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In a world were digital technology seems to be taking over in every area of our lives, television, telephones, radio, where do you stand as a movie theatre owner on the rising number of theatres that are changing over to a digital format? Will you make the switch? Are you in the process of making the switch? Do you have both working together? Let's talk about it! What are your pros and cons?

This is a topic that's covered at-length, both in this board and a couple of others that work like it.

Many will say that digital cinema is coming. That may be true. What is up for massive debate is how long the transition will take (some say within 5 years, some say generations), how much it will cost (current systems can run as much as $100,000 for non 3-D), and how they will be made available to the independent, mom 'n pop and sub-run markets.

If you read Boxoffice Magazine, you'll be left with the impression that everybody but you has already placed their order for the equipment. On the other hand, major theatre equipment suppliers, post that they're installing film-based systems faster than ever. John Pytlak frequently reports that Kodak's theatrical film business is chugging along just fine, thank you!

Right now, it seems to be a waiting game. Get plugged in to some extent, so you can watch progress. For some, membership in NATO and the Cinema Buyers' Group is mandatory. For others, it's wasted money... something else you'll have to decide for yourself.

FILM prints are still a very cost-effective way of distributing movies. Prorated over several months of exhibition, a film print costs only a few dollars per showing. The business case for digital cinema depends on whether the capital cost of almost $100,000 per screen can be recouped before the equipment needs to be replaced. Plus you need to factor in the extra cost of mastering and distributing the data, and maintaining the more complex equipment.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

The talk that digital is rapidly taking over this or any other industry is just a lot of hype. There will always be film because there will always be theatres that cannot afford digital equipment or who see no advantage to digital. There are still those who believe film puts out a better picture than digital (including yours truly). I currently work for one of the worlds largest exhibitor chains and of the 32 screens they have in our area ONE of them is digital. Not exactly a mad rush to install the stuff is it?

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Bob Allen
The Old Showman

I wont say never but digital cinema is still light years away from having any real impact in the marketplace. There are a number of reasons but my main one is that not only is the cost ridiculously high (100K?) for something that is no better and possibly inferior to film, it is that, as everyone knows, all things digital are obsolete the minute they are built. The minute we allow the industry to take us down this path, they will have us by the short hairs, where the independents are in a race with the majors to keep putting in the best stuff. We know who will win that race. All of this combined with absolute, control of the product (they will probably have download security codes for each playback) means that if you are a week late on your settlements, etc, no more shows for you.

I'll keep my Brenkerts running another 75 years!

Just because it has ben discussed before does not mean it isn't still a good topic. It is certainly a changing and evolving topic.

One thing is the difference between "digital" projection and "video" projectors. There is a difference. Perhaps we're not going full blown digital but day by day we are going to alternate delivery of product. i.e. my two theatres now have one "video" projector each (soon to have 3 in one) that gets regular use.

I just booked the yearly ski film that is produced by Warren Miller. They used to release it on 35mm just 2 years ago and now you have two choices: dvd or HD tape. No more 35mm available.

We showed the Best of the Oscar nomiminated animated and live action shorts this year. 2 years ago it was only on 35 mm. Now it is only on DVD. No more 35 mm.

This is a trend that will continue, for huge reasons of cost and convenience for teh distribs and the exhibs, and if you do not have VIDEO projection at the least you will be unable to play these films.

No matter what is happening with "digital" projection there is alternative projection in the house. And in the future.

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Michael Hurley
Impresario

Yeah that is very true. There is a lot of 'stuff' other than first run features that is being released on DVD, or HD Tape. I too have equipped both my theaters with 4000 lumen projectors which throw a good picture for such material. I think you will start to see the studios start to take advantage of the fact that more and more theaters have decent video projection capability as well and start giving us the right to play 'classics' under a licensing agreement using a DVD transfer of the movie. This would be a great and less-expensive way to put together 'silver-screen' series, etc. Not the BEST way mind you, but at the cost of shipping, setup, breakdown, etc we no longer do them even though we would like to.

Roger Detzler
President
IOKA Entertainment Inc