ShoWest/Las Vegas, Nv—Mar 15, 2005
Christie Brings 2K Digital Cinema to Italy
Christie CP2000 Digital Cinema Projector Chosen for First Commercial 2K in Five Italian Cinemas
Christie, a leading provider of
visual solutions for business, entertainment and industry, announced today the
first commercial 2K projection deployment of its Christie CP2000 Digital Cinema
projectors in five Italian cities. Run by Italy’s premiere exhibitors, ARCADIA,
CineCity and CineWorld, the deployment is an initiative to feature more digital
content including Hollywood first-run movies while offering viewers an enhanced
movie-going experience.
The theatres equipped with Christie 2K Digital Cinema projectors featuring 2K
DLP Cinema™ technology include ARCADIA, Melzo-Milan; CineCity, Paradamano;
CineCity, Trieste; CineCity, Silea; and CineWorld, Cagliari, Sardinia. The
largest, brightest screen in the world (98’ x 54’ or 29.9m x 16.5m) found at the
ARCADIA Multiplex outside Milan features Italy’s first-ever Christie 2K Digital
Cinema projector.
“Our goal is to offer our patrons the highest quality in cinema presentation by
introducing in advance the latest technology available,” remarks Laura Fumagalli,
exhibitor and marketing manager of ARCADIA. “The theatrical presentation is a
unique experience you cannot replicate in any other context.”
Concerned that she would be able to illuminate such a big screen, the challenge
was to find a high-quality projector to meet Fumagalli’s high standards. “We
were searching for a Digital Cinema projector which features the highest
quality, the highest reliability and the most advanced technology integrated in
a simple way, operation-wise. The Christie CP2000 has unique features not found
in other projectors. It’s very easy to use, very stable and very reliable,”
Fumagalli explains.
Part of the issue with bringing Digital Cinema to Italian audiences is the lack
of content. Known as a market for dubbed releases, it’s difficult to get
distributors to release their contents digitally on a constant flow basis. “We
are very happy that other exhibitor colleagues are finally joining us,” adds
Fumagalli. With extremely positive reaction from patrons, Fumagalli has been
working with her colleagues to collectively push for digital content from
distributors.
"To date only a relatively small number of people have had the opportunity to
experience true Digital Cinema and those mainly from within the industry,"
stated Richard Nye, Christie's market development manager for Cinema in Europe.
“These installations will provide cinema goers in Italy an opportunity to
embrace the new standard which 2K DLP Cinema represents.”