Camarillo, CA—Jan 12, 2004
Technicolor Digital Cinema Installs First 2K DLP Cinema™ Projector at a Commercial Theatre in North America
Installation at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Demonstrates TDC’s Commitment and Capability to Support 2K and 4K Projection Technologies
Technicolor Digital Cinema (TDC), a global leader in the development of
end-to-end distribution technology and support services for the delivery of
digital cinema to theatres worldwide, has installed the first 2K DLP Cinema™
projector at a commercial theatre in North America -- the Grauman’s Chinese
Theatre in Hollywood.
Following installation in early December, Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Last
Samurai became the first feature film commercially presented in North America
using a 2K digital cinema projector. The 2K digital format offers higher
resolution compared to the existing 1.2K format as a result of Texas
Instruments’ 2K DLP Cinema™ technology and represents the next evolution in
digital cinema distribution and exhibition. TDC installed the latest 2K
technology at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to complement a previously installed
TDC digital cinema system. According to Dave Elliott, Chief Executive Officer
of Technicolor Digital Cinema, the pilot installation was done in step with
the industry’s standards testing of the 2K format to examine its versatility.
“TDC is committed to working with DCI and the industry as they evaluate 2K and
4K digital cinema technologies,” said Elliott. “This installation is an
example of TDC's leadership in helping the industry to evaluate and test
digital cinema technologies as well as TDC's capability to support and
integrate 2K and 4K projection technologies into the company’s digital cinema
workflow and auditorium management systems.”
Besides Technicolor’s distribution and in-theatre management systems, the key
to the installation was the Christie CP2000-H projector, one of Christie’s
comprehensive lines of digital cinema solutions. Designed for exhibitors,
Christie’s CP Series projectors provide the advanced technologies and
performance to accommodate the 2K format. “We are pleased to be working with
TDC and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to provide the projection
technology that made this industry first possible,” noted Craig Sholder,
senior director, business development and cinema sales.
“We are delighted at Mann Theatres to be involved with Technicolor in
premiering the newest 2K digital projection technology, which has enabled us,
for the first time, to project onto the full 75 foot width of our screen at
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre,” said Peter Dobson, Co-CEO of Mann Theatres. “Early
comments are very positive both from the studios as well as the public and we
look forward to an ongoing relationship with Technicolor as we progress the
age of digital technology.”
TDC offers a fully integrated suite of digital cinema services and solutions,
which include compression, encryption, distribution, storage and
scheduling/playback as well as in-theatre management systems, maintenance and
support. TDC develops and maintains its own digital cinema systems, currently
installed in more than 40 theatres worldwide, as well as supporting digital
cinema systems installed worldwide. These sites support the industry’s
research and evaluation efforts relative to technology and standards, such as
the 2K format.
TDC continues to work closely with studios to support current digital cinema
releases. To date, TDC has managed 52 digital releases for seven studios,
including most recently: Master and Commander, Brother Bear, Once Upon a Time
in Mexico, Spy Kids 3, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo, and X Men 2.
All told, TDC has supported more than 70,000 digital showings.