inside Top studios sign up with DCSS Studios agree digital cinema deployment STORY ON P.03

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1 4K ISSUE 6 FALL 2008 r e d e f i n i n g t h e d i g i t a l c i n e m a e x p e r i e n c e Sony unveils single-projector 3D Photo courtesy Real D 3D adaptor for Sony 4K projector expands business opportunities for exhibitors Sony has unveiled its latest digital cinema technology innovation: a single-projector 3D adaptor designed specifically to work with its 4K projectors in movie theatres. With a huge line-up of new movies being launched in 3D, as well as many sports and alternative content owners experimenting with the format, the announcement of the new 3D adaptor for 4K projectors gives cinema owners the chance to benefit from both 4K quality and 3D pictures. The new adaptor uses the full height of Sony s 4K resolution SXRD imaging device, with the ability to display full 2K images for the left and right eye simultaneously and in parallel, from top and bottom. With the addition of the 3D adaptor to our digital cinema product line-up, Sony can now offer the best of both worlds to exhibition: stunning 4K imagery CONTINUED ON P.02 inside Top studios sign up with DCSS Studios agree digital cinema deployment STORY ON P.03 4K production workflow Movie-makers in Hollywood take advantage of 4K STORY ON P.04 Sony can now offer the best of both worlds: stunning 4K imagery and incredible 3D. Gary Johns, Sony Electronics Muvico to install 4K across group Sony Electronics Digital Cinema Solutions and Services (DCSS) group in the US has signed an agreement with Muvico Entertainment that will outfit its existing and new complexes with Sony s 4K projection technology. STORY ON BACK PAGE REGISTER NOW FOR MORE ON 4K CINEMA

2 editorial Welcome to issue 6. The recent announcements by Warner Bros and Sony Pictures confirming a greater supply of new and restored movies in 4K, together with the increasing use of the new generation of 4K digital cameras by established film-makers and rising stars alike, is making 2008 the landmark year for the DCI's forward looking format. Notably, this year's highest box office success to-date, The Dark Knight, and the forth highest, Hancock, were both given a 4K release. With a number of leading cinema circuits announcing their decisions to significantly increase their 4K installed base, more and more theatre goers will be enjoying the best possible 2D cinema experience today and for many years to come. The announcement of Sony's 3D Adaptor is icing on the cake. The unique system is the first designed to fully take advantage of mainstream 3D movies and the faster moving 3D alternative content beginning to appear. CHRIS DICKINSON, EDITOR CONTINUED FROM P.01 from 4K movies, and incredible 3D with no triple-flash artifacts, said Gary Johns, Vice President of Sony Electronics digital cinema systems division in the US. The adaptor is designed to work with a maximum screen size of 17 metres / 55 feet. Sony demonstrated the 3D adaptor in a technology suite at ShowEast in Orlando. The 3D adaptor is expected to be available in March The new lens units, LKRL-A002 and LKRL-A003, have zoom ratios of (x ) and (x ) respectively, and consist of an optical and mechanical assembly for each left and right eye image. The system is designed to meet DCI specifications for 3D digital projection, while overcoming the bandwidth and resolution limitations of currently available single-projector 3D systems. When used with Sony s integrated media block (LMT-200), the SRX-R220 4K projector is able to achieve 4:4:4 12-bit RGB signal path from the media block, while avoiding the triple-flash artifacting of current 3D solutions. It can also deliver a 60P 3D display that is especially effective for sports or other fast-moving content in 3D. The system was developed to give exhibitors the flexibility to switch between showing 4K and 3D content. The 3D adaptor attaches onto the lens mount of the projector and is compatible with Sony 4K SXRD projectors currently in the field using the LMT-200 Media Block. It can be easily removed or re-attached within minutes D boosts alternative content The announcement of the new 3D adaptor for 4K projection systems further opens up the market for 3D alternative content Productions such as the U2 3D concert last year and, more recently, the fantastically successful Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour have helped make 3D the hottest thing in town. Now with the new 3D adaptor for Sony 4K SXRD projectors, which is the only system available that can do 60P for sports, 3D is able to capture and show alternative content like never before. Todd Cogan, Vice President of business development at the leading 3D technology company, PACE, says 3D does much better in theatres. I ve heard a lot of business models for 3D, Cogan says. 3D movies are getting three times the revenue of 2D and staying three times as long in theatres. PACE has been involved in the production of 14 of the last 15 3D movies and Cogan says the next two big productions the industry is awaiting are James Cameron s Avatar and Disney s Jonas Brothers Burning Up Tour, which is headed for the big screen in D definitely is the future, Cogan says, there are tons of projects in development. But it s not about eye-poking gimmicks, it s about expressing things naturally. Shooting Hannah Montana with the PACE Fusion 3D rig Almost every major sport is also testing 3D, he says. The new Sony 3D adaptor for its 4K projection system will be a major boost for this market. It s a good thing, Cogan says. The image looks good and it has the It has the ability to show higher frame rates up to 60P, which a lot of sports require. Todd Cogan, PACE ability to show higher frame rates up to 60P, which a lot of sports require. It is an optical solution, as opposed to a mechanical solution, the only single-projector solution that does 3D at 60P. The Jonas Brothers are predicted to further push the audience for 3D when their movie comes out, providing a showcase for 3D content. It features the same director and producer team that made Hannah Montana. Now they re about to create a wonderful theatrical experience for this latest musical phenomenon, says Oren Aviv, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production.

3 Studio lots Top studios enter digital cinema deployment agreements with Sony Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment have entered into separate non-exclusive digital cinema deployment agreements with Sony Electronics Digital Cinema Solutions and Services (DCSS) group. The agreements relate to supplying exhibitors with feature motion pictures in digital form in order to promote the use of digital cinema projection. The new agreements will provide certain operational and financial resources to encourage exhibitors to implement digital cinema systems that will feature Sony s DCI-compliant 4K SXRD projection technology. In a joint statement, Bruce Snyder, President of domestic distribution of Twentieth Century Fox and Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus, Co-Presidents of Twentieth Century Fox International said, Fox is committed to supporting the highest-quality solutions for exhibitors as they make their transition to digital cinema on a global basis. It is important that exhibitors worldwide have the widest choice of solutions available to them. By working with Sony and its range of available technology, experience and stability, our goal is to continue to make the transition to DCI-compliant digital projection systems as smooth as possible. Jim Tharp, Paramount Pictures President of domestic theatrical distribution added: Paramount is committed to maximizing new, creative opportunities to encourage the conversion to digital projection and to broadening the availability of high quality 3D cinema. Our collaboration with Sony s DCSS team is a great step toward that end. Sony s 4K SXRD projection technology will also contribute to the deployment of alternative content including gaming, sporting events and music concerts. According to Jeff Blake, Chairman, worldwide RENT: filmed live on Broadway, shown as part of Sony Picture s Hot Ticket initiative Fox is committed to supporting the highestquality solutions for exhibitors as they make their transition to digital cinema on a global basis. Bruce Snyder, Paul Hanneman and Tomas Jegeus, Fox marketing and distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, These agreements continue to push the evolution of our industry to 4K, from acquisition through to exhibition. Sony Pictures recently launched The Hot Ticket, dedicated to exploring and creating alternative programming for digital presentation in theatres. Recently, it has shown RENT: filmed live on Broadway. The Sony DCSS group was formed to provide turnkey solutions for exhibitors, enabling them to efficiently convert their operations to digital technology. The group can also offer critical services for exhibitors such as installation and maintenance. 4K lab to offer comparisons with 2K Sony has launched a new 4K lab in Los Angeles for all studios to use Putting the reality of 4K right in front of you is the aim of Sony s 4K lab, situated at Sony Pictures in Los Angeles. The lab is a co-operative effort, the result of input from both Sony Electronics in the US and Sony Pictures, and it s set to open late October Andrew Stucker, Director of Sony Digital Cinema Systems in the US is managing the lab alongside Sony s Digital Cinema technology team. He says the facility will offer complete 4K development and testing facilities for users. The lab will give valuable information on 4K software and Digital Cinema Package (DCP) testing, both for Sony s own use, and for the benefit of the studios such as Warner Bros., Paramount, Fox and Disney, who will all be using the facility, Stucker explains. Once we re operational, the facilities will be open to anyone developing 4K workflow systems. The facilities will be open to anyone developing 4K workflow systems. Andrew Stucker, Sony Electronics 3

4 4K hits the big time The 4K production pipeline is a reality for movie-makers in Los Angeles Quantum of Solace Bond visual effects shot at 4K 4K cameras used to capture complex effects sequence Quantum of Solace, the 22nd James Bond film, includes a complex visual effects shot captured with eight 4K cameras. The shot, featuring Daniel Craig and actress Olga Kurylenko, involved simultaneously shooting with eight shutter-synchronized DALSA Origin 4K cameras. The decision to shoot in 4K was made by visual effects designer, Kevin Tod Haug. The eight DALSA cameras recorded their data to eight CODEX digital disc recorders. Then, after the shoot, the CODEX disc packs were delivered to sohonet in London for backup, after which the RAW 4K files were delivered to Double Negative in Soho for rendering and final compositing. David Stump, ASC, the consulting VFX Cinematographer, collaborated with Director of Photography Roberto Schaefer, ASC, on the shoot. Stump observes, Working with uncompressed 4K gave us the ability to mine the maximum amount of detail from the scene. The low noise floor of the DALSA enabled us see every nuance of detail from the dark blacks of the clothing. Working with uncompressed 4K gave us the ability to mine the maximum amount of detail from the scene. David Stump, VFX Cinematographer 4 It s time to change how you see 4K not as an emerging format, but as the current topquality medium. Andrew Oran, VP of large format at Californian post facility FotoKem, works with large format content for a range of venues, from theatres, to museums and theme parks. For him, 4K mastering is being spearheaded by giant-screen venues, with screens up to 100 feet in size. Filling that kind of screen requires at least 4K resolution, preferably from a super-sampled large format film source. Currently, FotoKem has a large and diverse roster of 4K work-in-progress. IMAX-format documentaries include the new 3D underwater film, Wild Ocean, We the People, about the founding fathers, and the wildlife film, Animalopolis. 4K digital re-mastering projects include the IMAX-format documentary, Serengeti. The feature length film, Samsara, from director Ron Fricke, will have a 4K DI some time in 2009, sourced from 65mm/5perf negative scanned at 8K. For Oran, using any 65mm film source and giving it a super-sampled 8K or 11K to 4K treatment, means you're getting the maximum amount of resolution and contrast possible in the medium. He adds, It was really important that Chris Nolan used IMAX format 65mm negative for some of The Dark Knight. The end product for these shots and sequences looked noticeably better, and has allowed people who needed to be persuaded about super-sampled 4K to see the benefit. Warner Bros. The Dark Knight, which had a 4K release, is the biggest movie of 2008 and the fourth biggest all-time grosser, with worldwide sales of over $990 million to date. Cost reduction For Oran, the increased cost of 4K stems from the fact that it takes longer to transfer the files and render them, in a business where time equals money. However, along with FotoKem Digital Producer, Daniel Rapo, he predicts that these costs will come down. The costs will become more acceptable. We're at a crossroads now, where 2K is more common, but 4K is where everyone is aiming, says Rapo. Archiving is key too, adds Oran mastering and storing the content in higher resolution increases that asset's usability for the future. There's also going to be a continuing need to separate the theatrical market from the home market. As home entertainment improves, it's crucial that theatrical content must be very much noticeably better than the home experience. However, it s not just giant screen venues driving 4K growth. Denis Leconte, VP of software engineering and resident 4K agitator at Post Logic, says, There s seldom a time when we don't have any 4K somewhere in our pipeline. 4K cameras For Leconte, the increasing supply of 4K digital cameras is driving 4K uptake. As 4K camera material is 4K from the outset, it's a logical step to keep them at 4K through the pipeline, he believes. For Leconte, the case for working in 4K over 2K is simple. There s far more information in a 4K frame. While improved image resolution doesn t automatically mean improved image quality, it can do so, and with care along the imaging and data handling chain, it does. It also gives better quality downstream, lower-resolution deliverables, and a 4K-originated product will generally yield far better HD material than if it was originated at 2K. The costs of 4K are also coming down, adds Leconte. You could compare the increased difficulty of working in 4K at the moment, to working at 2K four or five years ago, remembering that machines keep getting faster and storage more affordable. Now, we re getting to the point where 4K is coming out of the lab and making inroads into the mainstream of production. Warner Bros. has long been at the forefront of adopting new technologies, and it s no surprise that it s hard at work on several 4K projects, as Daphne Dentz, VP, digital services, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging, explains. The company is currently scanning the 1954 version of A Star is Born at 6K, as well as a 4K restoration of other classics, such as Dr Zhivago, North by Northwest and the Godfather trilogy for Paramount Pictures. Denz says, We scan as many of our films in 4K or higher How the West Was Won was

5 Scanning at 4K gives four times the information of 2K, allowing colorists much more latitude and audiences a better viewing experience. Daphne Dentz, Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Pictures 1954 classic, A Star Is Born, starring Judy Garland, is being remastered at 6K also scanned in 6K and we create 4K elements for the releases we handle both for archival and commercial purposes. Scanning at 4K gives four times the information of 2K, allowing colorists much more latitude and audiences a better viewing experience. There s also the archival angle. Putting the best possible elements, with the most information possible, into the vault, as Dentz puts it. With 2K, the elements you put back in the vault basically have the same resolution as HD television. When we futureproof, we want as much information as possible available to new technologies, so they can mine that information. As technology progresses, scanning becomes faster, storage less expensive, and 4K projectors will be more available, so the rest of the industry will come into line with our philosophy, says Dentz. 4K will become the standard. More films in 4K Sony Pictures announces more 4K productions Sony Pictures Entertainment has announced that it will use 4K digital technology in the making of most of its filmed productions. With the industry moving rapidly to embrace the improvement in quality that digital cinema can offer, we believe that 4K resolution gives audiences the best seat in the house, says Gary Martin, President of production administration and studio operations for Sony Pictures Entertainment. That s why we will be making more of our filmed productions using 4K digital technology. The crisp and vibrant images provided by 4K are the only way to ensure that audiences both today and in the future will really be able to see the full range of what we can capture on film. Sony Pictures has already released the summer blockbuster Hancock in 4K, with the motion picture grossing more than $620 million worldwide. The next motion pictures to be digitally imaged in 4K by Sony Pictures, and available for 4K distribution, are expected to be 2012, Salt, and The Green Hornet, with more titles to be announced. This commitment from Sony Pictures continues the momentum that is building behind 4K, says Gary Johns, Vice President, Sony Electronics digital cinema systems division in the US. Exhibitors are realizing that 4K is a reality now, for enhancing their customers experiences, and studio support is a critical element to take advantage of the superior resolution of Sony s 4K projection system. The growing number of 4Kequipped theatres will now have even more 4K content available to offer customers. We believe that 4K resolution gives audiences the best seat in the house. Gary Martin, Sony Pictures Entertainment Hancock 5

6 Does 4K really make a difference? New white paper reveals the advantages of 4K for theatre audiences Movie theatres are making an historic transformation from film to digital projection. In the digital world, pixels are replacing film grain as the basic elements of a picture. The Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) have defined two image resolution formats to release future movies, 2K and 4K, with differing pixel counts and differing capabilities of displaying picture detail. Chris Cookson, President of Sony Pictures Digital Technologies, is a leading pioneer of 4K. Drawing on his vast experience in 4K at Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, Cookson has produced a white paper examining the relative merits of the two cinema image standards. 2K provides an image of up to 2.2 million pixels, while 4K represents 8.8 million pixels. With new-style stadium seating in theatres, the audience now sits so close to the screen that, at 2K, they can see the pixels. In this case, only 4K does the job. The complete white paper can be downloaded at Sony Pictures classic, Dr Strangelove, restored at 4K Northern lights Norway pushes ahead with 4K In September, Bergen s Cinematheque was the latest Norwegian theatre to install 4K, as part of its commitment to give audiences the highest quality viewing experience possible. The Cinematheque is a local cinema, which screens largely classic films and art house features. They chose 4K primarily because they are passionate about the qualities of photochemical film, says Torkell Saetervadet, the Technical Director of Unique Cinema Systems, which installed the 4K system. They want to see digital film projected as closely as possible to original film. As more and more classic films are being restored on digital, 4K makes it possible to screen at a higher resolution. The Sony SRX R210 projector was installed in Bergen by Unique at the beginning of September. By the last week of the month, the latest generation of Sony 4K SXRD projection systems was in place for the cinema s first 4K screening, presenting Stanley Kubrick s black comedy, Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. The original black and white 1964 film, starring Peter Sellers, was digitized in 4K for cinema presentation in 2006 and was provided to the Cinematheque courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Bergen s Cinematheque is one of seven Norwegian cinemas, part of a project known as the National Digital Cinematheque. The project is a joint initiative, led by the Norwegian Film Institute, to allow digitized classic and contemporary films to reach a larger audience. The first two screens to install 4K and become part of the NDC are in Oslo and Bergen. Norway is ahead in digital cinema. Torkell Saetervadet, Unique Cinema Systems The NDC was planning a first screening across all the Cinematheques nationwide scheduled for the end of October, when they showed the legendary 1958 musical South Pacific, as restored digitally. The Norwegian government has a commitment for all cinema screens to go digital, scheduled for Unique has installed five Sony 4K projectors into cinemas across Norway, with another linedup in the near future. These cinemas are able to show the increasing number of quality-enhanced 4K movie releases, as well as exhibiting standard 2K movies, which the projector automatically upconverts to a 4K image. The added bonus is that, with the significant number of archived movies being restored at 4K, cinemas are given new opportunities to introduce revitalized classics to entirely new audiences. Norway is ahead in digital cinema, says Saetervadet. Telenor leads research on digital future Telenor Research and Innovation (R&I) has installed a Sony 4K SXRD SRX-R210 at its base at Fornebu, outside Oslo, Norway. The 4K equipment will be used to investigate the increasing possibilities of d-cinema. Norwegian cinemas will be digital in a few years, says Arnfinn Nyseth, Project Manager at Telenor R&I. This also makes it possible to use the cinema houses for various events, in addition to movies. Telenor is emerging as one of the fastest growing providers of mobile communications services worldwide and is also the largest provider of TV services in the Nordic region. R&I s work with 4K has already explored the area of live sport on the big screen. In June we had a marvellous experience when, together with selected guests, we had a screening of the Euro 2008 in our cinema, says Nyseth. We had a 200Mb/s fibre link from Austria and the video quality was splendid. I have never seen live football like this on a screen. Norway is ahead of the game with digital cinema. Its Digital Interoperability in Cinemas (NORDIC) project has been behind Europe s largest digital cinema deployment beta test. The Norwegian government is preparing for a switch-over of all cinemas to digital. Norway telecom pioneer researches 4K alternative content opportunities 6

7 Cathay installs 4K in Singapore Cathay and Sony first installations of the Sony 4K SXRD digital cinema systems in Asia Cathay Cineplexes has installed Sony 4K SXRD projection systems in its cinemas in Singapore. The ultra-high-resolution SRX-R220 digital cinema system combines Sony s Media Block servers and Screen Management System. In addition to showcasing 4K digital film content, Cathay Cineplexes is also looking forward to showcasing alternative content through the 4K SXRD digital cinema systems. Cathay Cineplexes has been showcasing alternative content and now intends to feature screenings of live sporting events and live entertainment features such as concerts. Cathay Cineplexes is continually committed to providing quality entertainment to our valued patrons so that movie-goers can immerse themselves in a superior cinematic experience, says Suhaimi Radfdi, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Organization Holdings Ltd. Through the deployment of Sony s 4K SXRD digital cinema systems, SRX-R220, at two of our cineplexes, patrons will not only get to enjoy 4K film content but other forms of entertainment on the big screen through the pristine clarity and amazing high resolution quality of the 4K projection. To demonstrate the versatility of content that can be featured on the ultra-highresolution screens, Cathay Cineplexes has partnered with PlayStation for a real-time PS3 gaming jam on the big screen. Cathay Cineplexes Brazilian film festival pioneers 4K FILE 2008 shows 14 productions in 4K over five days FILE 2008 (Electronic Language International Festival) in São Paulo, Brazil, featured a spectacular showing of films in full 4K resolution. The festival, held 4-31 August, spent five days dedicated to 4K movies and screenings. Under the banner, 8 Million Pixels, a total of 14 movies made with 4K technology were shown on a Sony 4K SXRD projector. More than 3,500 people attended the 4K screenings, while over 37,000 attended the festival as a whole. FILE s organizers say the main idea was to introduce the movies of the future in ultra high definition. This was a great opportunity to introduce the technology in the country and show it to everyone, says Paula Perissinoto, Curator of the event. The 4K projection could bring up a reflective Show results SIGGRAPH festival displays animations in 4K This year s SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival in Los Angeles in August aimed to explore the expanding horizons of visual representation from entertainment to science. For the thousands that came to view the technical and artistic achievements, the images were especially striking due to the projection technology. Sony 4K SXRD digital cinema technology displayed content on a vast 70 foot (21 metre) wide screen at the Nokia Theater. The Sony SXRD projectors transformed this performance space into one of the world s finest movie palaces for four days of extraordinary viewing, said Jill Smolin, SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival Director. They made everything look astounding, from incredible animated pieces to glorious studio submissions. discussion on the image projected by 4K. This event can make people rethink digital technology and the new opportunities that it offers, as online projections and real time projections. Also, people could see the hyperrealistic, immersive image of 4K. Out of the 14 titles projected in 4K, two titles related to Ron Fricke s 1992 feature documentary, Baraka, which were scanned in 4K from film. Four other movies were shot with 4K cameras, including Beto Souza s Enquanto a noite não chega, shot with a Red camera and the only Brazilian movie in the event. Souza says he liked the 4K process. The 4K projection was impressive, he says The larger planes in 4K are much clearer, dense, not compromising the focus in any way. Another thing that impressed me was the minute details in the foreground. Nokia Theater stage at SIGGRAPH Enquanto a noite não chega The Sony SXRD projectors transformed this performance space into one of the world s finest movie palaces. Jill Smolin, SIGGRAPH 7

8 Muvico to install 4K across group 13 locations, 248 screens Sony Electronics Digital Cinema Solutions and Services (DCSS) group has signed an agreement with Muvico Entertainment that will outfit its existing and new complexes with Sony s 4K projection technology. The agreement covers existing Muvico theatres, which will be upgraded to the digital technology, as well as new locations that Muvico builds in the future. 4K technology gives us a solid foundation for converting our chain to digital, says Mike Whalen, President of Muvico. It provides our guests with resolution and picture quality never before seen on the big screen. It also opens up so many new business opportunities for displaying alternative content in our theatres such as live concerts and sporting events, he adds. Having access to Sony s full product line will further improve the overall customer experience and our operations by delivering a more attractive and interactive presentation of products that are vital to Muvico Having access to Sony s full product line will further improve the overall customer experience. Mike Whalen, Muvico the revenue stream of any theatre. The fact that Sony can deliver all this for us as part of one fully integrated solution was very attractive to us. Sony s DCSS group will work with Muvico on the integration, installation, maintenance and service support for this roll-out, providing the exhibitor with a complete turn-key solution for converting to digital. In addition to committing to Sony s 4K projectors, the exhibitor plans to use a range of Sony products, including LCD displays in lobby and concession areas for digital signage, menu boards and full-motion video trailers; as well as VAIO computers, PlayStation gaming systems, security cameras and more. 4K Editor Chris Dickinson Sub Editor Rachel Miller Contributors Pippa Considine Kate Large Art Editor Karen Painter Executive Editor Mark Clowes Publishing Managers Anne Churchill Barbara Ela Pilar Bonilla Published by Small World Publishing Limited for Sony Corporation. Contents copyright 2008 Sony Corporation. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Permission may be granted by application to Sony Corporation. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the authors or publishers. Whilst information given is true at the time of printing, small production changes in the course of our company s policy of improvement through research and design might not be indicated in any specifications. Please check with Sony to ensure that current specification and features match your requirements. REGISTER NOW FOR MORE ON 4K CINEMA