Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: I.T.E.A. Conference

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Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 08-13-2002, 10:06 AM:

I.T.E.A. the International Theater Equipment Association is having their annual conference at the Coronado Hotel in San Diego. This is a group of manufacturers and dealers who gather to figure out ( or to cry about ) what is coming up for the future in the cinema business. Technically........Schneider Optical has a new lens the "Cinema Premiere" lens which has an adjustable iris ( like in a camera lens ) to adjust the lens speed from a super fast f1.7 to f4. This will allow for balancing light output between flat and scope images and to have sharper, more forgiving images in terms of focus This should be in production by year end......Osram has a new 8000W/HS xenon bulb for the special Venue market and has improved their 4000/HS bulb with smaller arc gap and improved end fittings to give 20% more service life. This is available now. Dolby will have available in October for the CP650, the "Auditorium Assist" software program. This program, with the addition of a $100.00 microphone permanently placed in the auditorium, will allow the projectionist or manager to run a check up of the overall sound system to see if there is a service problem such as bad speakers et cetera. This can be sent via the Eternet port allow the sound system to be checked from a remote location so a "home office" can look in on the condition of the system. This should be great for a field tech to have a standardized check list prior or during a service call.......QSC Audio...Has the new DSP-4 accessory module. QSC has discontinued the USA series and MX 700 / 2000a amplifiers in favor of their newer ISA and DCA units........UltraStereo has a new sound monitor.....Neumade is ramping up production on new 35mm film reels, both solid and EZ hub.
NeuXLB automation system with touchsceen control......JBL...The company has been running a leasing program for USA cinema owners who would like to purchase new equipment. This is a great deal since they will allow you to bundle other items that are cinema related ( complete sound systems, concession, air conditioners et cetera ). This can be offered by any authorized JBL Cinema dealer. The rates are fixed ( very low ), 90 days till the first payment and the buy out at the end of the lease is $1.00.....junk those mono systems NOW!!
Digital Cinema is being discussed; a dinner conversation with a represenative of the digital research group supported by all the major studios( NDC - Newco ) feels that standards will not be complete until 2004 and the high cost ( purchase and operations )is a major issue.
Training was also brought up since the cinema business has changed so much in the past 10 years there is a lack of a proper procedures in creating technical talent to take care of of the cinemas in operation.
San Diego is a beautiful city which I had last seen 30 years ago. The conference site was built in 1887 and is the largest wooden structure in the Western USA. Today we will be discussing about Digital Cinema's future and an afternoon field trip to Fox Baja studios in Mexico, the site of the movie Titanic.
Film Tech definately has many lurkers from this group of about 100 people at this conference...and of course, Bob Maar of Neumade opened his remarks about his company's new developments with a (bad) joke

Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-13-2002, 10:11 AM:

Thanks for the informative update. Wish I could have been there:
Hotel Del Coronado

That new Schneider lens with the adjustable iris sounds interesting. How do they manage the heat buildup on the iris when it is stopped down?

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 08-13-2002, 04:50 PM:

Hi John from Mexico via internet cafe........the iris leaves on the Cinema Premiere lens look like they sufficient gap and each leaf has a pre-tensioned curve which should handle the heat....no worst than the iris shutters receive in a followspot.
The morning meeting was about Digital Cinema ( 125 units in operation ) the participants felt the need for more market mass since most Digital projectors are one to a complex situation and does not, as yet, mirror issues as found in a cinema multiplex situation. John Fitian ( I hope I spelled the name right ) President of NATO, is ready to buy...when they cost the same as a 35mm projection system and are more superior

Richard Fowler
Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

Posted by Pat Moore (Member # 380) on 08-13-2002, 07:24 PM:

Hi Richard; Along with John, wish I was there as well. The tech information and new products are generally worth hearing about. Also would have been a good chance to say hello.

Happy travels in Mexico...

Pat

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 08-15-2002, 11:07 AM:

Well we had fun in Mexico where I managed to wander off and hold up one of the tour buses for 15 minutes

We had a nice tour of the Fox Baja studio facility which started with an orientation video via a JVC video projector with "change bulb now" prompt in the middle of the flickering image in their screening room ( which has Simplex projectors, Xetron lamphouses and Magnatech dubbers ). The site was built in 100 days for Titanic and is now used for other films; Russell Crowe was on the lot filming while we where there. The facility has huge tanks situated adjacent to the Pacific Ocean to create a horizon line to give the feel of being in the middle of the ocean. My partner John met a star from Titanic...Nastasa, who came to him when he called her name....she was one of the many rats running in the hallways of the Titanic ship

and was very social.
Our last day was spent on how post production is changing for film production where DCM-Digital Cinema Masters are becoming more common to supply all media...35mm film...Digital Cinema....home video...and broadcast. The limit for real time transfer is HDTV format but the first real time units from Thompson of France for 2K are expected to be out in the fall; so the quality bar is rising and further acceptance of DCM elements . Film is still considered the best storage medium since some of the digital magnetic media has proven to have a shelf life of six years

The final banquet Dolby won the manufacturer's award and Universal Cinema Supply ( The company that Don Sneed works for ) received the dealer award. Don's boss thanked the group and said it was a shared award for the "surviving" dealers in the marketplace....especially after the MTS-Titanic sank

Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com
A dealer with a several life vests............

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-15-2002, 12:08 PM:

Links:
http://www.jvc.com/company/press.jsp?pressType=1&item=147
http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/getaway/factsheets/2002/6/factsheet5.asp
http://www.nctimes.com/news/2001/20010701/65420.html

Posted by Jack Johnston (Member # 887) on 08-19-2002, 04:59 PM:

...and let's not forget that another date was given as regards to cyan conversion...July 1, 2003...ya'll getting your booths ready???

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 08-19-2002, 05:33 PM:

Jack of Cinemecanica...is that a red LED on top of your head

Richard Fowler
TVP-Theatre & Video Products Inc. www.tvpmiami.com

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 08-19-2002, 08:24 PM:

No, he's just glad to see you.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-19-2002, 09:04 PM:

The July 2003 date is the one suggested by the NATO Technology Committee, and unanimously adopted by the NATO Board of Directors:
http://www.dyetracks.org/

"16 July 2002
From the National Association of Theatre Owners:
Mary Ann Grasso, Vice-President and Executive Director of NATO confimed that at the recent Spring Board and Committee meeting held in Washington, D.C May 8-10, 2002 the NATO Technology Committee expressed continued support for the conversion to cyan dye track. The Committee suggested to the Board that NATO select a firm date by which NATO member theatres' would be fully equipped with red readers. The NATO Board of Directors recommended by unanimous approval that all theatres be properly equipped with red light readers by July 3rd, 2003. "
http://www.natoonline.org/contacts.htm