The American Society of Cinematographers board of governors has elected a new slate of officers, elevating Stephen Lighthill to president of the organization. The board also voted in vice presidents Amy Vincent, Bill Bennett, and John Simmons; treasurer Levie Isaacks; secretary Gregg Heschong; and sergeant-at-arms David Darby.
The Directors Guild of America recently completed a total renovation of its flagship motion picture exhibition space at the prestigious DGA Theatre in Los Angeles. Guided by a guild committee of six leading filmmakers, the renewal project has moved the 600-seat theatre to the forefront of cinema technology with the installation of custom-built Dolby Vision laser projection and a Dolby Atmos immersive sound system encompassing more than 70 Meyer Sound cinema loudspeakers.
Cinema history was made earlier this year when the South Korean black-comedy thriller Parasite became the first subtitled film in 92 years to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Director Bong Joon-ho used his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, where the film also won awards, to champion subtitles and encouraged audiences not to be put off by foreign language films. He said once audiences “overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles” they will be introduced to so many amazing films. He added that we use only one language: “the cinema."
The Hollywood Section of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has launched a new webinar series aimed at young people interested in behind-the-scenes careers in the entertainment industry. Titled Ask a Hollywood Expert, the series features successful, young professionals, across a range of technical disciplines including post production, visual effects and editorial, talking about how they got their start and what they learned as they advanced in their careers.
Digital Cinema Report has learned more details about LG’s entry into the LED Cinema Screen market. According to a company source, the screen does not yet have an official name but its model number is LAD033F. The company has not officially announced that it is entering the cinema market and, as such, is not making public statements about its screen.
Reading International today announced that it has begun limited cinema operations in New Zealand and will commence operating certain Reading Cinemas in Australia on June 11 in line with government and health department regulations following recent easing of certain government mandated COVID-19 closures.
Estudios GGM, Mexico’s largest independent production facility, is unveiling three new soundstages as it prepares to resume production activity in June. Ranging from 10,000 to 13,000 square feet, the new stages will be the studio’s largest and give it a total of nine shooting spaces. Construction of one stage is already complete while work on the other two will be finished by November when the studio expects to be supporting a full slate of television and feature productions.
When it came time for cinematographer John Conroy to develop the look for Showtime’s Penny Dreadful: City of Angels spin-off, he had already shot eight episodes of the original Penny Dreadful under his belt.
Kelly Tricarico is the founder, president and CEO of Cinema Pro, Inc and has been involved in the entertainment construction industry for nearly twenty years. She is also an executive member of the board of the newly formed trade group Women in Exhibition. As movie theatres around the country slowly begin to reopen I wanted to get Tricarico’s thoughts about the challenges involved in getting movie theatres ready for the public as we slowly emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
Australia and New Zealand’s largest film exhibitor, Event Cinemas, has released the results from the largest survey of cinemagoers. Conducted in April and May, more than 20,000 Australians provided opinions and captured sentiment on returning to cinemas once they reopen. Overwhelmingly, Australians say they are comfortable returning to cinemas with social distancing measures in place with 94 percent confirming that they intend to return at the same frequency or more as before the pandemic.
