Digital cinema financing in Europe continues to take center stage in European forums. At this year’s Media Salles event, held in Helsinki, government officials of several Nordic countries explained differences in proposed programs designed to support independent cinema owners. But some terms were questionable. The Swedish government, for instance, will finance 60% of equipment costs but require that 25% of the content played to be Swedish.
Ari Saarinen of Finnish exhibitor Finnkino demonstrated impressive digital cinema outside of Helsinki using a solid (non-perforated) screen and speakers placed above the screen. The values of a non-perforated screen are several: they reflect more light (more efficient), there is no opportunity for the pixel array structure of the projector and the perf pattern of the screen to create a Moire pattern, and the sound system does not require the tremendous high frequency boost needed to overcome the high frequency absorption of the screen. The sound system was developed by Sweden-based Anders Uggleberg, who sells under the name Procella Audio. Your author was not the only one impressed. Rolv Gjestland of Film & Kino reports that the system will be installed in some of Norway’s new digital cinema deployments. Anders says he has not publicized the system as yet beyond the Nordic countries.
Jonathan Ross, former Director, Digital Cinema & Non-Theatrical Distribution at Fox, has reportedly taken a new role with XpanD in the US. Congratulations to Jonathan! We’ll be looking for you in your new 3-D glasses.
