Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Broadway Play

This is topic Broadway Play - Jekyl and Hyde on DLP in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 02-26-2001, 10:09 AM:

Cinemark Legacy will be having 2 shows of the Broadway Play on March 10 at 7 and 10 pm.

The show will be projected using the DLP projector.

I am not sure of the input source at this point but they ran a test a couple of months ago using a HD playback unit at 720 (Unit Of Measurement?)

I will post whatever info I can as it becomes available.

Paul.

Posted by Trevor Bailey (Member # 75) on 02-26-2001, 11:39 AM:

National Amusements is planning the same event in the Boston area.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-26-2001, 04:16 PM:

Back in the late 50 and early 60's Famous Players tried that with Eidiphor machines and in the Imperial Toronto with a unit that scanned to film processed it and fed it through to the projector in one sweep

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-26-2001, 04:32 PM:

Where are they doing this in the Boston area? Most of the NA cinemas in and around Boston (Circle Cinema, Dedham Showcase, Woburn Showcase, etc.) are pretty dumpy venues...

Posted by Frank Rapisardi (Member # 435) on 02-27-2001, 05:48 AM:

Scott;It will be shown at Showcase Cinemas in Randolph Ma.

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-27-2001, 12:25 PM:

Paul:

If they tested playback of a 720-P HD video format (D-5 HD tape?), this play is evidently being shot with 720 line progressive scan HD video.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-27-2001, 01:15 PM:

Why not shoot on film and then transfer to HD? Or, even better, just make film prints? Apparently, the production costs for HD aren't much different from those of 35mm...

Posted by Trevor Bailey (Member # 75) on 02-27-2001, 03:36 PM:

I was told that NA will be running this show at four locations. As stated, it will be at Randolph 16 (cinema 11) in the Boston area. Funny thing I noticed yesterday, the cable tv bill insert listed this show as a Pay-per-view event on March 10 for $19.99. Stay home or go to the cinema?? Hmmmm...

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-27-2001, 03:59 PM:

Trevor: Is the pay-per-view event available as HDTV off satellite? AFAIK, cable companies still aren't carrying HD signals.

As you note, it will be interesting when theatres are showing the same HD video material that is available on satellite or cable for home "theatres". To prosper, theatres must provide better image and sound quality than any "home theatre".

Posted by Trevor Bailey (Member # 75) on 03-01-2001, 04:10 PM:

John,

This particular flyer didn't make any reference to HDTV. This was an AT&T cable insert ("What's on PPV this month!").

I certainly hope that theaters will make an effort to outperform "home theaters". A 40ft wide video game is interesting...but can it actually be used as a business model?

I know that some exhibitors are looking at digital projection as an additional revenue stream for conferences, parties, and advertising and I can understand that. But, once it becomes nothing more than "Pay-per-view WWF at a theater near you", we'll all be losing what makes "going to a movie" special.

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 03-05-2001, 01:48 PM:

The presentation has been loaded on our QuBit Player.

Seats run $19.95.

Running time: 140 minutes

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 03-06-2001, 08:49 AM:

Here is the text of a flyer that is being handed out.

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Presented in BroadwayDigital(tm) High Definition and 5.1 BroadwaySurround(tm) sound.

Your local movie house becomnes the Great White Way! Broadway Cinema(tm) launches with the premier of Jekyll & Hyde:The Musical in a spectacular high definition display of brillant color, astonishing detail and lush surround sound. A truly unique entertainment experience!

Be the first to witness the thrill of seeing musicals, Direct from Broadway(tm), via cutting edge digital technology that is currently available at selected digital cinema theatres across the country.

Broadway Television Network(tm) captured this gothic tale of love, lust, madness and murder live-in-performance on Broadway, utilizing 10 high definition camers and more than 70 surround sound microphones. Television superstar David Hasselhoff performs the dual title roles in a presentation that will electrify audiences in ways not even experienced on Broadway!

For one night only, the Broadway Cinema(tm) presentation of this international smash hit musical is available to you. It's a theatrical experience you'll never forget!

Presented by:
Broadway Television Network
Dallas Summer Musicals

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I will try to get information tonight (3/6/2001) as it is ready on our player and we open Blow Dry tomorrow so I can watch a bit of the play.

Paul.

Posted by George Roher (Member # 91) on 03-06-2001, 03:08 PM:

This still amounts to paying $20 to sit in a regular movie theatre for two hours. It's not 70mm or Cinerama. It's not even a special 35mm event with the director and cast present. I'd say it's a major rip off. Even if it was a decent 35mm print, it would still be a rip off. And if I understand correctly, the picture quality won't even be the best DLP is capable of.

Paul, what is the aspect ratio of this presentation?

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 03-07-2001, 08:44 AM:

The image ratio appears to HD Widescreen which would put it 16:9.

Playing at HD 720 resolution.