Cinedigm ARC Partner to Distribute Nitro Circus The Movie 3D

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Mon, 08/13/2012 - 20:00 -- Nick Dager

Cinedigm Entertainment Group is partnering with ARC Entertainment for the distributor’s highly anticipated Nitro Circus The Movie 3D. The movie opened in theaters nationwide last week. In the world of the sports adventure troupe known as Nitro Circus no dream is too out-there no idea is too high-risk and no never-before-seen stunt is too impossible-sounding to attempt.  They laugh at gravity as they somersault across skyscrapers gleefully morph their bodies into human torpedoes and generally aim to have more fearless fun than anyone else on the planet.  And now this summer the action-athletes who never stop pushing the boundaries of what others say can and can’t be done head off on their wildest and most inspiring quest yet in three dimensions. They’re on the road to world domination . . . or at least to Las Vegas . . . as they pull off a series of one-of-a-kind irreverent stunts in pursuit of creating the ultimate live show in the heart of America’s entertainment mecca. Using innovative 3D cinematography and the latest compact camera rigs the filmmakers provide moviegoers with a groundbreaking experience in 3D cinema that puts the audience in the shotgun seat with The Crew as they pilot motorcycles rally cars parachutes mountain bikes monster trucks and more. “ARC Entertainment is the perfect partner to utilize our theatrical distribution expertise and TDS software to manage their film releases said Brad Carroll vice president of theatrical distribution Cinedigm. “With ARC's pre-existing relationships the two companies together form a powerful and efficient distribution machine. This film is certain to have the legions of Nitro Circus fans thoroughly entertained. It is action-packed from the beginning to the end with each stunt crazier than the last.” “Cinedigm has emerged as a true 21st century company within the entertainment industry ” said Trevor Drinkwater chief executive officer of ARC Entertainment.  “Nitro Circus The Movie 3D brings out the best in those who see it and our unique partnership brings together the best of ARC and the best of Cinedigm.” ,3478
Phoenix Now Running Two of Pittsburgh’s Largest Cinemas,2012-08-14,Phoenix Big Cinemas Management is now running two of Pittsburgh's largest cinemas Chartiers Valley 20 in Bridgeville and North Versailles 22. After closing for two days this month the theatres re-opened with all new digital cinema technology. Other changes to the sites include the introduction of RealD 3D online and advance ticketing through MovieTickets.com and an expanded concession menu. Guests can also join the free Motion Picture Points loyalty club to earn points for free popcorn soft drinks and movie tickets at both locations. Phoenix Big Cinemas brings a track record of high quality entertainment to the Pittsburgh cinemas said Marc Kossman part of the ownership group of the two theatres. The theatre upgrades and renovations will improve the overall cinema experience by offering a state-of-the-art Hollywood destination to our guests. Additional changes and enhancements for the all stadium theatres are planned during the next several months including a conversion to All Digital Projection upgrades to digital surround sound more screens offering RealD 3D and new signage. With the upgrades to All Digital Projection Chartiers Valley will change from 20 to 18 stadium auditoriums with approximately 4000 seats and North Versailles will adjust from 22 screens to 18 with over 3000 seats. The new management will oversee the changes and implementation of the digital systems. Knoxville-based Phoenix Big Cinemas Management will manage the cinemas for the Pittsburgh based ownership group. We are proud to include these cinemas within our circuit and be a part of their conversion to all digital projection. As we transition the theatres under our management we hope to bring a new refreshed energy and provide the best possible entertainment experience possible said Phil Zacheretti president of Phoenix Big Cinemas Management. ,3479
59th Pula Film Festival Claims 3D Guinness World Record,2012-08-14,The 59th Pula Film Festival held in the ancient Vespasian's Amphitheatre which dates back to the 1st Century recently set a Guinness World Record for the largest audience ever for an outdoor 3D film presentation. The event will be remembered as an industry first in three categories: the 3D projection setup achieved the longest throw distance (using a Barco DP2K-32B projector) ever recorded at 73.6 meters (242 feet) exceeding the recommended throw distance; the setup which included an 18.70 x 8.45 meters Stagelite Stereo 3D Screen from Harkness Screens achieved a wide-viewing angle of 60 degrees allowing the 3D presentation to be viewed at suitable brightness levels throughout the entire seating area; as a result the film festival was able to set what is believed to be a new Guinness World Record for an outdoor 3D presentation with an official attendance of 5 920 visitors. “We were delighted to supply the Stagelite Stereo surface for the festival and provide installation support.  The setup achieved by Laboratory of Multimedia Technologies in Zagreb the festival’s technical resource was nothing short of remarkable and they deserve much praise ” said Tony Dilley European sales manager at Harkness Screens. Stagelite Stereo is a front projection surface specifically designed for non-cinema 3D applications. Silver aluminium flake based PVC fixed to a unique base material provides high gain characteristics very low depolarisation level (extinction ratio) and excellent color temperature. The surface type also supports conventional 2D pictures and is also cleanable. ,3480
Red Wing Cinema Installs Sony 4K Systems in Eight Auditoriums,2012-08-15, Red Wing Cinema 8 located near the Mississippi River in Red Wing Minnesota recently Sony 4K projectors in all eight of its auditoriums. 

The upgrade is the newest enhancement made by co-owners Chris and Amber Brown who took over the theater in 2010 with the goal of redefining the viewing experience for their customers. Sprucing up the theater meant updating the technology and improving picture presentation so the Browns selected Sony 4K projection for its image resolution attributes and operational benefits. 

“In the long run there are so many positives ” Chris Brown said. “The presentation quality is beautiful and improving the customer experience was our number one consideration. Plus the possibilities with alternative content are really interesting and digital is an easier process for owners.” According to Brown converting Red Wing Cinema 8 to Sony digital technology was a carefully researched decision one made easier through Sony’s flexible financing and lease programs. “We looked at several other lease programs and with advice from our finance advisors we decided that Sony 4K was definitely the best fit ” he said. Sony also offers an exhibitor-managed finance program based on Sony’s VPF administration. By leveraging this full menu of customized options exhibitors of all sizes like Red Wing can take advantage of state-of-the-art technology reinforce their dedication to loyal customers and increase sales and market share through the competitive advantages offered by Sony 4K. With its highest-resolution image quality and more than 12 500 4K projectors deployed in movie theaters worldwide Sony is the gold standard for the digital cinema industry.

 “It’s not easy for independent theaters to make the transition to digital ” said Christopher Simpson national account manager for Sony Electronics’ Digital Cinema Solutions Group. “Our affordable leasing programs illustrate our commitment to smaller theaters who are interested in upgrading and help theaters like Red Wing Cinema offer the best possible movie-going experience.”

With the 4K installation at Red Wing Cinema 8 fully complete the Browns are now beginning to advertise the Sony 4K experience to their theatergoers. “It’s been a great experience with Sony ” said Brown. “They have made it so easy for us and we look forward to sharing their technology with our customers.” ,3481
Screenvision Announces Six Marketing Deals,2012-08-15,Screenvision has signed a first-time agreement with Mann Theatres and long-term renewals with Frank Theatres Premiere Cinemas CEC Theatres Neighborhood Cinemas and Emagine Entertainment. The new deals come on the heels of the April 2012 launch of The Limelight and its Screenfanz app a dramatically re-engineered in-cinema advertising pre-show with a 2-screen configuration targeted to the big screen and mobile devices that empowers advertisers to capitalize upon mobile interactivity and social connectivity with their ad buys coast-to-coast. These new deals are a major sign of support for our continuing efforts to innovate the world of in-cinema marketing said Darryl Schaffer executive vice president of operations and exhibitor relations for Screenvision. They represent a major step forward in our digital evolution and for the long-term growth of our company and in-cinema advertising as a whole. In part due to the conversion to digital cinema 98 percent of Screenvision's preshows are exhibited in a digital format. By year's end 8 000 screens in the 14 500 screen national network will have satellite delivery of ads and alternative content via Screenvision's Digital SkyArc service. Importantly the new deals provide Screenvision with an average remaining term on all its exhibitor contracts of nine years. The average remaining term with its top 12 exhibitor partners representing over 6 000 screens nationally is 15 years. We are excited to continue our partnership with Screenvision said Bruce Frank president and CEO of Frank Theatres. Our relationship goes back to 2008 and we look forward to another ten years with a leader in cinema advertising. We're more than pleased with the direction their digital preshow is going. ,3482
Broadmedia Deploys Signiant Software for DCP Service,2012-08-15,Japanese distributor Broadmedia has deployed Signiant software for its new Digital Cinema Package delivery service. Working with Signiant's Japanese reseller Photron Broadmedia has already connected 80 cinemas nationwide with hundreds more to be added across major exhibition chains in the next few years. With an average finished file size of greater than 250 GB moving over a 50 Mbps broadband Internet connection to the theater it can take approximately 12 hours to deliver a single digital cinema package said Yasushi Mishima director of Photron. If you are sending to two theaters files can move overnight. However if you send to many more theaters anarchically there is congestion at the distributor end and it could take months to distribute the DCPs. Using Signiant to manage accelerated file transfers to theaters we can ensure more predictable and proportional delivery times. This partnership is a significant step forward for Signiant in the region's growing DCP market and provides the best possible file transfer solution for Broadmedia said Michael Burnie managing director of Signiant Asia-Pacific and Japan. Broadmedia has found a proven software-based solution that not only delivers acceleration but also the ability to allocate bandwidth intelligently and manage track and approve file transfers centrally. By utilizing Signiant we have the flexibility to support the large-scale distribution requirements of this new DCP delivery service. After an extensive evaluation Signiant was the clear choice to support our ongoing rollout said Toshihito Kubo director of Broadmedia. We are pleased with the work of Photron in support of this initiative and we look forward to bringing more than 500 screens online. ,3483
Stageside Productions Sabella Dern Video Equipment Rentals Partner on ACL Live,2012-08-15,Stageside Productions has partnered with Sabella Dern Entertainment and Video Equipment Rentals to launch what it says is the nation's first permanent stereoscopic 3D production studio Austin’s ACL Live. The studio which recently played host to Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z during the 2012 SXSW Conference is a 2750 capacity performance and production facility that converts into a 10 000 square foot state-of-the-art sound stage and stereoscopic 3D/2D production facility. The bottom line: there is no other permanent facility with the combination of amazing performance space limitless camera positions state of the art sound & lighting that we have here at ACL Live said Freddy Fletcher venue partner and executive producer at Stageside Productions. Now through this 3D partnership with SD Entertainment and VER we can share our combined expertise for live events commercial productions independent projects global brand initiatives and everything in between; all with greatly reduced costs for high def 2D and 3D production. 3D video content and technology are headed for a revolution across all platforms said Jonathan Dern CEO of SD Entertainment. Not only are sales of 3D TVs up a monstrous 245 percent with more than 7 million sold in the first quarter of 2012 alone but the next generation will be glasses-free 3D. This groundbreaking advancement will also rule the mobile entertainment industry with smart phones laptops and tablets all set to feature leading-edge glasses-free display screens and advanced 3D capabilities beginning next year. Putting unparalleled picture quality and 3D into consumers' hands for the first time. This will absolutely be a game changer for advertisers and content creators around the globe. We are extremely excited to help demystify the emerging field of digital stereoscopic content production for advertisers and content producers while partnering with them to create striking 3D content with an enormous wow factor. We know that audiences who have seen 3D sports concerts and other events want more of their entertainment to be in 3D said Wayne Miller of SD Entertainment. The 3D capability at ACL Live is going to enable producers to feed people's increasing demand for high quality 3D entertainment on any number of screens. With meaningful new advances in glasses-free 3D more than 300 million handheld 3D devices are expected by 2015 and with the explosion of dedicated 3D channels across multiple platforms the scope of distribution is broader than ever. Advertisers and content creators have an enormous opportunity to differentiate themselves from competitors. With the preeminence of 3D audiences are expecting to be engaged and with the intimate layout of the ACL Live venue we have the ideal setting to produce content giving audiences the most engaging 3D experience. Aaron Latham-James VER's director of 3D added We believe 3D is an important aspect of the production landscape and are proud to be a part of the world's first turn-key fully integrated live 3D production facility. With VER's world class 3D technology support this is going to significantly lower the barrier to cost-effective live multi-camera stereoscopic production to forward-thinking companies who can now utilize ACL Live as the backdrop for any type of 3D production. With our state of the art technology 3D production expertise and the phenomenal space that is provided by ACL Live we look forward to working with partners to realize their brands and content in 3D. Austin continues to be at the forefront of innovation film and music. It's ranked as one of America's top cities to visit and do business said Bob Lander president and CEO of the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau. ACL Live at The Moody Theater is the nation's first permanent stereoscopic 3D and HD production venue yet another indication that Austin is on the cutting edge of new technology. ,3484
Studio Movie Grill Opens Fifth Dallas Area Theatre,2012-08-15,The Studio Movie Grill has announced that it is opening its fifth Dallas-Fort Worth location. SMG introduced the concept nineteen years ago to a North Texas audience and remains committed to setting the standard in cinema dining with its new flagship store. SMG Spring Valley will feature the refined and updated Studio Movie Grill experience—the same experience that won SMG Holcomb Bridge Best Movie Theater Atlanta 2010 and most recently a nod from Forbe’s Travel Guide as one of 10 Movie Theaters Worth Traveling For—sharing honors with notables such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and ArcLight Cinema in Hollywood. The new theater will embody a decade of best practices and theater trends plus the hallmark architectural and design details of the exterior interior lobby and bar-lounge areas that have come to distinguish the Studio Movie Grill brand nationally. Local Dallas-firm Droese-Raney Architecture designed the Spring Valley location.  “The interiors are modern with a selective mix of textiles stone surfaces warm-woods and modern furniture classics ” said Ted Low SMG’s creative director and brand manager. SMG Spring Valley will feature Texas Instruments DLP powered projectors by Barco and Dolby’s most advanced 3D and digital technology on all 12 screens—boasting 2 500 seats combined—immersing guests in rich sound and picture excellence. “By presenting films the way filmmakers intended them to be seen Studio Movie Grill is not only redefining cinema dining but also the entire movie-going experience for both film lovers and casual moviegoers “ says Brian Schultz SMG’s Founder and President. As for the food and beverage “Quality is our number-one ingredient ” said executive chef Thad Kelley whose recent improvements in the kitchen include the introduction of premium brands like China Mist tea Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Napa’s Silver Oak Wines as well as updated recipes featuring premium ingredients and foods. A soft opening is scheduled for late September 2012. “We couldn’t be more excited about bringing this expansion home because Dallas is where we got started ” said Schultz. “This will be the largest location in our growing family and we think our customers will be excited to see the major improvements we’ve made; enhancements to our brand that will ultimately be integrated into all our Texas locations.” The company now offers a 100 percent reserved seating model debuting locally at the new Studio Movie Grill. “We don’t like waiting in line either or racing to make a show time so we’ve gone to a 100% reserved seating model ” said Schultz. “Our enhanced bar-lounge and lobby area affords customers a more enjoyable—relaxed—atmosphere in which to linger instead of having to rush to get the best seat or feel hurried to leave.” Reserved seating is available online in advance or at the box office with tickets starting at $5/ticket. ,3485
Tumulus Shot on Three-Day Schedule,2012-08-15,When a shooting schedule is tight the team must be able to depend on the camera technology more than ever. Director of Photography Sebastian Wiegärtner had exactly three days to shoot the demo film Tumulus which left no leeway for experimentation. Considering the tight schedule the requirements were demanding. The performance of three new Super Speed Lenses by Carl Zeiss were to be impressively presented with cinematic scenic images. Wiegärtner explains “I had a week for preparation which included the script casting the actors location scouting and of course equipment selection. For perfect results I made high quality a priority and it therefore quickly became clear that I would work with OConnor accessories. And it was definitely the right decision. A legendary forest area in Franconian Switzerland called the Druidenhain served as a location for Wiegärtner and his team despite the strong wind rain and snow. They mainly shot at night and according to Wiegärtner Since we filmed with artificial light light flares were to be avoided. For this reason alone a mattebox was indispensable. We also used it to increase the contrast by the addition of a filter. The first time I saw the O-Box WM I was firmly convinced it must be extremely heavy simply because it looks so massive and highly crafted. However it is lighter than many other models. Despite this it is just as tough as it appears. For some scenes I had to follow the actors through gorges and the thick forest with the rig on my shoulder. Robust equipment was therefore a basic requirement for a smooth shoot. Wiegärtner wanted to make sure he would deliver the project on schedule so he equipped his Sony PMW-F3 with professional camera accessories by OConnor. For this project he selected the O-Box WM Mattebox together with the O-Grips handgrips and the new O-Focus DM Follow Focus with Glow-in-the-dark Marking Disks. For handheld camera shots Wiegärtner relied on OConnor’s high-performance handgrips. The thing I liked best about the O-Grips was their unbelievable versatility. Due to the 3/8 standard mount they can be mounted everywhere and adjust to me and my equipment not vice versa. In addition they are extendable and the modular construction is extremely user friendly. During filming I operated handheld 80 percent of the time. The O-Grips can be adjusted as desired to every body position. I needed solid dependable grips because the rig came to about 30 pounds (14 kg). The O-Grips were perfect. Once they have been set they are rock solid. Since the new lenses were fixed focal length lenses frequent lens changes were necessary. Here Wiegärtner saved valuable time because the O-Grips can be directly mounted on the O-Box WM. This way we only had to remove the mattebox together with the O-Grips when changing lenses. Wiegärtner worked with the new O-Focus DM Cine Set. I'm crazy about the O-Focus DM. The transmission of the Cine Handwheel is ideal. Up to now every other more expensive system had some amount of play but the O-Focus has none. This is how OConnor won me over. Wiegärtner's camera assistants Lukas Hirschfelder and Timo Tischler were both alternately responsible for the focus pulling. The modular design of the O-Focus enabled us to mount a second handwheel and we were very pleased with the operation. We also used a handwheel extension so that the assistants wouldn't be in my way when moving with the camera handheld. The glow-in-the-dark marking disks for the O-Focus DM also proved to be practical for the many night shoots. The small light or flashlight which we otherwise always use to see the handwheel was unnecessary because the marking disks really glowed throughout the entire night said Wiegärtner. For this important shoot it was certainly a risk deciding to use accessories I had never worked with before. However everyone in the industry knows about OConnor's excellent quality. I had extremely high expectations and the OConnor accessories greatly contributed to my satisfaction with the results. Anyone who has worked with OConnor once will want to do it again and again said Wiegärtner.