Hollywood, CA—Jul 27, 2005
DIGITAL CINEMA INITIATIVES (DCI) ANNOUNCES FINAL OVERALL SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR DIGITAL CINEMA
Agreement Gives Manufacturers of Digital Projectors and Theater Equipment One
Universal Standard in Creating the Next Generation of Cinemas
Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) has
completed the final overall system requirements and specifications to help
theatrical projector and equipment manufacturers create uniform and compatible
digital cinema equipment throughout the United States, it was announced today by
Walt Ordway, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Cinema Initiatives.
"After three years of careful planning, discussion and reaching out to all the
various constituencies who make up our industry, DCI member studios are pleased
to have reached unanimous agreement on the necessary overall system requirements
and specifications for digital cinema," said Ordway. "We now have a unified
specification that will allow manufacturers to create products that will be
employable at movie theatres throughout the country and, it is hoped, throughout
the world. In fact, the specification is being translated for international
markets."
"These specifications should provide a common ground to spur innovation and
encourage many more players who were previously resistant to invest capital in
technology that may or may not have been viable," said Ordway. "And as the
market gets more competitive, the price of the equipment and its installation -
previously thought to be a major barrier to digital cinema - will become
increasingly affordable, to the point where that stumbling block should no
longer be of consequence."
DCI member studios and industry leaders hailed this long-awaited development,
which will be applicable to both 2K and 4K resolutions.
"Twentieth Century Fox will release all of its theatrical feature film digital
content in full compliance with the DCI specification," Bruce Snyder, President
Domestic Distribution, and Paul Hanneman, Executive Vice President Sales and
Strategic Planning Twentieth Century Fox International, said in a joint
statement. "For the industry to flourish and to provide a smooth transition to
an all digital future, it is essential there be one digital distribution and
exhibition format. That format is the DCI specification."
"With this essential specification now in place, Warner Bros. now plans that by
the end of 2005 we will be releasing our movies in two formats: 35mm film and
DCI digital cinema," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner
Bros. Pictures. "Having the DCI spec in place is a big step forward in the
global distribution of digital films. We look to this standard to be used in our
International releases," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, Distribution,
Warner Bros. Pictures International.
"Sony Pictures completely supports the work done by DCI on the digital cinema
technical specifications. We look forward to releasing our feature films
digitally to cinemas deploying digital cinema systems compliant with the DCI
specifications worldwide," said Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman, Sony Pictures
Entertainment and President, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, Worldwide
Marketing and Distribution.
"The DCI specification represents the right level of quality to ensure that the
digital cinema experience remains the ideal way for moviegoers to enjoy films
well into the future. We look forward to delivering our films into the DCI
digital cinemas in the US and around the world," said Chuck Viane, President of
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and Mark Zoradi, President of Buena Vista
International.
"Paramount embraces the DCI specification for the theatrical exhibition of
digital cinema and we look forward to releasing our films in compliance with
this standard of distribution," said Wayne Lewellen, President, Distribution for
Paramount Pictures. "Exhibition and, most importantly, the movie-going audience
are greatly benefited by the work done by DCI and its resulting specification."
"Universal Pictures is pleased that a unified format has come to fruition as
this will allow both moviegoers and studios to enjoy the benefits of the digital
cinema experience," added Nikki Rocco, President, Distribution for Universal
Pictures. "DCI has worked tirelessly to create an approved uniform standard that
will provide our industry a level of satisfaction regarding how films are being
shown in the digital format."
John Fithian, President of the National Organization of Theater Owners (NATO),
stated, "This spec, created over the past three years by DCI with input from
exhibitors and vendors, is an important step toward making digital cinema a
reality. With this piece now in place, we look forward to working with all the
involved parties to achieve our mutual goal - bringing the best possible
moviegoing experience to the consumer."
"The ASC is proud to have collaborated with DCI during the development of a
final specification for digital cinema," said Richard Crudo, President of The
American Society of Cinematographers. "With the future hard upon us, part of
that effort involved creation of the StEM (Standard Evaluation Material) film.
Besides marking a great milestone in our traditional role as 'guardians of the
image,' it also recalled one of the main reasons that led to the start of our
organization in 1919. And though the industry may not yet realize what debt they
owe this achievement, its significance will be plain to anyone who views a
motion picture for many, many years to come."
"This is an important milestone in the advancement of the theatrical motion
picture," commented Frank Pierson, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
president. "In its first hundred years our art form made a forceful universal
impression, at least partly because worldwide standards for projecting film were
adopted early on. The next hundred years are likely to be similarly affected by
DCI's work in defining how digital motion pictures will be presented to world
audiences."
Said Jim Cameron and Jon Landau, "All of us at Lightstorm Entertainment are
thrilled that DCI has finalized their digital cinema standards. We believe this
now opens the door for the roll out of digital cinema, which will revolutionize
the cinematic experience for moviegoers around the world. We look forward to
presenting our next feature film in 3D Stereo at DCI compliant theaters."
George Lucas and Rick McCallum said, "It's a giant leap forward for those of us
who create movies and, perhaps more importantly, for everyone who sees them. We
have been advocates of digital cinema for nearly a decade, and this is a day we
have long hoped would come. Digital cinema will increasingly become the standard
and will change the way movies are made, seen and experienced around the world."
"Standardized digital theater equipment is as significant to motion picture
exhibition as DVD was for the home video industry," said John Lasseter,
Executive Vice President, Pixar Animation Studios. Mr. Lasseter directed Toy
Story 2, the first film in motion picture history to be entirely created,
mastered and exhibited digitally. "Even the best film presentation starts to
wear out after a few weeks, but with digital cinema the last screening is as
pristine as the first. DCI's new universal standard will enable audiences to see
Pixar's digitally rendered films with the same consistency of color, detail, and
resolution the world over."
"Hallelujah - It's about time!" commented Robert Zemeckis.
"This is a great day for digital cinema with the completion of the DCI
Specification. I am looking forward to releasing my films in a manner that
reflects my creative intent," added Robert Rodriguez.
Internationally, the announcement was greeted with equal support. The UK
National Film Trust released the following statement: "The completion of the DCI
specification is a major milestone for all digital cinema efforts around the
world. The NFT's Digital Test Bed (UK) supports and will continue playing an
active role in the efforts to see the specification turned into standards that
will help make high-end digital cinema a large scale reality in the UK, Europe
and in the rest of the world."
"We congratulate DCI in the completion of the digital cinema specifications.
This is a significant milestone in the digital cinema development worldwide as
it brings us a big step closer to realizing the true benefits of digital cinema.
IDA is happy to support DCI's specifications as Singapore can contribute as the
Digital Exchange hub to better manage and distribute content digitally," said
Mr. KHOONG Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive, Industry, Infocomm Development
Authority of Singapore (IDA).
International exhibitors also expressed their enthusiasm for this crucial
turning point in the implementation of digital cinema worldwide.
"We acknowledge DCI's tremendous work on gathering inputs from the whole
industry and now releasing its Digital Cinema Technical Specification," said
Laura Fumagalli, exhibitor of the Arcadia Cinema in Milan. "By introducing
Digital Cinema equipment compliant to DCI's Specification, Arcadia continues its
commitment to offer Italian patrons the best theatrical movie experience."
"The movie-going experience is a special one, but in order to continue drawing
large audiences, theatres must outpace competing media," said Charles S. Swartz,
executive director/CEO of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC. "DCI's
digital cinema specifications not only set the stage for higher quality
theatrical presentation, they also help insure the global nature of cinema
exhibition for films and countries, large and small. The Entertainment
Technology Center at USC is proud to have played a part in DCI's landmark work."
Ordway concluded "We have finally reached a consensus that all of our various
constituencies can not only live with, but should also embrace. Studios,
exhibitors, and most important of all, the audiences who love movies will now be
able to enjoy all the benefits and possibilities that digital cinema offers.
