|
|
This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
|
|
Author
|
Topic: Other digital format recommendations
|
Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted 08-17-2009 03:43 AM
A problem in this discussion is that everybody is right.
In this 21st Century, all commercial cinema should be at least 65/70mm film with 8 channel sound.. even in smaller venues.
Creative people should have free access to media.
Film is an oil-based product so it must be replaced with a more environmentally friendly technology.
All of the above are valid.
I believe that we are in a transition stage.
Here, in independent single-screen country, we have new challenges every day.
I have spoken to NEC about their screening-room type d-cinema projector and they assure me that it would be ideal for our screen and would accept e-cinema files as well. So I will be discussing price feasibility with our suppliers after we know what our tax obligations are for 2008-9. I believe that Christie has a saimilar unit.
We don't need 20million lumens or 3D (we've seen those fads fade before). If the price is prohibitive, we will be waiting for a few years.
We should keep 35mm and e-cinema capability for several years because, as I said, we are in transition stage. Outside the US it will probably be at least 5 years before we have to jump.
If we hadn't had e-cinema we would not have been able to give joy to audiences with such movies a "4" and "The Choir". There was no other way to screen them here. Yes, they would have been better in 65/70mm film with 8 channel sound or 4K dci but they would never have been produced if that was all that was available.
Also, we would have had to wait forever for a scratched print with Dolby Digital F of "Death At A Funeral" which was one of our highest grossing features last year.
I would rather stick to 35mm but if, like us, you are serving a community with a taste for good mainstream and independent productions e-cinema is filling the gap nicely.
Of course, we have to reject many producers who are simply on an ego trip.
When we first took up this cinema in the 60s my ambition was to get 4-track mag in as soon as possible. And we did.
If only today's technology investments would give us such pleasure.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julio Roberto
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 938
From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Registered: Oct 2008
|
posted 08-18-2009 01:19 PM
quote:
I believe we are at the stage before the transition even begins where nothing is at all definite and little happens because no one knows if they should buy film gear or digital gear. Most people... well... seem to be sitting out this step of the transition completely!
This is but a result of market choices not meeting market needs.
I was just fully greenlighted yesterday to convert 10 screens, 2 in 3D, to digital as soon as possible.
But I refuse to do it until projection equipment is fully DCI compliant, which none are at the time (with perhaps Sony passing certification later this year) and cheaper than it is now or distributors open VPF deals to independents.
If I had an option for a 2K, fully DCI full system (2D) for $50K, I would buy at least the 2 3D installations right now, probably using dual-projection on each. Or if distributors promised to pay for them with VPF. Even if I had to throw them out later (say 10 years) for being obsolete.
As it stands, I won't move until the new projectors show up by years' end/early next year and then decide.
I haven't ruled out Sony at all, even though I prefer "open market" choices so I can mix-and-match parts if maintenance/reliabiliy/suppliers/whatnot becomes a problem in the future. Easier to throw away a NEC/Christie/Barco projector out the window than a whole Sony system. If Sony can lock-in spares/replacement parts by contract, I would seriously consider.
So what do most people need? TI to come out with their new systems ASAP, price them ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO, which is replace inexpensive and reliable 35mm systems with less image quality and 1/4 the pixel count of Sony ~$80k systems.
So it's an unwanted wait for some, who are all ready and commited to switch to digital NOW, a welcomed wait for those that don't want to convert and rather use 35mm for as long as possible, and a stupid wait for everybody else as nobody is really benefiting from the current situation other than trying to place their remaining inventory before these TRANSITIONAL models become obsolete.
I think some digital players came with the idea of the IT world of "forcing a equipment upgrade every 5 years" to the wrong industry. If somebody wants to make it in this market, they need to come out with a be-all-end-all projector (4K, high brightness, low lamp cost, low price), a be-all-end-all server (full, true 4K support, full-out-of-the-box dual-stream support, full sound equalization and volume control, mini-automation included) today and watch the market flock to them.
This industry needs a player like RED in the SMALL world of digital cinema cameras, where they've come up with stuff that is BETTER than the long-established competition at a MERE FRACTION of the price and swept Sony/Panavision/Panasonic/etc under the rug.
Think about it. A 1920x1080 1700lumens home projector RETAILS for $999. You could buy some SIXTY of those projectors for the price of a single DCI and each project a similar quality image. And PLS, no argument about 1-chip against 3-chips etc ... remenber we are using not 3, or 6, or 9, or 12, or 18, or 24, or 30, or 36 or 48 but SIXTY of those projectors, each with their lamps, lenses, dlp chips, color wheels, circuits, remote controls, boxes, manuals, power cords, warranties, etc against a SINGLE dci projector.
And remember for the same price, or perhaps even cheaper, Sony offers an 3-Lcos one with FOUR TIMES the amount of pixels, their own server, etc. And please, no "manufacturing cost vs mass market" arguments either. We are all aware of the differences. But still, we are talking about DCI projectors being severely overpriced if they intend to compete against established 35mm equipment and even home theatres.
Christie boasts how they have sold well over 10,000 units of their DCI projectors worldwide. Sony will hit the 10.000 units mark too soon. Barco has done pretty well as well. Even NEC has managed decent sales of those models. In the world of projection equipment, those figures are quite "mass market" for just two-or-three models really being offered by the players.
Even in past posts in this forum, Mark ![[mark]](graemlins/mark.gif) posted how much better he liked the quality of JVC Lcos chips compared to DLP ... but let's also not get into the argument of which is better, if Lcos (sony) or DLP (TI), as they are both capable of producing extremely good results and each has strengths and weaknesses.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julio Roberto
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 938
From: Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Registered: Oct 2008
|
posted 08-26-2009 01:35 PM
Well, losing money is a relative term.
Paying $100k for a piece of "obsolete" equipment (remember current projectors don't even meet DCI certification requirements) can be seen as a big writeoff to make up from only two films this Christmas.
Who knows how many good films in 3D hollywood is going to put out say next year or two years from now?
And if we all convert to 3D, then the audience once agains distributes equally among theatres and nobody makes any more money again. We've stablished here how 3D doesn't bring in (hardly) any more patrons: it just takes some of them away from the nearby theatres that are not 3D already.
The increased ticket price deters some people from going 3D, as does the number of them that find the process uncorfotable due to their particular vision problems. Also, more money spent in the ticket can transform into less money spent on concessions.
The higher ticket price must as well also bring additional revenue to pay for added 3D costs (higher watt lamp, glasses, etc). So it's not all profit.
In this particular venue I'm dealing with, there is no competition or possibility of it. Although I'm sure many patrons would like to see stuff in 3D, as it would be a novelty for many of them, they have no choice but to watch the films however they are presented. Which right now, is in awesome, well projected, 35mm and will remain so until new, better-and-cheaper digital projectors come out.
If ever.
If studios/distributors want all that extra money they get from 3D ... all the have to do is strike a couple of over/under 35mm 3D prints. Nowadays, it's super easy.
But they don't do it, in spite of claiming the movie will earn so much more in 3D.
Why, if systems like Sony's 3D does EXACTLY the same thing? Well, it's because the hidden agenda is to push/force theatres into digital convertion, not because of the 3D itself.
Why aren't movies like Iron Man 2, Transformers, Harry Potter etc being done in 3D and it's mostly kid's/CGI movies, if 3D is such an amazing profit booster for Hollywood? (having a few minutes converted to fake 3D for a few Imax doesn't really count, that's Imax themselves trying to capitalize on their already-paid-for DRM and convertion technology)
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|
Home
![[bs]](graemlins/bs.gif)
box cinemas that have put in D-cinema where the money could have been invested in areas that count.
![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
. He knows his audience!
![[beer]](graemlins/beer.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic