This is topic "D" or "E"-Cinema... which one? in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-11-2001, 02:29 PM:
Okay, guys, what are we calling it, "D-Cinema" (digital cinema) or "E-Cinema" (electronic cinema)?I've heard both monikers used interchangeably. Kodak and Technicolor, among others, have been calling it D-Cinema.
Which term do you think is more descriptive, and less colloquial?
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Better Projection Pays!
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-11-2001, 02:57 PM:
If I were to choose between the two I would say D-Cinema. Personaly from the various opinions I have read on these threads I would have to say C-Cinema (crap cinema) 
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 03-11-2001, 03:20 PM:
>>Which term do you think is more descriptive, and less colloquial?<<Easy. VIDEO.
A rose by any other name...
Vive Le FILM!!!
Aaron
Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 03-11-2001, 03:35 PM:
Neither term is very good. "Electronic cinema" could just as well be used to describe a Kinoton or Sondor machine projecting 35mm with an electronic intermittent. "Digital cinema" uses that 'magic marketing word' (digital), but isn't really descriptive and ignores the fact that even though the "movie" may be stored in digital form on a disk array, the light reflected off the screen is still analog.
I think I prefer "electronic cinema" myself or, more specifically, "electronic projection," but that's just a personal preference.
The term "television" (or, possibly "big screen television") also makes sense in this context.
Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-11-2001, 04:05 PM:
The marketing people really need to come up with a phrase that clearly means 'projected from a digital source which is specifically intended for big-screen projection (i.e. of a higher quality than broadcast video formats)'. 'Electronic projection' could mean Beta SP (i.e. an analogue, electronic recording format). Equally, 'digital cinema' could mean the projection of a consumer DVD - neither phrase in itself specifically describes a picture quality designed to match that of 35mm film.I took a ferry to Denmark just before Christmas which claimed to have a 'cinema' on board. This so-called 'cinema' showed 'films' from a VHS tape projected on an ancient CRT video projector on a 5 x 3 pull-down screen.
My biggest fear about electronic cinema is that once the gold standard of film has gone and a new generation comes along who never saw any real film, cinemas on dry land will start doing the same thing in the cynical (and probably correct) belief that 9 out of 10 customers won't know the difference.
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-11-2001, 05:11 PM:
Believe it or not we live in an analog world and it will always be an analog world. Don't get me wrong you can have digital sources but all it boils down to is a bunch of ones and zeros. As we all know in an analog world there is always going to be problems. CD's get scratched or finger prints on them cause problems. And the digital source requires an analog conversion. This conversion can cause problems if the digital source is not perfect. In digital projection you have many problems that can occur. The tiny little mirrors that reflect the light can become damaged causing spots on the screen. Dirty lenses, port windows even the type of screen itself can effect the quality. We get lost in thinking that digital is perfect but it's not. We can't go on believing or start believing that there will not be major problems with this format. How about a sold out show for the next star wars movie when the digital info becomes corrupted for some reason. Nothing is full proof. They talk about security and encryption. But the piracy could be occuring in their own back yard. with hand held camcorders becomeing so small you could film it right off the screen. Even if a lot of problems are not occuring right now does not mean they will not happen in the future. Call it what you will it is still analog.
Posted by Jon Bartow (Member # 241) on 03-11-2001, 05:12 PM:
Hi Tim! Greetings from MI 
Any "E-" term is usually used to decribe a business or activity via the internet. If the term e-cinema is used it will undoubtedly confuse people (they will think it is on-line, not a "real" movie theater)
Given the choice of "e" or "d" I would choose to call it "Digital Cinema"
Other possibilities:
"Digital Film"
"Digital Movie"
"Digital Motion Picture"
"Next Generation Cinema"
"21st Century Cinema" (Fox may not like that one )
Jonathan Bartow
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-11-2001, 05:47 PM:
Neither term is correct or appropriate. Call it what it is-----VIDEO.
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-11-2001, 05:59 PM:
You hit the nail on the head Ken. Don't even think about using the word film in this context. Film is celluloid you can hold it see thru it and project it. Digital is a bunch of 1's and 0's.
Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 03-11-2001, 07:56 PM:
Hey! I called it VIDEO first!!! -AS
Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-11-2001, 10:20 PM:
Sorry about that Aaron. You did hit the nail first. Ken just counter sunk it.
Posted by Larry Shaw (Member # 388) on 03-12-2001, 11:31 AM:
I just call it "TV", mainly because it gets a rise from the marketing weasels.BTW, Kinoton has used the term "E-Cinema" for their electronic film projectors.
-Larry
Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 03-12-2001, 05:00 PM:
I agree with Ken, it's VIDEO. I hope future
product doesn't start looking (and sounding) like the quality of the afternoon TV soaps.
Maybe future "video-goers" won't be
sophisticated enough to know what they
are missing 
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 03-12-2001, 06:04 PM:
You wouldn't call it a "movie theater" anymore. It would be called a "video format public assembly building" and you would be exhibiting videos. It would be like watching the big screen tv in the tavern. Instead of Monday night discount or tightwad Tuesday you could have "peanut night" or sell beer and pretzels in the snack bar to take back to your couch in "living room # 10".
Posted by Mark Lucas (Member # 791) on 03-13-2001, 10:50 PM:
Whatever people call it it's still pictures on a screen to me. Hopefully solid, stable and without any visable artifacts.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 03-15-2001, 09:02 AM:
We need to be able to set up a "Poll"What will it be?
Yes No
D-Cinema
E-Cinema
V-Cinema
One vote per registered member
Oh! By the way, Please print out - and mail.
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-15-2001, 11:58 AM:
I'll have to disagree with Ken on the "it's video" thing 
. It really is not video at all, just a stream of 1's and 0's comming in from where ever it originated. Usually for film its from a line array scanner of some sort so a digital signal is generated almost from the very origin of the signal. There can be one analog to digital stage right after the scanner but there is not a video signal generated there.
In the case of DLP or the JVC/Sony system, or LCD type projectors it stays digital all the way to the panels where an image is generated. With most DTV's on the market the signal is converted to analog for the projection CRT's, so that could indeed be called video at that point.
Mark @ GTS
Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-17-2001, 05:38 PM:
I agree, Mark. "Video" connotates a scanning electron beam. Not true with D-Cinema units, they are strictly "light modulators". And when it gets right down to it, that's all that film is doing (acting as a light modulator).
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Better Projection Pays!
Posted by Mark Lucas (Member # 791) on 03-17-2001, 11:04 PM:
Thanks, Tim.