After stereoscopic 3D one of the hot topics at last months National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas was the concept of shooting at higher frame rates. But there was a third topic brewing just below the surface namely higher dynamic rates. A growing number of industry leaders including IRIDAS CEO Lin Kayser believes that within the next two years by combining those three elements in one production filmmakers will be able to virtually recreate reality.
The UGC Ciné Cité Lyon is the 300th theatre in France to connect to the SmartJog network. SmartJog plans to connect a total of 20 UGC sites in France and three in Belgium by the end of May. All of the theatres will use the SmartJog’s solutions and technology.
New from Petrol Bags is the DigiSuite DSLR camera case. The front lid of this semi-hard suitcase-style carrier unzips quickly to reveal a central compartment contoured to comfortably fit up to two DSLR cameras with lenses attached. Detachable internal dividers help secure contents and create pockets for storing a matte box camera plate follow focus camera light viewfinder and cables. With the dividers removed the DigiSuite can serve as a regular suitcase. On the lid’s interior a padded pouch can hold a personal computer with up to a 17-inch screen.
Qube Cinema has launched an online web store where filmmakers post houses and pre-show content creators can purchase the new QubeMaster Xport Final Cut Studio plug-in. The system enables users to output DCI-compliant Digital Cinema Package masters directly from the Final Cut Compressor. QubeMaster Xport is available in four versions. The QubeMaster Xport 2K retails for $799. QubeMaster Xport 3D and QubeMaster Xport 4K are available for $1 798 each. Users who need both stereo 3D and 4K mastering can opt for QubeMaster Xport 4K and 3D at $2 797.
Regal Entertainment Group has announced plans to equip all digital cinema locations with personal captioning and descriptive video technologies. For years Regal has actively worked with various technology companies and film distributors to create opportunities to increase theatre access for deaf hard of hearing and blind moviegoers. The advent of digital cinema technology offers new opportunities to increase access at all digitally equipped theatres and Regal expects to have practically all of its theatres converted to digital cinema by the end of 2012.
Sachtler has introduced the FSB family a product line designed to provide a suitable head for every HDV camera as well as for DSLR cameras with video function. All FSB heads work with Sachtler Speedbalance technology that enables a fast and target-oriented counterbalance. Based on the construction principles of other classic Sachtler heads the FSB line offers no-compromise vibration damping which is extremely subtle and finely graded in comparison to other manufacturers in the same payload range.
Schneider Optic’s has introduced 3D Windows that are made of anti-reflective water-white glass to protect valuable 3D beam splitters which are susceptible to damage from flying debris and are difficult to clean without damaging. Schneider Optics offers a full line of optical glass anti-reflection coated windows in stock and custom sizes to provide low-cost protection. These protective windows can be used with long focal length lenses without reducing resolution and are easily cleaned.
On Tuesday April 26th Sony Corporation and Showcase Cinemas Cardiff successfully performed the first commercial screening in Europe on a fully-DCI compliant projection system. In March Sony Corporation announced that its Digital Cinema 4K projection systems were the first to successfully complete the full range of compliance tests for specifications required by Digital Cinema Initiatives. Sony was accredited under the DCI specification for its integrated projection systems.
Venture 3D says that it converted the majority of Screen Gems’ vampire thriller and Korean comics adaptation Priest into stereoscopic 3D. Directed by Scott Stewart (Legion) Priest stars Paul Bettany (Iron Man 2) as the undead protagonist as well as Maggie Q (Nikita) as the Priestess and Cam Gigandet (Easy A Burlesque) as the Wasteland Sheriff.
The National Association of Theatre Owners has called on the movie studios participating in the early-to-the-home premium video on demand experiment to release sales figures for the movies that have been offered on the platform. The controversy around the shortened theatrical window involved in the early premium VOD offering has drawn intense interest in Hollywood the trade and business press and Wall Street. But has the early VOD offering drawn the interest of the consumer? “What’s an experiment without data?” asked NATO president and CEO John Fithian.
