The Entertainment Services and Technology Association and the Production Equipment Rental Association have announced an agreement to merge subject to final ratification. Under the agreement PERA will become the PERA Council within ESTA retaining its focus on the production of film television and commercials. The Council’s mission is to focus on development and implementation of programs and services for production rental businesses. The move will provide PERA members with immediate access to a wide array of benefits and services as well as the support of a professional staff while allowing the PERA leadership to focus on their core mission. By adding a key sector ESTA strengthens its voice on behalf of the entertainment technology industry and brings an important new dimension to many of its programs. ESTA president Bill Groener says In a time where uncertainty rules the day and even General Motors is a question mark the merger of these two closely related industry organizations makes economic sense and more importantly business sense for the companies that make up the membership of both organizations.” “This will provide greater membership value and expand opportunities for companies serving the entire entertainment technology industry ” says PERA president Pat Patin. “This merger strengthens the position of both organizations.” PERA www.peraonline.org. ,954
Evans & Sutherland to Distribute Sea Monsters,2009-05-13,Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation will be the exclusive distributor of National Geographic’s award-winning giant screen film Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure for full dome and planetarium digital theatres. E&S vice president Kirk Johnson says “National Geographic has become synonymous with stunning beauty and scientific accuracy. We are honored to have been chosen as their exclusive partner to bring this captivating and award-winning giant screen film to the full dome and planetarium community. We believe that this film will help redefine the types of experiences that are possible in a full dome digital theatre.” Lisa Truitt president of National Geographic Cinema Ventures says “National Geographic is a leader in the giant screen industry so as we enter this new market it is natural that we would align ourselves with E&S a true leader in the digital dome and planetarium market. This partnership represents a new line of business which has long been a part of NGCV’s strategic plan; we are excited to see it come to fruition.” Evans & Sutherland www.es.com National Geographic Cinema Ventures www.nationalgeographicfilms.com ,955
German Film Lab 50th to be Certified by Kodak ImageCare Program,2009-05-13,Kodak has announced that CinePostproduction Geyer Köln in Germany is the 50th lab to be certified in its global ImageCare quality program. According to program manager Diane Carroll-Yacoby We have kept the standards high and the qualification process rigorous. That's why participants take such pride when they qualify and their customers see the ImageCare Program symbol as a sign of quality. The effort began in Asia in 1996. We had just introduced the first generation of Kodak Vision motion picture film to the marketplace says Carroll-Yacoby. This was the film that broke the rules offered an unprecedented combination of speed and fine grain and extended the range of storytelling for our customers and that showed them what the future of film could look like. But with the film's introduction came the realization that labs had an important stake in film's future. Despite all of Kodak's efforts and investments the real test is always what the film looks like on the screen - and laboratories are largely responsible for that says Carroll-Yacoby. And since our customers – the filmmakers – increasingly work worldwide they want to be able to trust labs to deliver consistent standards of quality wherever they have their film processed and printed all across the globe. Laboratories encouraged Kodak to develop an assessment process where a Kodak technician would assist and certify lab personnel in standardizing and documenting procedures monitoring and controlling processes and in demonstrating an ability to follow quality-control checklists. We based the Program on the fundamental principle of self-assessment says Carroll-Yacoby because each lab is in the best position to constantly monitor its own standards and to find and to quickly correct any deviations from the norm. Admittance would be recognition that a laboratory has implemented the many structured procedures and checks required to meet the Program's tough requirements. Even after accreditation labs are independently audited every 12 months with frequent informal assessments by local Kodak representatives throughout the year. Kodak also provides training to help lab personnel achieve optimum and consistent performance. The program has been enthusiastically accepted by the industry. It has now been adopted in 30 countries from Argentina to Turkey and from the United Arab Emirates to the Russian Federation. Kodak ImageCare Program www.kodak.com/go/imagecare ,958
Lucky Hat and IndiePix Announce Production Agreement,2009-05-13,IndiePix has announced a production agreement with Lucky Hat Entertainment a Los Angeles-based production company. Lucky Hat will join IndiePix as executive producer on two films P-Star Rising and Entre Nos which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The parties plan to jointly develop and produce two more films per year through 2011. Lucky Hat Entertainment was co-founded by Stephen Bannatyne and Marcia Carver in 2007. The company has been involved with a number of critically acclaimed independent films including The Order of Myths which won the LaCoste Truer Than Fiction Award at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards and Goodbye Solo which was recently hailed as “An almost perfect film” by A.O. Scott of the New York Times. Bannatyne says “Marcia and I are very excited about partnering with IndiePix on this six picture deal. P-Star Rising and Entre Nos our first two films under this agreement are quality offerings and we look forward to working closely with IndiePix Studios to bring many more top notch independent projects to the market. There are now far less funding options available for independent filmmakers – especially in the current climate – so IndiePix Studios is an extremely important offering and one that we are delighted to be partnered with. Bob Alexander president of IndiePix says “With Lucky Hat’s proven track-record and impressive experience in the film and production industry it will play a pivotal role in IndiePix Studios' titles from development through their final stages of production and distribution. We are delighted with the success of our IndiePix Studios division and are excited about how its first film slate will be received. This co-production agreement with Lucky Hat underpins our commitment to continue developing this division as we look towards announcing our second release slate later this year.” IndiePix Studios www.indiepixstudios.com
ESTA and PERA Announce Merger Agreement
