An Exclusive Conversation with Rob Kurrus Premiere Theatres Rob Kurrus is owner of Premiere Theatres Oaks 10 in Melbourne Florida. He has 20 years experience in the exhibition industry starting as an assistant manager two decades ago at the old Cobb Theatre which was located in the Oaks Plaza in Melbourne. Regal Cinemas bought out Cobb Theatres in 1997 and Kurrus continued his success with Regal being promoted to vice president of information technology.
Arts Alliance Media announced that it signed agreements for 43 million euros of funding from pan-European services company Econocom and various private investors together with a long-term strategic partnership agreement with Arqiva Satellite & Media for the satellite distribution of films and alternative content live events into European cinemas. Econocom Financial Services will provide financing of 20 million euros for the purchase of equipment to complete the Circuit George Raymond's digital cinema deployment in France.
Creative Director/Lead Effects Artist Kiki Chansamone and Executive Producer Jason Forest have opened Bully Bros. Post a new full-service post and visual effects facility in Santa Monica California. The facility located at Christopher Sliney’s Playground Media Group will specialize in HD finishing for spots compositing Red and P2 conversions 3D previz/storyboarding and on-set vfx supervision with emphasis on end-to-end workflow creation and full visual effects design and supervision for commercials. Chansamone comes to Bully Bros.
RealD Pro has introduced the first 3D stereoscopic converter PODs which present a conversion solution when upgrading to a new stereoscopic display monitor and enable development teams to more easily present their work improving collaboration and productivity reducing prototype expenses and accelerating time to market. The RealD converter POD provides a replacement option for CRT or LCD monitor users.
Panasonic Broadcast announced that it has developed a wide range of scene files for its line of P2 HD camcorders to expand users’ shooting capabilities. The scene files— a total of 118 are available—provide users with the tools to move quickly from one preferred look to another without having to make manual setting adjustments in the camera.
S3 Entertainment Group has announced the launch of Michigan Film Finance a company to collaborate with producers and out-of-state lenders in financing films maximizing the film production incentive tax credit and creating new jobs in Michigan. Currently Michigan Film Finance is the only Michigan-based company financing the state’s film incentive. Productions can receive up to a 42 percent rebate on interest and other financing costs paid to Michigan Film Finance. The company created a local investment fund to provide the financing to these films.
India is building a new cultural legacy—the movie business. Bollywood releases 1 000 films annually approximately 10 times what Hollywood produces each year. And like Hollywood more and more of Bollywood’s films are going digital. Despite its prolific output the film business in this movie-obsessed society of more than a billion people is just getting geared up.
IndiePix has announced an exclusive partnership with Apple iTunes. At the same time IndiePix also announced a strategic partnership with Dogwoof the UK film distributor specializing in independent films and world cinema. The iTunes agreement which was brokered through New Video an independent film and collectible television series distributor will enable film lovers to download independent movies straight to their iPods or iPhones. The alliance with Dogwoof will enable IndiePix to extend its film distribution across the UK and enable Dogwoof to distribute its titles into America.
NAB Show organizers and the 48 Hour Film Project announced that the 2009 48HFP tour will begin at the NAB Show in Las Vegas in April. The 48HFP competition established in 2001 promotes filmmaking creativity and teamwork by providing participants with a compelling topic and prop and giving them two days to write shoot and edit their film. More than 35 000 filmmakers from 75 cities will participate in the 2009 48HFP competition. The tour will officially begin with the Las Vegas city competition which kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday April 17.
Turner Sports The National Basketball Association and Cinedigm Digital Cinema have announced that they will team up to broadcast TNT's coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night February 14th in live 3D to 80 digitally-equipped theaters across the United States. The companies say the announcement represents the first-ever fully marketed deal to deliver an NBA sporting event to the public in live 3D. The live 3D HD event will be shown on a nationwide basis and continues to expand the league's groundbreaking efforts in 3D HD.
