more than 180 different RAL colours, allowing it to blend perfectly into the background against any type of décor. While in Amsterdam, the ISE visitor can enjoy the Alcons sound in different locations, from the Pathé Tuschinski cinema, the EYE Film institute, Hilfiger’s Peoples Place, but also the musicals of Anne Frank and Soldaat van Oranje (“Soldier of Orange”).
Barco's "Laser Guy" Bill Beck Extolls the Virtues of Digital Cinema Laser Laser projection is the future of digital cinema, and if you ask Bill Beck - Barco's very own "Laser Guy" - the future is now! Beck explains the advantages of laser- versus lamp-based movie projection and how 6-colour RGB laser primaries create better 3D movie experiences in a recent blog edition of The Beat by PremiumBeat.com. Barco's single laser projector 6P system has been designed to address some of the challenges relating to white point, brightness and colour gamut for each "eye". Its DP4K-60L projector has been built on a very flexible,
versatile laser projection platform for cinema exhibitors, and soon, non-cinema applications, offering premium image quality and very low operating costs. The article goes on to explain the technicalities of digital cinema laser projection with Beck clarifying the most important factors for exhibitors and audiences. According to Beck, "Although our Barco Laser3D projectors incorporate six primaries (for "Colour 3D"), they will just as easily support all the other kinds of 3D: RealD, MasterImage, XpanD, and polarization glasses [that the public is already used to]. All of the system hardware, screens and glasses infrastructure are supported."
Christie Takes Centrestage at CineAsia For the first time at CineAsia, Christie conducted exclusive demonstrations of its breakthrough DLP Cinema laser projector using 6-Primary (6P) colour laser modules that is ideally suited for immersive 3D experiences, as well as Christie Vive Audio, which extends the boundaries of movie exhibition by matching awe-inspiring visuals with rich, dynamic and detailed cinema audio. Christie’s latest laser projection technology, using 6 specific primary colours rather than filtered or polarized broad-spectrum white light, brings dramatically improved 3D efficiency to projection systems, regardless of the size of screen in premium movie theaters. It offers an improved viewing experience, scalability and upgradability, lower overall cost and the ability to achieve DCI colour compliancy. These amazing visuals are complemented by the innovative Christie Vive Audio that envelopes the audience in dynamic, richly detailed and enhanced audio where speech, special effects, music, and alternative content sound more natural and lifelike.
Rendezvous with
Jim Patterson Bagging the 2014 Exhibitor of the Year Award at the recent CineAsia, Hong Kong, Major Cineplex Group Public Co Ltd is the largest operator of movie theatres in Thailand. Under the leadership of its Chairman Vicha Poolvaraluk, the group has been presenting world-class entertainment to the country. The theatre chain is also expanding beyond Thailand with the launch of its first Cineplex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This year, Major Cineplex celebrates its 20th anniversary! Jim Patterson, Director for Business Development for Major Cineplex, gives us an insight into the philosophy of the theatre chain. Following are the excerpts from the interview:
What's the count of your screens at present? It's over 500 screens in Thailand - all multiplexes with an average of about 8 screensbut up to 18. And we had our first opening in Cambodia, which we launched just this year. We also have a joint venture with PVR in India for bowling.
successful in all ways. It's been embraced by Cambodians as for many it is the first taste of the good life - where they can afford to come
and spend a few hours in this beautiful entertainment complex. And we think there are a lot of countries like that. So we are looking at doing more in Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao, maybe Vietnam and Indonesia‌ we are primarily concentrating on the region first. Our Chairman Vicha Poolvaralukwants to quite aggressively expand but only when it makes economic sense. So probably most of the new screens will be in upcountry Thailand as there are a lot of towns and little cities in Thailand, where we tested the waters and it worked.
Any plans of expanding your cinemas to other countries? The Cambodia experience was very successful. So we are quite encouraged by it all. In a country with a lower per capita income than India or any other country in the region, we built a very high standard Cineplex, which has been very
Major Cineplex Team at CineAsia 2014 Hong Kong
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Major Cineplex took a bold step by merging with EGV. Tell us about the developments thereafter. EGV was a very direct competitor several years ago, doing similar concepts of multiplexes at a little lower level than we were doing. We decided to basically merge; the buyout was kind of a stock merger and we now control that market. We now have about 70 per cent plus of the market in Thailand. While we still have competitors in the market, we think we can coexist quite well.
Major is listed on the stock exchange of Thailand i.e. SET. What are the benefits for the stakeholders? Well, the stock has performed very well. We pay regularly about a 5 per cent dividend. We've never had a negative year; the big upside is we are not trading at that high of a price earnings ratio so there is a lot of upward possibility. We are not just expanding but we are also getting better with what we are doing. For example, we are mitigating the downside by getting more percentage rents instead of fixed rents so there are afew minimum guarantees, which helps our business a lot. Sometimes you never know; movies underperform and if you we have a fixed high rent, it eats up
your profits for that month. So we are mitigating losesand getting more efficient. Our costs are going down with time because we largely use the same team, same suppliers and same designers that we have used for 20 years. One of the big areas we are moving into is more Thai movie production. We already produce Thai movies and they are great because they are good for our upcountry audiences where we are expanding. And they are also good for slotting when Hollywood movies may not do well in Thailand. We can determine the time of the release of the Thai movies. We hope to get better and better Thai moves that play well upcountry and also distribute them to nearby countries. When you put all of those things together, you are
getting your efficiency and size up and mitigating your downside. That to me is what gives the financial potential of our future.
Given that Major Cineplex is at the No1 position in the Thailand exhibition industry, how do you see yourself maintaining that position in the face of competition? At this stage, we are kind of hard to beat (laughs) because it's over 70 per cent. We have good relationships with key mall and hypermarket developersand we even produce some complexes on our own. In upcountry locations, our relationships and position is pretty solid. We would not be an attractive country for a new competitor to enter at this stage. We always keep on our toes and keep the standards up very high. I think we'll maintain our dominant position in the foreseeable future.
Having been into business development, what strengths and strategies are key to Major Cineplex? It's kind of a simple one in way! Rents are a big expense that can controlled. Most importantly we focuson the complete entertainment
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experience so that people enjoy it from beginning to end and are not tempted by home entertainment or tempted to saying, "Oh, let's watch the movie at home". Going to a cinema hall with everything nice and a complete entertainment experience is much more fun than just watching a movie - it's a group experience with family and friends - that's what we've really focussed on.We are focussed on the every little detail including neatness, finishing, the chairs, the service, and so on. And if you are focussed on the details of the entire experience, from the beginning to end, that's the way to a successful future.
In the times of 3D, immersive sound and many such technological advancements, does Major Cineplex have any plans of more improvements?
low light your pupils open up to adjust; it's like reading a book in low light but the brightness of RealD-XL 3D is something that you will like better. So we are investing in things like that even though our audiences may not immediately notice it.We will try laser projection to see how audiences like it. We even strive to have the best popcorn in the world. We are looking at every little detail that adds up to the premium experience. We are trying to innovate beyond what the suppliers normally provide in design. Our Chairman says often he is trying to emulate the five-star hotel feel not just a cinema feel. And it's very true that if you can do that even within a developing country, it may providepeople's first taste of the"good life" and people really embrace this. This means you can get good rents and sponsorships by offering the best! For instance, our income from ads and sponsorship is
often greater than our income from concessions. And yet our concession capture rate (concession sales divided by box office sales) at 30 per cent is the biggest in the region. So we do very well at concessions and even better at sponsorships and ads. This creates good operating margins that enables us to keep the ticket prices reasonable with our very high standards. We always thank our sponsors and partners in helping us keep our ticket prices affordable.
Dolby Atmos is the latest trend in technology. Does audience see any difference in viewing the movie with extra channels? Well, there is no real answer to that. I would say Yes and No! Not every movie has Dolby Atmos programming, so it varies. Some do notice for some movies, while others
Yes, we are trying to keep on the forefront. For example, we have exclusive rights to IMAX and 4DX in Thailand and also have Dolby Atmos theatres. We sort of try everything that improves the experience. We always have a good sound and projection system. Even our lowest priced theatres have comfortable seating and we try to keep the standards very high. We are willing to try anything that makes sense. For example we use a lot of RealD-XL 3D because it's double the brightness of other 3D systems;even though it's quite expensive. The audiences maynot notice the brightness right away because when you watch in January-February 2015
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don't. But that's alright. We don't need everybody to notice the difference. It's the same with IMAX, which clearly has a better picture and a better sound than regular cinema. But there are some people who go in and wonder "What's the difference!" But the difference is it is much sharper picture and sound and the 3D is better rendered.
What do you have to say about the GDC Theatre Management System (TMS)? We like GDC a lot. GDC sells servers and they are resellers of Barco projectors. Barco and Christie are biggest in the world and they are quite similar; they use the same chip in their projectors. We make the decision largely based on relationships, service and pricing. And GDC has been very good to us; they have been very easy to deal with. They give us the best price and we don't have to haggle. But a lot other suppliers with whom we have developed a good rapport, including Christie, have also gotten better. The more you expand, the more you get to know each other better.
Having visited CineAsia 2014, any takeaways or plans from there? Well, we go there every year but this year we got the Exhibitor of the Year Award so it was special. We are trying to fine tune with our old friends in the industry. We are looking at doing more in theatre management
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systems. Now that we are all converting to digital, there is quite a bit to do to reduce overhead. With the laser technology now, everyone is jumping onto such suppliers. We are being cautious but interested. The laser technology will develop very rapidly in the near futureso we will probably put in some laser projectors to test them and take decisions down the line as to how many we should convert to after seeing the experience.
How is Major Cineplex different from others in terms of ambience, service, pricing and cinematic experience? We not only get a lot of repeat customers but we also get to learn a lot about what kind of movies they want, special seating they like and so on. We try to build on all that. For
instance, a few years ago we dedicated one screen to Bollywood films alone, and we are now up to two dedicated screens. We are trying different content. We are trying to improve Thai content because they do quite well. So there are many fronts when you think of technology. People come with friends and they want to have fun. For example, people can go for a movie and then try bowling and enjoy karaoke or even ice skating at some locations for fun. So we are trying to create a pleasant experience and five star lobbies where you can spend a few hours with your family and friends. And I think we are getting pretty good at that. I'm a Canadian, who has travelled all over the world and worked with numerous different cinema chains. I don't know of anybody else doing what we are doing. We are so focussed on building the best experience. Most cinema owners are focussed on giving a popcorn and soda and getting people in to watch the movie. The risk is you might as well sit and watch the film at home! We are trying to create quite a different and complete experience. This includes giving the best wide screens, brightness and sound technology. Other examples are, we've got the world's only movie spa, where you can get a massage. We have a bed theatre, where you have a bed with blanket and pillow. We are trying to make a difference by offering difference price ranges for difference tastes - in all cases, it's got to be an enjoyable experience.
believe it! This was Khun Vicha's vision and determination that made it happen. I say this personally as I know Khun Vicha well and really appreciate what he has done.But he is a modest person and would never talk so positively about himself. I just hope he is not upset with me "bragging about him" (says with a smile)
Tell us something about the movie content. The year 2014 didn't have great films but 2015 is going to see some blockbusters! Yes, the impact depends on the market. Many action movies are going to come up and they play very well in Thailand. A lot of people say 2015 will be the best year in 10 years. In 2014, there were some pretty good movies but there were also some quieter ones where there was nothing much exciting. But we still did well. This is kind of proof of what I mentioned earlier about mitigating downside; we didn't lose money at all. We make consistent profits during good and bad times. And we are looking forward to reaping benefits of the good movies coming in this year.
Which film did well in Thailand in 2014? Avengers did well, for one as well as all the action films. In 2013, our No 2 movie was Iron Man 3 and our No 1 movie was Pee Mak, a Thai film, which is a ghost story and it did triple the box office of Iron Man 3 at the box office. This shows the great potential for Thai movies. The Hollywood films like Avengers, Spiderman, Superman and Transformers do very well all over Thailand.
What is the ratio of your Thai and Hollywood
I have been here since the beginning when our Chairman Vicha Poolvaraluk started Major Cineplex 20 years ago, which is why I can pronounce "Poolvaraluk" (laughs)! It's the longest I've stayed in a job because I think he is a visionary with high standards, setting the bar very high. He has an eye for detail. He expands aggressively but he does it properly. Being the Director of Business Development, I go to him some times with my concerns of any venture saying, "This is not a good deal." And he agrees because he wants to do things that make sense and not just emotionally or strategically. He is very hands-on and very personally involved. You can see his tastes in the decor‌ see the use of chandeliers to bring that five-star hotel feel, which he is very particular about. I have worked for many cinemas and in my mind he is the only one who has got the whole thing right. For me it's quite a pleasure working with someone who sets and accomplishes those kind of goals. When Major first started using the phrase, "Best Cinema in the World", I was concerned that this was too strong a statement. Now I
What is your vision for 2015? We are opening quite a few screens, hopefully another 100; most of them will be upcountry. I hope we also get a few good contracts for out of country. We are negotiating with, for example, Aeon from Japan. Aeon is a mall owner and they are expanding and they are very happy with us and we are also happy with them. So depending on what they are doing, we would like to go with them.We are also trying to get into more Thai films, which will be a steady but gradual development. We are aiming for 1000 screens by the end of the decade; with over 500 now. So we're going to keep expanding and innovating with new ideas. I have learnt in the 20 years of my experience, that this philosophy works - If you get a decent rent, decent third party revenues with sponsorships and ads, you can afford to build fantastic cinema at a reasonable ticket price the customers don't expect!It is a formula that works and we will continue to raise the bar.
releases? Right now, probably Hollywood film form two-third and Thai films onethird. So it is something like 70:30. But a lot of Thai revenue is from upcountry. Our Chairman's objective is to get it half-half, that is, Thai movies could generate half of the income in future. So we are going in that direction.
Tell us more about Vicha Poolvaraluk, the Chairman of Major Cineplex. January-February 2015
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• INSTALLS •
Novo Cinemas
Emirati Cinematic Experience! Qatar Media Services recently inaugurated their rebranded Novo Cinemas at the prestigious World Trade Centre Mall, Abu Dhabi. The 8-screen 'Novo experience' boasts of over 1,400 seats, with some featuring balcony seating reminiscent of the golden age of cinema as well as an ultra-premium 7-Star viewing facility. One of the fastest growing tourism and business destinations in the world, United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a land of endless white sands, bright sunshine and blue sea. Leisure and entertainment has always been integral to the Emirati culture. The renowned Novo Cinemas has held the centre-stage ever since its journey began in the year 2000 under the Grand Cinemas brand. The launch of the flagship Grand Cineplex in Dubai, UAE became the cornerstone of an entertainment chain that would soon extend across borders and introduce to the region, pioneering cinema technologies such as online booking, e-kiosks and the first cinema-dedicated mobile app, as well as the UAE's only IMAX screen. With a mission to entertain film fans everywhere and a rich legacy of
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cinema firsts, Novo Cinemas became the largest and most visited chain of theatres in the Middle East. In 2012, Grand Cinemas was acquired by Qatar Media Services (q.media) as part of the Gulf Film Group. Owned by the Qatari government, q.media provides the latest innovative advertising and media concepts to the Middle East region. It also owns a
number of operations globally, including the largest film distributor and exhibitor in the Middle East and a leading outdoor advertising company which operates throughout Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2014, Grand Cinemas was rebranded to Novo Cinemas in order to cater to the evolving needs of the
• INSTALLS • movie-goers. In the same year, the Novo Cinemas (World Trade Centre), Abu Dhabi was inaugurated. A Hollywood-style red carpet premiere in Abu Dhabi saw the launch of the rebranded Novo Cinemas. A special screening of The Amazing SpiderMan 2 was held in the presence of VIP guests and a specially-invited audience. The eight-screen landmark project in Abu Dhabi, located at World Trade Centre Mall, boasts of over 1,400 seats, with some featuring balcony seating reminiscent of the golden age of cinema as well as an ultra-premium 7-Star viewing experience. E-booking and E-kiosks, in addition to a number of manned box offices will minimise the waiting time to book tickets, while two concession stands will also allow viewers to purchase their refreshments without delay. A seated coffee bar allows movie-goers the chance to socialise in comfort before and after the movie. Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, CEO of Novo Cinemas, says: "We are very proud of our Grand Cinemas heritage but are confident that with our new brand name and positioning we can ensure that we build much further on our reputation as a leader for innovation and growth in the regional market. We are totally committed to taking the cinema-going experience to new heights while ensuring our customers can identify with the 'Novo experience', which portrays our relentless desire to shape the future of cinema in the region." Filmgoers can choose to tailor their experience to their preferences from standard seats [NOVO Cool] to superior back-row seats [NOVO Edge], as well as iconic balcony views [NOVO Sky]. Meanwhile, three theatre classes define the type of experience to be had; NOVO 3D brings the exhilarating experience of the cinema world to the viewer's world, while NOVO IMAX represents the world's leading immersive cinema experience. However, the most lavish way to enjoy those big summer blockbusters would be with NOVO 7-Star, which offers unprecedented levels of comfort and January-February 2015
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• INSTALLS •
FACT FILE Architects Concept & Shell Architets :
Architeknik International Consulting Engineers
Interior Architects / Interior Designer:
Era Architect
Consultants personalised service guaranteed to make every viewing experience unique and memorable. Novo Cinemas' expansive network will span no fewer than 119 screens and 22,000 seats in 15 locations across the UAE, Qatar and Jordan. Further expansion will see these numbers grow to over 200 screens by 2015 with new cineplexes to be inaugurated in Dubai's Dragon Mart, Al Ain's Boutik Mall, Bahrain's Seef Muharraq Mall and Doha's Tawar Mall to name a few. The IMAX network will also extend to four spectacular screens in select locations. (Check TheatreWorld NovemberDecember 2014 edition for special story on Architect Eranna speaking about Novo Cinemas architectural features)
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Technical Design of Audi & Acoustical Consulting :
Novo Technical Department
Building services (HVAC, Plumbing, FFTG, Elect):
Architeknik International Consulting Engineers
Contractors Electrical:
Al Kortbawi Trading
Plumbing & HVAC:
Galaxy Advanced Gen. Cont. Co. LLC
Booth equipment
Brand & Model
Projectors:
Barco Series 2 + Dolby DSS + DepthQ 3D + TheLink
Processors:
Dolby CP750
Amplifiers:
Crown Dsi series
Audi equipment
Brand & Model
Speakers:
JBL series 5 - 3 Ways/3 amplification – 7.1
Screen:
Harkness Screens
Seating:
Figueras International Seating
Lighting (step):
Al Kortbawi Trading
Carpets:
EGE Carpets Middle East and Africa
• INSTALLS •
Seattle Cinerama Makeover To take the movie-going experience to a whole new level, Seattle's legendary Cinerama Theatre has been completely revamped with some of most advanced cinema technology available today. The 570-seat theatre – owned by Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft – is now equipped with the largest Meyer Sound cinema system ever installed, Dolby Atmos, and the first Christie 6P laser projector in a commercial theatre. "Cinerama has been a cornerstone of Seattle's arts and culture history for 50 years and I'm proud to continue its legacy," says Allen. "The enhanced Cinerama utilizes the most advanced technology, while maintaining the nostalgia many of us share for this theatre, creating an unparalleled cinema experience for the community." The local media has noticed the precision and impact of the Meyer Sound loudspeakers in supporting the Dolby Atmos format. "We heard the sound of a bird flying counterclockwise around the entire theatre," writes Britt Thorson for Seattle Refined. "I could articulately and specifically hear as the flapping of the bird's wings passed each speaker and moved on to the next, even though we never actually saw the bird on the screen." Cinerama has invested in 110 Meyer Sound loudspeakers to ensure a fully immersive experience for its patrons. Behind the movie screen, five Acheron 100 screen channel loudspeakers are each paired with an Acheron LF to support five audio channels, while 10 X-800C highpower cinema subwoofers anchor
low-frequency effects. Arrayed along the ceiling and walls are four of the new, high-power HMS-15AC surround loudspeakers and other models with IntelligentDC technology, including 26 HMS-10, 18 HMS-12, and 18 HMS-5 surround loudspeakers. Fourteen UP-4XP loudspeakers with IntelligentDC technology are used for underbalcony fill, and six 500-HP and four UMS-1XP subwoofers deliver
"We heard the sound of a bird flying counterclockwise around the entire theatre. I could articulately and specifically hear as the flapping of the bird's wings passed each speaker and moved on to the next, even though we never actually saw the bird on the screen." - Britt Thorson Seattle Refined
surround low-frequency extension. A Galileo loudspeaker management system with one Galileo 616 processor provides system drive and alignment for screen and LFE loudspeakers. The system was provided by Portland, Ore.-based American Cinema Equipment, with Ron Lagerlof of Los Angeles-based Visioneering Design Co. serving as audio consultant. Architectural acoustics were designed by Studio 440 of Hollywood, Calif. Additional upgrades include a new Matt Plus screen by Harkness, new wider and premium seating options, and added concessions. One of only three movie theatres in the world still capable of showing three-panel Cinerama films, Cinerama can show movies in all formats, including 3D and the classic 35mm and 70mm. It has been regularly voted as one of Seattle's "best places to watch a movie" and hosts various film festivals and blockbuster film premieres each year, including the annual Science Fiction Film Festival and Horror Film Festival.
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• TECHNOLOGY •
The Future is Here... If You Can See It Having experienced a decade of technology infusion unlike any other, the cinema industry is not exactly in position to absorb more. Yet the transition to digital projection has unleashed a wave of technology advances, including those that promise immersive sound, higher brightness 3D, higher dynamic range, and higher frame rates. One could say everything is on the table but a guarantee of higher audience numbers that will pay higher ticket prices. The theories of economic cycles are well known, described by hailed experts such as Schumpeter and Kondratiev. But until 2014, no one in print has attempted to apply these theories to the success of cinema technologies. That praise is directed to Oleg Berezin of Nevafilm, who tackles this subject in his book titled "Betting on Box Office: Major Cycles and Market Conjecture of Film Exhibition." Don't rush to Amazon just yet Mr. Berezin's book was first released in Russian, and is now being translated to English. [Editor update 12 Jan 2015:it's now available on Amazon.] The book compares Russian market cycles with those of the US, and provides some insights into what we might expect in future cinema technology. Cinema in the US was experiencing a severe downswing in the 50's and 60's, and didn't begin to experience an upswing until the 70's. Not coincidently, it was during this period that numerous innovations appeared in image presentation, including Cinemascope, Cinerama, Todd-AO, and at least 60 other formats as cataloged by Schneider Optics . Cinema was seeking to differentiate itself from the new home entertainment format of television, and there was no shortage of formats introduced to attempt it. It's not hard to see that similar behavior is now taking place.
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Mr. Berezin employs the term "home screen" to describe television and other shared screen home viewing technologies, and "personal screen" to differentiate the evolving technology that allows you to read this. Both impact the business of the cinema screen, and no one needs to read this to grasp the point. But it is useful to gauge where to place one's bets when it comes to investing in differentiating technology. The principle noted from similar periods before are that multiple formats will arise, but its unlikely that more than one will emerge as a winner. Winners emerge as economic cycles move into a growth phase. While the roots of the technology may be around us during the down phase, it won't be understood to be the winner until the business cycle moves into the up phase. In fact, the winning technology may not even be available during the down phase, as it's more likely that the luck of good timing will drive a winner in the future. While that winner could introduce something completely new, it's more likely that its roots will be traceable to the concepts that emerge during the down phase. Examples abound. Few would disagree that immersive sound will thrive in cinema's future. But will that format be based on DTS MDA, Dolby Atmos, Barco/Auro 3D, or something else? This author has
– Michael Karagosian
argued that it's more likely to be something else, as none of the current systems do an efficient job of conveying the values that sound mixers, and presumably audiences, value. On the visual side, Barco has introduced its Escape format, somewhat emulating early Cinerama with three projectors. Dolby has announced its intent to bring Dolby Vision-style high dynamic range to cinemas. These formats may not agree, but it's evident that image presentation will change in some manner in the future. Diversity in exhibition is taking place, most evident with the trend for premium large format screens. While these screens utilize the same content as any other screen today, will that still be the case tomorrow? And a favorite of this author is that of SMPTE DCP, which will have a very hard time rolling out during a down cycle. It's supporters would be much smarter to envision what will be needed during the future up swing, Continued on Page TW-34...
(The author Michael Karagosian is President of MKPE Consulting LLC, consultancy for business development of new technologies in cinema, and publisher of mkpeReport)
• TECHNOLOGY •
Film Format Series - III
Explaining
Various Film Formats Over the Years! From the Sept-Oct 2014 issue, we started this series and we discussed about 35mm film format and its variants. In the last issue (Nov-Dec 2014), we had discussed about 8mm, 16mm and Cinemascope. In this issue we continue the series with various Scopes. Scope After Cinemascope was developed, various other scopes were developed by other competitors and challengers. On similar lines, one was developed by the biggest competitor of Fox Studios Warner Bros. "Scope" (WarnerSuperScope) used a lens system called Vistarama, that had been developed by the Simpson Optical Company. One of the most significant systems was developed in France by Ernst Abbe and was called Cinépanoramic. It was the basis of the French Dyaliscope and Franscope processes. Some other examples:
Agascope
Arriscope
Cinescope 1958; Italy; a.k.a. Supercinescope
DyaliScope
1989; developed by the German company Arnold & Richter [ARRI] with lenses made by Isco Optik; e.g. 'Body Snatchers' [1992; ph:Bojan Bazelli]
France; based on Cinépanoramic
Arrivision
Franscope
Developed by the German company Arnold & Richter [ARRI]; originally a 3-D film process with a 3-perf pulldown and spherical lenses + 3-D lenses; now an anamorphic system with Arriscopelenses [2.35:1]; e.g. 'Amityville 3D' [1983; ph: Fred Schuler]
France; based on Cinépanoramic
Grandscope Cinépanoramic 1955; Sweden/Hungary; developed by Evert Aulin and Aga Laboratory; first film was 'Gorilla' [1955; ph: Sven Nykvist]
1953; France; a system, developed by Ernst Abbe, which used an anamorphic lens + a corrective lens to avoid the anamorphic 'mumps' Japan January-February 2015
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• TECHNOLOGY • Hammerscope
Shintohoscope
... Continued from Page TW-32
Japan; developed and used by prod Shintoho Company Ltd.
and work on stabilizing the format for that.
Sovscope USSR 1956; England; the anamorphic lenses were developed by Jan Jacobsen [1916-98] for Hammer Film Productions; e.g. The Abominable Snowman [1957; ph: Arthur Grant]
Hawk Scope
Anamorphic lenses designed and build by Vantage Film GmbH, Germany
Spectrascope England; e.g. It's a Wonderful World [1956; ph: Wilkie Cooper]
Tohoscope
Japan
Totalscope
J-D-C Scope
1981; developed by Joe Dunton Cameras, Elstree, U.K.
Naturama
Republic Pictures Corp., USA; first picture was The Maverick Queen [1956, Joe Kane; ph: Jack Marta]; based on Cinépanoramic
ShawScope
1956-66; Italy; developed by Henryk Chroscicki; the system had a wide range of anamorphic lenses, from 32mm to 150mm, with hardly any distortion and made CinemaScope almost obsolete in Europe; 450+ features and 1,000+ doc's made use of the system, until it was replaced by Techniscope; a.k.a. Cinetotalscope or Super Totalscope/100; e.g. La dolce vita [1959; ph: Otello Martelli]; see:Technovision
UltraScope Germany; the lenses for this system were developed by Jan Jacobsen and made by the Ultra Gesellschaft für Optik in Munich for Arnold & Richter [ARRI]; a.k.a Totalvision in the former German Democratic Republic
Warwickscope
Hong Kong; developed by prod Shaw Brothers and doph Tadashi Nishimoto
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1961; England; based on the Superscope system; developed for producer Warwick Films.
The big question, of course, is when the future up swing will take place. Predictions of timing are really for others, but it would seem reasonable for a new phase to emerge within 10 years. It will take until the end of this decade for the impact of subsidized financing to dissipate. New financing for new investment will not be available until then. (This is not to suggest that studios will provide this financing, as such an event is unlikely.) The innovations that one should expect to emerge will not be limited to those of movie format, but to the entire business model of cinema. This will include innovation in the financing of projection equipment. In the meanwhile, cinema investment is most likely to focus on audience comfort and operational efficiency areas where high technology is less of a driver, and where management is more attuned to make beneficial decisions. It may well be that the technology leader of the future is not one that is hailed for cutting edge technology, but rather one that finances its technology in a manner that is friendly to the cyclic revenue generation of the exhibition business. Cinema has long been fractured in technology, where diversity drives differentiation at the expense of efficiency. The beauty of the digital transition is that it leveled the diversity of screens to support, bringing about a new degree of efficiency for content distributors. But the benefits of leveling and efficiency are quickly eroding, all of which are characteristic of a down swing. In a down swing, there is no clear path or reason to do things in a certain way, as the search continues for innovation that will help grow revenue. Buried in that innovation are the seeds for future growth. It may very well be before us now. If you can spot it, then you could be a winner.
• TECHNOLOGY •
The Next-Generation
Cinema Experience! Dolby Cinema delivers the total cinema experience. It combines powerful image and sound technologies with inspired cinema design to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event. Dolby Cinema will include Dolby Vision, a state-of-the-art authoring and playback imaging technology that enables the cinema to bring the story alive onscreen. Outfitted with Dolby Atmos, a Dolby Cinema transports audiences into the movie with breathtakingly real sound that fills the cinema and flows all around them. Dolby Cinema, a branded premium cinema offering by Dolby Laboratories for exhibitors and moviegoers, combines spectacular image and sound technologies with inspired design to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event. Dolby Cinema begins with the filmmaker's vision, using the full storytelling capabilities Dolby offers in image and sound production to transform the way movies are made. Before a movie is played in a Dolby Cinema, audiences will step into an experience designed to deliver the full impact of the filmmaker's work. Combined with state-of-the-art image, sound and acoustic capabilities, the movie comes alive to deliver cinema in its purest form.
processing to deliver high dynamic range with enhanced colour technology that has been praised by filmmakers for its amazing contrast, high brightness, and colour range that more closely matches what the human eye can see. With Dolby Vision, the blacks are truly black, colours are vibrant, and the contrast
ratio far exceeds that of any other image technology on the market today. The result is a richer, more detailed viewing experience that delivers strikingly vivid and realistic images that make viewers feel like they are in the movie's world. Early Dolby Cinema locations, installed in collaboration with
Dolby Cinema will feature the Dolby Vision projection system, which uses state-of-the-art optics and image
January-February 2015
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• TECHNOLOGY •
Dolby Selects Christie to Co-Develop Dolby Vision Projection Systems for Dolby Cinema Christie and Dolby Laboratories, Inc. announced that Christie will co-develop, supply, install, and service proprietary Dolby Vision projection systems for Dolby Cinema, a branded premium cinema offering for exhibitors and moviegoers that delivers the total cinema experience. Christie's projection technologies will ensure that Dolby Cinema combines a spectacular image with immersive sound and inspired design, to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event.
exhibitor partners around the globe, will be equipped with the most advanced high-brightness laser projection technology available today with 4K, high-frame-rate 2D and Dolby 3D capabilities. When Dolby Vision content becomes available, the Dolby Cinema laser projection systems will be replaced with Dolby Vision projection systems. Dolby Cinema will also feature the award-winning Dolby sound technology, Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos moves audio around the theatre, even overhead, with amazing richness and depth. The lifelike sounds of music, people, and things flow all around the theatre in sync with the action to create a more immersive and moving experience.
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Dolby Cinema will feature the Dolby Vision projection system, which uses state-of-the-art optics and image processing to deliver high dynamic range (HDR) with enhanced colour technology. This new proprietary HDR technology with enhanced color uses two newly designed high-frame-rate (HFR) capable Christie 4K laser projection heads that feature a highly customised and unique light path. Combined with Christie's 6P modular laser light sources, this technology delivers high-contrast
images and ultra-brightness, which define the visual excellence of Dolby Cinema.
The design of the cinema itself was created to set a mood and draw audiences deeper into the story. The Dolby Cinema design can be customised to the exhibitors' needs with a select set of features including a signature entrance and a dynamic audiovisual pathway that provide a new canvas for studio creatives to begin telling their story before the show begins.
Additional features may include a wall-to-wall-to-ceiling screen, atmospheric lighting, and faceted acoustic panels designed to enhance the sound quality and heighten the sense of immersion. In addition, all Dolby Cinema locations will undergo a sophisticated visual and acoustic room treatment perfectly tuned for a premium cinematic experience.
Unique to the Dolby Vision projection system, beyond its astonishing brightness and vivid colour reproduction, is its ability to deliver HDR with an incomparable contrast ratio that exceeds any other image technology currently on the market. The result is a richer, more detailed viewing experience, with strikingly vivid and realistic images that make viewers feel like they are in the movie's world.
• TECHNOLOGY • "Dolby has applied decades of research and development to deliver a sight and sound experience to Dolby Cinema that will transport audiences into the story like never before," said Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO, Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby Cinema will be the most engaging way for moviegoers to watch the newest releases."
JT Eindhoven - First Dolby Cinema Locations in the World JT Bioscopen and Dolby Laboratories announced the opening of Dolby Cinema in the newly-constructed cinema complex of JT Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Dolby Cinema, a branded premium cinema experience, combines spectacular image and sound technologies with inspired design to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event. The new JT Eindhoven Cineplex (opened on December 15), is one of the biggest cinemas of the JT branch and will host eight screens and 1,546 seats. The premiere screen in the new JT Eindhoven complex will be among the first Dolby Cinema installations, equipped with state-of-the-art image, sound, and acoustic capabilities. In addition, the design of the Dolby Cinema in Eindhoven was created to set a mood and draw audiences deeper into the story, while delivering the full impact of the filmmaker's work. "Dolby Cinema is about presenting a filmmaker's vision to audiences looking to experience a movie in its purest form, without compromise. Our patrons can be confident that when the movie is played in a Dolby Cinema, it will be exactly as the filmmaker envisioned," explained Ron Sterk, CEO, JT Bioscopen. "This branded premium cinema concept by Dolby is a big step for the industry, and we are proud to be the first cinema in the Netherlands with a
Dolby Cinema in its complex. We are convinced that Eindhoven, known as 'the city of the future,' is a logical place for this introduction." The Dolby Cinema at JT Eindhoven will be equipped with Christie's most advanced high-brightness laserprojection technology available today, with 4K, high-frame-rate 2D and Dolby 3D capabilities. The Dolby Cinema and two other JT Eindhoven screens will also offer the awardwinning Dolby sound technology, Dolby Atmos, which moves audio around the theatre, even overhead, to make audiences feel as if they are inside the movie, not merely watching it. Dolby Atmos will be complemented by Christie Vive audio amplifiers and speakers. Dolby Cinema at JT Eindhoven will feature the Dolby Vision projection system in time for the first movie titles to be released in Dolby Vision. Dolby Vision delivers high dynamic range with enhanced colour technology. Co-developed by Dolby and Christie, the new Dolby Vision projection system delivers vibrant colours, with blacks that are truly black and with a contrast ratio that far exceeds any other image technology on the market today. The result is richer, more detailed viewing experiences that deliver strikingly vivid and realistic images that make viewers feel like they are in the movie's world. The first Dolby Vision projectors and titles for theatrical exhibition are expected in 2015. The new Dolby Cinema at JT Eindhoven will greet visitors with a
signature entrance, indicating to them that they are about to experience something truly different. As they cross this threshold, visitors will be guided along a dynamic audio-visual pathway that builds anticipation for the movie as they enter the auditorium. This path provides a new canvas for studio creatives to begin telling their story with a unique image and sound experience before the show begins. As audiences enter into the Dolby Cinema auditorium, they will be met with a wall-towall-to-ceiling screen with atmospheric lighting softly edging the screen and aisles. Wrapping and folding across the walls and ceilings of the room are faceted acoustic panels uniquely designed to hide the speakers placed around the auditorium to eliminate distraction, enhance sound quality, and heighten the sense of immersion. "With Dolby Cinema, moviegoers will be captivated by Dolby's stateof-the-art audio and imaging technologies, its thoughtful cinema design, and its well-known brand that has become synonymous with a premium cinema experience," said Doug Darrow, Senior Vice President, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. "As audiences watch the credits roll in a Dolby Cinema, they will realise the most powerful way to experience movies is in Dolby."
January-February 2015
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REVIEW
9-11 December 2014 Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
The Team at CineAsia 2014, were pleased with the response they received from the exhibitors and attendees of the Expo. CineAsia has always been the premier destination of the Asian cinema industry and this year was no exception. They had a full roster of film screenings, product presentations, educational seminars, special events, and a jam-packed trade show. At the end of it, the attendees bid adieu to CineAsia, looking forward to the year ahead. There was a flurry of excitement about the record-breaking grosses at the box-office in 2014, a great year for Asian Cinema, with Japan and China leading. The year also saw dramatic growth in Digital 3D, with the Asia-Pacific region contributing in a big way to the worldwide market.
In addition to screenings, the attendees were wowed over by presentations from each of the following major Hollywood studios that showcased what's in store for the 2014 holiday season and beyond:
•
Sony Pictures Releasing International
•
Warner Bros. Pictures International
•
UniFrance Films
•
Studiocanal
•
This year, CineAsia came up with the new 'CineAsia University' on the Trade Show Floor, running parallel with the tradeshow. The CineAsia University featured the following topics:
20th Century Fox International
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Universal Pictures International
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Paramount Pictures International
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Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
The line-up of select films at CineAsia included the releases that are sure to make it big at the boxoffice: •
UniFrance Films' The Search
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Studiocanal's Shaun the Sheep
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20th Century Fox's Kingsman: The Secret Service TheatreWorld at CineAsia Pubbin
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January-February 2015
•
Building the Experience on Concession
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Concession Showmanship Seminar
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Coca Cola Presentation
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Immersive Seating
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Lasers
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Cinema Architecture
New products displayed by various brands at the tradeshow included: •
Christie - Solaria One+, Vive Audio, IMB and Xenolite Lamps
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GDC Technology - SX-3000 Standalone IMB, CLA-2000 Content Library Adapter and TMS-2000 Theatre Management System
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Volfoni - SmartCrystal Diamond
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MasterImage 3D - HORIZON3D cinema system
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Barco and GDC Unveil Integrated Media Block for Digital Cinema
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Dolby Atmos Cinema Processor CP850
D. Tsengel of UB Cinema Mangolia, Raghav and Sam Catalano of Cineplex Australia
Award Presentations
Major Demonstrations
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DLP Cinema Marketing Achievement Award - Shinzo Kanno, Tokyu Recreation
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Rentrak's Asian-Pacific Box Office Achievement Award -
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Paramount Pictures International's Transformers: Age of Extinction
Christie Laser Demonstration - The ultimate 3D laser cinema experience with Christie's dual-head 6P laser projection system that offers an improved viewing experience, higher efficiency, scalability and upgradability, lower overall cost and the ability to achieve DCI colour compliancy.
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Asia-Pacific Copyright Educator Award - Maya Barack-Evans, Indonesia
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Exhibitor of the Year - Vicha Poolvaraluk, Major Cineplex
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Distributors of the Year - Harris Lasmana, Benny Suherman, Suryo Sunerman & Sacheen Lasmana, Cinema 21 Group
Timeplay and Audience Entertainment Demonstration Interactive Cinema - The next big thing: The presentation demonstrated how moviegoers can use their smart phones and tablets to interact with and influence outcomes on the big screen. The platform enables cinemas, studios, advertisers and other partners to entertain, inform, sell and engage directly with movie-goers.
Don Shaw Demonstrating Christie’s 3D Laser Projection
Larry Etter, Director of Education, NAC at the CineAsia University Floor
Cinema 21 Team Receiving the Award
The Seminars •
Promoting and Protecting Content in Today's Multi-screen World
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A Panel Discussion Presented by the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA)
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Monetizing Your Digital Investment - In-Theatre Pre-Show Entertainment and Lobby Displays
ICTA Panel Discussion: (L-R) Irving Chee of Golden Screen Cinemas, Brain Hall, Brett D. Hogg of Sony Pictures, Sunder Kimatrai of 20th Century Fox and Ioan Allen of Dolby
January-February 2015
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The Tradeshow Floor
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ASL
Ballantyne Strong
Barco
Christie
D-Box
DepthQ 3D
Dolby
Ferco Seating
GDC
GetD
Golden Link
Gold Medal
Harkness Screens
JBL
Leonis
Look 3D
MasterImage 3D
Osram
January-February 2015
EVENT CALENDER
2015 25-27 MARCH FRAMES, MUMBAI, INDIA www.ficci-frames.com Philips
Preferred Popcorn
20-23 APRIL CAESARS PALACE, LAS VEGAS, USA www.cinemacon.com
9-11 MAY
Pulz
QSC
CHINA THEATER & CINEMA GUANGZHOU www.gtcff.com
22-25 JUNE CINEEUROPE BARCELONA, SPAIN www.cineeurope.net
Sony
USL
24-26 JULY CINEMA TODAY, CHENNAI, INDIA www.cinematoday.in
22-25 SEPTEMBER KINO EXPO, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA www.kinoexpo.ru Vista
Volfoni 3D
11-15 OCTOBER AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL MOVIE CONVENTION GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA www.movieconvention.com.au
12-15 OCTOBER SHOWEAST, FLORIDA, USA www.showeast.com
8-10 DECEMBER CINEASIA, HONG KONG www.cineasia.com
January-February 2015
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PREVIEW
25 - 27 March 2015 The Renaissance Powai, Mumbai
FICCI FRAMES 2015 is the 14th edition of Asia's biggest convention in the business of entertainment. FRAMES is a three-day global convention covering the entire gamut of media and entertainment like films, broadcast (TV & radio), digital entertainment, animation, gaming, visual effects, etc. with nearly 3000 Indian and 800 foreign delegates participating. It provides a platform to the industry to ideate, network and form global linkages and draws domestic and global leaders from the media and entertainment industry. As every year, FICCI FRAMES 2015 will be a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge between individuals, countries, conglomerates. The world's media and entertainment industry will be in full attendance. There will be keynotes, plenary and parallel
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January-February 2015
sessions on a broad spectrum of issues covering the entire gamut of media and entertainment over a period of three days. The convention is always attended by the government, industry, diplomats, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and creative visionaries. Major highlights: •
Power-packed panel discussions
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High quality speakers
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FICCI BAF Awards
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Focused roundtable discussions & business meetings
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A dedicated marketplace & showcasing of technology
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Workshops and masterclasses
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Special focus to the partner country
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Networking evenings
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Cultural programmes
Some of the international speakers: •
Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO, Relativity Media
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Chris Keyser, President, Writers Guild of America, West
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Jim Egan, CEO, BBC Global News
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Mathew Amoriwala, producer & senior anchor, BBC Global News
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Mike Gunton , senior producer , BBC natural history unit
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William Pfeiffer, CEO, Dragongate
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John Penotti, CEO, Ivanhoe Films
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Lindy Hemmings, Oscar Winning Costume and Make up Supervisor
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Milke Ellis, President & MD, Asia Pacific, Motion Pictures Association of America
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Javier Sotomayor | Managing Director, Cinepolis
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Dr. Stefan Rüll, Founder, Rull Law Office
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Jeffrey Chan, COO, Bona Film Group, China
F U T U R E
R E L E A S E S
A glimpse of movies coming soon… Seventh Son
The Voices Production Legendary Pictures
Production Lionsgate
Director Sergei Bodrov
Director Marjane Satrapi
Starring Julianne Moore, Olivia Williams
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Kendrick
Genre Action, Fantasy
Genre Comedy, Horror
Jupiter Ascending
Love, Rosie
Production Warner Bros.
Production The Film Arcade
Director Andy Wachowski
Director Christian Ditter
Starring Sean Bean, James D’Arcy
Starring Lily Collins, Sam Claflin
Genre Action, Sci-Fi
Genre Comedy, Romance
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Ballet 422
Production Paramount Pictures
Production Magnolia Pictures
Director Paul Tibbitt
Director Jody Lee Lipes
Starring Antonio Banderas, Tom Kenny
Starring Justin Peck
Genre Comedy, Animation
Genre Documentary
January-February 2015
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F U T U R E Accidental Love
Production Paramount
Director Stephen Greene
Director Steve Pink
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, James Marsden
Starring Adam Scott, Chevy Chase
Genre Drama, Comedy
Genre Comedy
McFarland
Production Focus Features
Production Walt Disney
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson
Director Niki Caro
Starring Victor Rasuk, Marcia Gay Harden
Starring Maria Bello, Kevin Costner
Genre Drama
Genre Drama, Sports
Kingsman: The Secret Service
Focus
Production 20th Century Fox
Production Warner Bros.
Director Matthew Vaughn
Director John Requa
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine
Starring Will Smith, Rodrigo Santoro
Genre Thriller, Action
Genre Romance
The DUFF
January-February 2015
Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Production Millennium
Fifty Shades of Grey
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R E L E A S E S
Out of the Dark Production CBS Films
Production Vertical
Director Ari Sandel
Director Lluis Quilez
Starring Allison Janney, Romany Malco
Starring Scott Speedman, Julia Stiles
Genre Comedy
Genre Horror
F U T U R E The Lazarus Effect
R E L E A S E S Kidnapping Mr. Heineken
Production Relativity
Production Alchemy
Director David Gelb
Director Daniel Alfredson
Starring Sarah Bolger, Mark Duplass
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Kwanten
Genre Horror 50
Genre Thriller, Crime
The Last Five Years
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Production RADiUS
Production Fox Searchlight
Director Richard
Director John Madden
Starring Anna Kendrick, Jeremy Jordan
Starring Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith
Genre Drama, Musical
Genre Drama, Comedy
Chappie
Cinderella Production Columbia Pictures
Production Walt Disney
Director Neill Blomkamp
Director Kenneth Branagh
Starring Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver
Starring Helena Bonham, Cate Blanchett
Genre Action, Adventure
Genre Fantasy, Family
Unfinished Business
Muck
Production 20th Century Fox
Production Anchor Bay
Director Ken Scott
Director Steve Wolsh
Starring James Marsden, Tom Wilkinson
Starring Kane Hodder, Lachlan Buchanan
Genre Comedy
Genre Horror
January-February 2015
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F U T U R E The Divergent Series: Insurgent
R E L E A S E S
Roy
Production Summit
Production T-Series
Director Robert Schwentke
Director Vikramjit Singh
Starring Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez
Genre Action, Adventure
The Wrecking Crew
Genre Action, Romantic
Dirty Politics
Production Magnolia Pictures
Production B.M.B Music
Director Denny Tedesco
Director K.C. Bokadia
Starring Cher, Brian Wilson, Nancy Sinatra
Starring Mallika Sherawat, Jackie Shroff
Genre Documentary, Music
Genre Drama
Bachpan Ek Dhokha
NH10
Production Power Entertain.
Production Phantom Product.
Director Rajiv Sharma
Director Navdeep Singh
Starring Helen, Tom Alter
Starring Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam
Genre Suspense, Thriller
Shamitabh
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January-February 2015
Genre Thriller
Hey Bro Production Eros International
Production Pushpa Krishna
Director R. Balki
Director Ajay Chandhok
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush
Starring Ganesh Acharya, Maninder Singh
Genre Drama
Genre Drama