The Big Picture

CinemaCon 2018: Understanding the Opportunities

Wed, 04/18/2018 - 10:44 -- Nick Dager

The motion picture industry convenes April 22-26 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for the sixth edition of CinemaCon. Vegas has always struck me as the perfect place for the National Association of Theatre Owners to holds its annual convention because the movie business itself is a gamble: for every movie that wins big there are too many others that don’t. Meanwhile, in a world of ever-increasing competition, exhibitors have to find enough steady customers to maintain and, ideally, grow their business. Then there is technology. Today most of the movie theatres in the world operate on a digital platform, which means that a Pandora’s box of technology enhancements are there for the taking. There are a wide range of choices that can boost movie theatre attendance, productivity and profitability. But which ones are right for your theatre? Choosing the right technology and, paying for it, is the challenge. Success requires understanding the opportunities.

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CinemaCon 2018

Engaging Patrons Outside Moviehouse

Thu, 03/15/2018 - 11:37 -- Nick Dager

Moviehouse and Eatery, a Texas exhibitor whose theatres feature wall-to-wall screens, plush recliners and a full-service kitchen and bar with a chef-prepared menu, had a challenge: they wanted to build a social media presence to harness their existing clients’ experience and leverage the engagement to further their overall marketing efforts. In May 2015 M&E engaged Social Flash Media, a local Austin, Texas company to dramatically improve their social presence by way of their existing clientele. SFM has created what the company says is the first unattended marketing social photo station powering a diverse social marketing pipeline.

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Social Flash Media

The Color of Emotions

Tue, 03/06/2018 - 15:11 -- Nick Dager

Screen actors convey emotion in several ways: their voices, their eyes and the subtle color changes of their facial skin. But what if – as in the case of Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning performance in Darkest Hour – much of their face is covered in silicone? That was one of the key questions Peter Doyle, supervising colorist at Technicolor, addressed when he collaborated on the film’s palette.

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Dolby Vision

Exhibitors Speak: The Future of Cinema

Wed, 12/06/2017 - 12:24 -- Nick Dager

Digital Cinema Report recently teamed up with global cinema software leader Arts Alliance Media to ask exhibitors around the world how they see their businesses evolving over the next five years. We especially wanted to know their thoughts on technology, both what they’re using today and what they plan to use in the future. I sat down with John Aalbers, CEO of AAM to discuss the survey results.

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Arts Alliance Media

Fathom’s Second Act

Wed, 11/15/2017 - 09:01 -- Nick Dager

This past July, Ray Nutt succeeded John Rubey at Fathom Events becoming the company’s second CEO in its four-year history. While many things at Fathom remain the same, there have already been some changes under Nutt. Among them, the fact that the company has started releasing its revenue figures on a regular basis. Not surprisingly, what those numbers show is that event cinema is big business and that, as the dominant company in the market, Fathom is a force to be reckoned with.

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Fathom Events

Samsung Disrupts the Cinema Market

Thu, 10/05/2017 - 11:39 -- Nick Dager

For a company that’s relatively new to the professional cinema business, Samsung has had an impressive year and there are no signs it’s slowing down. In March at CinemaCon 2017 in Las Vegas, and working with GDC Technology, the company created a major stir by unveiling its prototype LED Cinema Screen. Two months later it finalized its $8 billion acquisition of audio giant Harman International, including, importantly here, the JBL cinema group. Following that, and in short order, the company received DCI-compliance certification for its LED screen technology and installed its first commercial cinema screen in South Korea. A few weeks ago, Samsung installed a second LED screen in the same South Korean theatre. In just seven months Samsung has seriously disrupted the professional cinema market.

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Samsung LED Cinema Screen

Raising the Stakes

Thu, 06/29/2017 - 12:52 -- Nick Dager

Netflix this week committed to streaming its movies in both Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision high-dynamic range formats. It is the first global on-demand service to commit to combining both formats. Okja, the critically praised Netflix Original Film, is the first film available in both formats. Additional Dolby-supported titles are coming soon, and the catalog will continue to grow. Okja will be released to select movie theatres this week as well. Netflix has raised the stakes again.

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Netflix
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Vision

Why Color Workflows Matter

Fri, 06/09/2017 - 11:05 -- Sarah Priestnall

Designing a precise color workflow during pre-production can save motion picture projects time and money. The larger and more complex the project, the more the potential for savings. Digital imaging technician Francesco Giardello (Pan, Game of Thrones, Ben-Hur, Thor: The Dark World) can accurately be described as a pioneer in the use of the Academy Color Encoding System on-set. He recently designed a set-to-post color workflow using ACES for the movie Life, directed by Daniel Espinosa and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson and Ryan Reynolds. This space thriller from Sony tells the story of the crew aboard the International Space Station and what happens when they encounter extra-terrestrial life in the form of an organism they name Calvin. On Life, Giardello worked closely with cinematographer Seamus McGarvey ASC BSC. The main cameras used were Arri Alexa 65s although, according to Giardello, several other cameras were also utilized. I spoke with Giardello about the color workflow used on Lif

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ACES

Memorable Impressions

Mon, 05/15/2017 - 11:44 -- Nick Dager

There’s a reason why the classic Warner Bros. film Casablanca has remained one of the world’s favorite movies for more than seventy years. There’s also a reason why, for more than a century, people the world over have loved countless other Hollywood films: movies are magic. And, there’s a reason – more than one in fact – why advertising in cinemas is so effective. Movies connect with us in very emotional ways and leave memories that can last a lifetime. Which was, in essence, the case that Screenvision Media made in its Upfront presentation last week: content in a darkened theatre on the big screen creates memorable impressions.

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Screenvision Media

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