Kodak announced today that Santikos Theatres, the expanding San Antonio-based chain of high quality cinemas, has selected Kodak to be its partner in the circuit’s transformation to digital technology. Installations have begun with the Palladium and the newly-opened Silverado Houston multiplexes, and will continue until all screens have been converted. Kodak is handling the installation.
“It’s great to be the first in what we are sure will be a long line of circuits joining the Kodak family,” said Richard Cieplechowicz, director of business development for the circuit. “The Santikos brand is all about innovation and quality, building theatres that have the best of everything to deliver a great customer experience. Our choice of the Kodak system is consistent with that philosophy.”
“Two weeks ago, we were at the grand opening of the new Silverado IMAX cinema in Houston and it was a very impressive event,” said Chris Simpson, Kodak Digital Cinema director of sales for North America. “It’s clear that they know how to provide a first-class entertainment experience that includes the most innovative concepts throughout their sites, but everywhere it begins with a great image on screen. We’re proud to be the company helping them to deliver that.”
Kodak is a full solution integrator, providing a networked system with all project management, installation and training included. The company also provides remote monitoring and diagnostics, as well as full service and support.
“Beyond their technology, what appealed to us was Kodak’s Business Plan,” Cieplechowicz said. “It really has been designed with an appreciation for how we need to do business -- with a full understanding of our costs and obligations, and with no limitations on the sources of our content or consumables. Kodak has no hidden motives to be a gatekeeper and no charges that will be defined later. Their role is clear – and so is ours. This is a plan – and a system – that fits our needs.”
Kodak’s Business Plan has been under development for some time and is based on the company’s – and the industry’s – experience with digital deployment. It includes financing for initial deployment, as well as agreement in principle, ready for signing, with several major and independent studios for Virtual Print Fee support.
“The guidelines of our plan are finding great acceptance in the industry because they’re straightforward and equitable,” said Simpson. “They are based on the belief that those who benefit from use of the system should share fairly and clearly in the investment. The beneficiaries of digital cinema are the exhibitor, studio and other content providers. In the Kodak Plan, they all have a stake in the game.”
“In a long-tem relationship like this one, it’s important to work with a company we trust, someone with the depth of technology to protect us from uncertainty and the vision to help us keep pace with our ambitions for the future,” said Cieplechowicz. “That’s another reason we chose Kodak.”
