The Big Picture

For a company that’s relatively new to the professional cinema business, Samsung has had an impressive year and there are no signs it’s slowing down. In March at CinemaCon 2017 in Las Vegas, and working with GDC Technology, the company created a major stir by unveiling its prototype LED Cinema Screen. Two months later it finalized its $8 billion acquisition of audio giant Harman International, including, importantly here, the JBL cinema group. Following that, and in short order, the company received DCI-compliance certification for its LED screen technology and installed its first commercial cinema screen in South Korea. A few weeks ago, Samsung installed a second LED screen in the same South Korean theatre. In just seven months Samsung has seriously disrupted the professional cinema market.

Netflix this week committed to streaming its movies in both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision high-dynamic range formats. It is the first global on-demand service to commit to combining both formats. Okja, the critically praised Netflix Original Film, is the first film available in both formats. Additional Dolby-supported titles are coming soon, and the catalog will continue to grow. Okja will be released to select movie theatres this week as well. Netflix has raised the stakes again.

There’s a reason why the classic Warner Bros. film Casablanca has remained one of the world’s favorite movies for more than seventy years. There’s also a reason why, for more than a century, people the world over have loved countless other Hollywood films: movies are magic. And, there’s a reason – more than one in fact – why advertising in cinemas is so effective. Movies connect with us in very emotional ways and leave memories that can last a lifetime. Which was, in essence, the case that Screenvision Media made in its Upfront presentation last week: content in a darkened theatre on the big screen creates memorable impressions.

Twenty-eight independent theaters in cities across the country will participate in the fourth annual National Evening of Science on Screen. The event will feature a short introductory video, followed by a unique film and speaker presentation at each venue as part of its Science on Screen program. For example, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center will screen Robot & Frank with an introduction and post screening discussion with Michael Chuah, PhD Candidate, Biomimetic Robotics Lab Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology