It’s “all Christie, all the time” as Southern Theatres selects Christie®, the dominant brand in the digital cinema market, to power every auditorium in its new, state-of-the-art 14-screen theater complex at the Esplanade Mall in Kenner, Louisiana.
The Grand 14 Esplanade, scheduled to open December 12, will be the first to feature the “complete Christie experience,” fitted exclusively with Christie Solaria® Series digital cinema projection technology and the Christie® Vive Audio™ systems. Christie’s Managed Services team is providing complete support, from designing the technology floor plan, to installing and integrating all of the products, as well as providing 24/7 remote monitoring, maintenance and support through Christie’s own Network Operations Center.
“We’re excited to bring the latest developments in digital cinema projection and audio technology to our guests with the opening of the Grand 14 Esplanade in Kenner,” said Ron Krueger II, President and Chief Operating Officer, Southern Theatres. “We’re the first theater to power every auditorium with Christie Vive Audio, a revolutionary leap in cinema loudspeaker design that provides the benefit of improved sound coverage for every guest in every seat in the house.”
The Grand 14 Esplanade will offer Southern Theatres’ branded Grand Premium Experience (GPX) auditorium, equipped with the Christie® Duo™ dual-projection system using Christie CP4230 4K DLP Cinema® projectors, ensuring that the RealD 3D images on the huge three story screen are the crispest and brightest possible. The GPX auditorium will also feature Christie Vive Audio configured for 46 channels using Dolby® Atmos™, a new audio solution that revolutionizes the experience of sound in entertainment. The groundbreaking new Christie Vive Audio system features speakers with an innovative single enclosure line array design combined with ribbon driver technology and high-powered Class D amplification – the first to be used in a cinema environment.
The combination of two Christie Solaria projectors and the Christie Duo integration kit is significantly less expensive than other branded ‘big screen’ industry solutions. With lower upfront costs, and no ongoing revenue sharing, Christie Duo is the global solution for creating an affordable, premium large screen movie experience.
“Interest has been exceptionally strong since our launch of Christie Vive Audio in July, with the postproduction and exhibition communities recognizing a unique opportunity to gain a competitive edge by unleashing the full potential of the new generation of digital cinema surround sound technology,” said Patrick Artiaga, director of Business Development, Audio Solutions for Christie. “We’re proud that Southern Theatres has made the Grand 14 Esplanade the world’s first all-inclusive Christie Vive Audio complex, flawlessly complementing it with the crisp images and spectacular video offered by Christie DLP® digital cinema projectors – giving their audience the ultimate movie-viewing experience.”
Specifically created and built for the digital cinema environment, Christie Vive Audio’s unique parabolic line array design envelopes audiences with dynamic, richly detailed and enhanced audio where speech, special effects, music, and alternative content sound incredibly natural and lifelike.
Added Mr. Krueger II, “The GPX auditorium will really allow our guests to fully immerse themselves into a 3D movie— with the unparalleled brightness of Christie 4K resolution digital projection and the combined power of the Christie Vive Audio and Dolby Atmos systems, viewers will experience every sight and sound as if they are actually ‘in the picture.’”
“Christie’s Managed Services team has been involved exclusively since the beginning of the project, providing unparalleled professional consultation, integration, installation, and design services for all of the auditoriums,” said Sean James, vice president of Managed Services at Christie. “We supplied the complete, ‘one-stop-shopping’ solution, developing specifications for audio, projection, screens, power, system/network infrastructure, special audio support, and theater-wide automation solutions.”
Added James: “Our job is not over when the installation is complete. Managed Services will continue to provide the entire theater with 24/7 remote monitoring through Christie’s Network Operations Center, once the site is live.”
