The single most exciting moment in the development of digital cinema will take place next week when a group of school children gather at their local movie theatre for an experience that is quite literally out of this world. On Wednesday morning January 21st students from several nearby schools will take their seats at Galaxy Theatres in Gig Harbor Washington and participate in a live twenty-minute question-and-answer session with Expedition 18 astronauts Mike Fincke and Sandra Magnus from the International Space Station. Students from Key Peninsula Middle School in Lakebay Washington one of two NASA Explorer Schools in Washington State will participate as will students from Peninsula School District's Vaughn Elementary School Harbor Ridge Middle School and Peninsula High School. Galaxy Theatres CEO Frank Rimkus says the event is expected to include more than 1000 students and more than 1000 adults including teachers parents and government representatives. Galaxy will show the Q&A on multiple screens and is offering the venue for free. Key Peninsula Middle School students currently engage in aerospace learning experiences research and simulations that expose them to the challenging endeavor of human space exploration. The NASA Explorer School program at Key Peninsula Middle School currently in its fifth year provides many extended opportunities for students to engage in science math engineering and technology-related critical thinking projects. The NASA Explorer School program incorporates state-aligned NASA education resources into school curriculum. To prepare for the downlink Key Peninsula students studied the history and mission of the space station and mission control rocket fabrication astronaut selection and training and mission control and station operations. I would not be surprised if KPMS students are the first to walk on Mars discover life on another planet become instrumental in science education or develop new technology to improve life here on Earth says Terry Bouck Peninsula School district superintendent. “We are proud to be a part of this unique event ” says Rimkus. He says he never considered charging admission for the event and is convinced that the good will that will be generated for his business will pay long-term dividends. In any case he says “Galaxy Theatres is committed to providing use of our state-of-the-art theatres to support the educational needs of the communities we serve.” Rimkus thought of the idea of the event himself. He says digital cinema technology is changing exhibition in profound ways. He believes that Hollywood movies will always serve as the backbone of the local theatre experience but that given all the possibilities that digital technology allows the concept of what a movie theatre can be will expand. Before digital cinema Galaxy programming library was limited to movies – in particular Hollywood movies – and other programs on film. “Now our library has grown to infinite proportions ” Rimkus says. Galaxy Theatres a very early digital cinema pioneer operates 100-plus screens in California and Washington of which more than 90 percent are currently digital. Rimkus says the company will be completely digital by the end of this year. “We have the opportunity to be a social center ” he says. “One of the things we focused on was education.” He points out that this era in digital cinema is similar to the earliest days of movie exhibition when local theatres were centers of social events. People often gathered in theatres for events other than movies in part because the theatres themselves were so affordable comfortable and inviting. “It’s a little bit of an old fashioned idea. ” Rimkus says. His goal is to recreate that concept with Galaxy Theatres. “We have multiple screens stadium seating clean bathrooms and free parking. Interactive education is on the rise. With all that in mind we’re offering our facilities for educational purposes.” Rimkus says he asked himself a simple question: “What is the subject matter that would fascinate young kids?” The answer he believed was NASA. Rimkus knew that Key Peninsula Middle School was a NASA Explorer School so Galaxy Theatres and the school contacted NASA and told them they could have the theatres for free for a special event. “NASA loved the idea ” Rimkus says. Galaxy is getting support from other companies and organizations to help ensure that the event will be a success. The local Rotary is paying for the buses to take the students to the theatre. In addition Rimkus says Christie has been very supportive in this by handling the technical aspects of the link with the Space Station. Comcast volunteered to reformat its satellite signal. Galaxy Theatres is committed to doing similar programs in the future. Says Rimkus “I think we can do some social good.” The downlink will air live worldwide on NASA Television and will also be available on the Web at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
