Technicolor demonstrated its 3-D film process at ShowEast. Depending on lens configuration, the system costs $5-$7K. It’s a double-flash system, a method that was discarded in favor of triple-flash with digital systems. Studio support remains split. Disney and Fox are decidedly against it. Technicolor may find a market with smaller operators inside and outside the US. But even that market will deteriorate should a competitive non-compatible 3-D film format be introduced.
Hard drive formatting issues were reported at this month’s ISDCF meeting. Digital cinema hard drives are formatted using the “ext3” file system for compatibility with both Windows and Linux systems. However, the latest version of Linux changed the default ext3 parameters, such that some servers have difficulty reading the files. In addition, some hard drive duplicators are formatting incorrectly, causing difficulties with Windows systems.
SMPTE is preparing to release two versions of SMPTE RP 428-6 Digital Leader for use in digital cinema. SMPTE 428-6 development was chaired by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and passed ballot earlier this year. One version will be sold for use as leader for digital movies. Another version will be sold as test material for aligning digital projectors.
System developers at ShowEast report growing interest for an open media block interface. Such an interface will allow the development of commodity media blocks for installation inside projectors, and 3rd party software applications for screen system interface and theatre management systems. No formal effort has yet been organized.
Digital Finance Limited of Ireland announced the signing of four deployment agreements with Disney, Fox, Paramount, and Universal. DFL’s roots go back to Avica, which advocated national conversion as the most efficient transition to digital projection. MKPE Consulting LLC facilitated the negotiations on behalf of DFL.