Digital cinema: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Cyberbot II (talk | contribs) Rescuing 1 sources, flagging 0 as dead, and archiving 3 sources. (Peachy 2.0 (alpha 8)) |
||
Line 45: | Line 45: | ||
Movies are supplied to the theatre as a digital file called a [[Digital Cinema Package]] |
Movies are supplied to the theatre as a digital file called a [[Digital Cinema Package]] |
||
(DCP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/technology/e3i6e1af20cf8f6d2fb94cd8d64bc8948e7 |title=The ABCs of DCPs: Unwrapping the Digital Cinema Package |publisher=Filmjournal.com |date=2012-08-28}}</ref> For a typical feature film this file will be anywhere between 90 and 300GB of data (roughly two to six times the information of a Blu-ray disc) and may arrive as a physical delivery on a conventional computer hard-drive or via satellite or fibre-optic broadband.<ref>[http://www.doremilabs.com/downloads/manuals/DCP-2000_and_DCP-2K4_User_Manual_001822_v1_2.pdf ]{{ |
(DCP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/technology/e3i6e1af20cf8f6d2fb94cd8d64bc8948e7 |title=The ABCs of DCPs: Unwrapping the Digital Cinema Package |publisher=Filmjournal.com |date=2012-08-28}}</ref> For a typical feature film this file will be anywhere between 90 and 300GB of data (roughly two to six times the information of a Blu-ray disc) and may arrive as a physical delivery on a conventional computer hard-drive or via satellite or fibre-optic broadband.<ref>[http://www.doremilabs.com/downloads/manuals/DCP-2000_and_DCP-2K4_User_Manual_001822_v1_2.pdf ] {{wayback|url=http://www.doremilabs.com/downloads/manuals/DCP-2000_and_DCP-2K4_User_Manual_001822_v1_2.pdf |date=20130319052633 }}</ref> Currently (Dec 2013) physical deliveries are most common and have become the industry standard. Trailers arrive on a separate hard-drive and range between 200 and 400MB in size. |
||
Regardless of how the DCP arrives it first needs to be copied onto the internal hard-drives of the server, usually via a USB port, a process known as "ingesting". DCPs can be, and in the case of feature films almost always are, encrypted. The necessary decryption keys are supplied separately, usually as email attachments and then "ingested" via USB. Keys are time limited and will expire after the end of the period for which the title has been booked. They are also locked to the hardware (server and projector) that is to screen the film, so if the theatre wishes to move the title to another screen or extend the run a new key must be obtained from the distributor.<ref>{{cite web|author=MKPE Consulting LLC |url=http://www.mkpe.com/digital_cinema/works/dc_technology4.php |title=How Digital Cinema Works: Part 4 |publisher=Mkpe.com |date= |accessdate=}}</ref> |
Regardless of how the DCP arrives it first needs to be copied onto the internal hard-drives of the server, usually via a USB port, a process known as "ingesting". DCPs can be, and in the case of feature films almost always are, encrypted. The necessary decryption keys are supplied separately, usually as email attachments and then "ingested" via USB. Keys are time limited and will expire after the end of the period for which the title has been booked. They are also locked to the hardware (server and projector) that is to screen the film, so if the theatre wishes to move the title to another screen or extend the run a new key must be obtained from the distributor.<ref>{{cite web|author=MKPE Consulting LLC |url=http://www.mkpe.com/digital_cinema/works/dc_technology4.php |title=How Digital Cinema Works: Part 4 |publisher=Mkpe.com |date= |accessdate=}}</ref> |
Revision as of 23:46, 25 August 2015
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Include too many specific details about a particular area. (December 2013) |
Digital cinema refers to the use of digital technology to distribute or project motion pictures as opposed to the historical use of motion picture film. A movie can be distributed via hard drives, the Internet, dedicated satellite links or optical disks such as Blu-ray Discs. Digital movies are projected using a digital projector instead of a conventional film projector. Digital cinema is distinct from high-definition television and is not dependent on using television or high-definition video standards, aspect ratios, or frame rates. In digital cinema, resolutions are represented by the horizontal pixel count, usually 2K (2048×1080 or 2.2 megapixels) or 4K (4096×2160 or 8.8 megapixels).
As digital cinema technology has improved in early 2010s, most of the theaters across the world have converted to digital.[1]
History
Digital media playback of hi-resolution 2K files has at least a 20-year history with early video data storage units (RAIDs) feeding custom frame buffer systems with large memories. Content was usually restricted to several minutes of material. Transfer of content between remote locations was slow and had limited capacity. It wasn't until the late 1990s that feature-length projects could be sent over the 'wire' (Internet or dedicated fiber links).
On October 23, 1998, digital light processing (DLP) projector technology was publicly demonstrated for the first time with the release of The Last Broadcast, the first feature-length movie, shot, edited and distributed digitally.[2][3][4] In conjunction with Texas Instruments, the movie was publicly demonstrated in five theaters across the United States (Philadelphia, PA, Portland Oregon, Minneapolis Minnesota, Providence Rhode Island and Orlando Florida).
On June 18, 1999, Texas Instrument's DLP Cinema projector technology was publicly demonstrated on four screens in North America (Los Angeles and New York) for the release of Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace.[5] Theaters with digital projectors were projecting footage right from Pixar Animation's computers. On January 19, 2000, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, in North America, initiated the first standards group dedicated towards developing Digital Cinema.[6] On February 2, 2000, Philippe Binant (Gaumont) realized the first digital cinema projection in Europe (Paris) with DLP Cinema technology for the release of Toy Story II.[7][8][9]
By December 2000, there were 15 digital cinema screens in North America, 11 in Western Europe, 4 in Asia, and 1 in South America.[10] Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) was formed in March 2002 as a joint project of many motion picture studios (Disney, Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios) to develop a system specification for digital cinema.[11]
In April 2004, in cooperation with the American Society of Cinematographers, DCI created standard evaluation material (the ASC/DCI StEM material) for testing of 2K and 4K playback and compression technologies. DCI selected JPEG2000 as the basis for the compression in the system the same year.[12]
In China, an E-Cinema System called "dMs" was established on June 2005, and is used in over 15,000 screens spread across China's 30 provinces. dMS estimated that the system would expand to 40,000 screens in 2009.[13]
2005 the UK Film Council Digital Screen Network launched in the UK by Arts Alliance Media creating a chain of 250 2K digital cinema systems. The roll out was completed in 2006. (Equipment used - Christie CP2000S, NEC NC800C, initially QuVIS Cinema Players which were replaced by Doremi DCP2000's mid way through the roll out in mid 2006). This was the first mass roll out in Europe. All systems were upgrade to the new DCI standard in 2006 using at first the QuVIS Cinema players, and then the Doremi DCP2000 servers which replaced all QuVIS units. Axis IT/Christie Digital also started a roll out in North America.
By mid 2006, about 400 theaters were equipped with 2K digital projectors with the number increasing every month. Several digital 3D films surfaced in 2006 and several prominent filmmakers committed to making their next productions in stereo 3D.[citation needed] VUE West End was one of the first 3D Digital Cinemas along with Odeon Printworks Manchester and VUE Cheshire Oaks with the RealD Inc. equipment installed. All sites supported at the time by Arts Alliance Media. In August 2006, the Malayalam digital movie Moonnamathoral, produced by Mrs. Benzy Martin, was distributed via satellite to cinemas, thus becoming the first Indian digital cinema. This was done by Emil and Eric Digital Films, a company based at Thrissur using the end-to-end digital cinema system developed by Singapore-based DG2L Technologies.[14]
In 2007 the UK became home to Europe's first DCI-compliant fully digital multiplex cinemas, Odeon Hatfield and Odeon Surrey Quays (London) with a total of 18 digital screens were launched on Friday 9 February 2007. By March 2007, with the release of Disney's Meet the Robinsons, about 600 screens had been equipped with 2K digital projectors that feature Real D Cinema's stereoscopic 3D technology, marketed under the Disney Digital 3-D brand. In June 2007, Arts Alliance Media announced the first European commercial digital cinema Virtual Print Fee (VPF) agreements (with Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Pictures).
As of July 2007, there were some cinemas in Singapore showing digital 4K films to public using Sony 4K digital projectors. They are located at Golden Village Cinema in Vivocity (Hall 11), Eng Wah Cinema in Suntec (Hall 3), Shaw Cinema in Bugis (Hall 1 & 3) and at Cathay Cineplex (Hall 7). In September 2007, Muvico Theaters Rosemont 18 in Rosemont, Illinois became the first theater in North America to have Sony's 4K digital projectors for all 18 screens. In January 2007, "Guru" became the first Indian movie mastered in the DCI compliant Jpeg2000 Interop format and also the first Indian film to be previewed digitally, internationally, at the Elgin Winter Garden in Toronto. "Guru" was digitally mastered at Real Image Media Technologies, India.
In March 2009 AMC Theatres announced that it closed on a $315 million deal with Sony to replace all of its movie projectors with 4K digital projectors starting in the second quarter of 2009 and completing in 2012.[15]
By June 2010, there were close to 16,000 digital cinema screens, with over 5000 of them being stereoscopic setups. Considering an article written by David Hancock, the total number of d-screens worldwide came in at 36,242, up from 16,339 at end 2009 or a growth rate of 121.8 percent during the year.[16] There were 10,083 d-screens in Europe as a whole (28.2 percent of global figure), 16,522 in North America (46.2 percent of global figure) and 7,703 in Asia (21.6 percent of global figure). As regards digital 3D screens, there were a total of 21,936 3D screens, which equals 60.5 percent of all d-screens. This was a rise from the 55 percent in 2009 but is expected to drop slightly in 2011 to 57.5 percent.
By the end of 2012, according to Screen Digest, 91.4% of UK screens had been converted to digital and the rest expected to be so by the middle of 2013.[17] Worldwide progress was slower as in some territories, particularly Latin America and Africa, progress was much slower. However almost all screens worldwide were expected to be converted by the end of 2015.[18] [19]
As of 31 March 2015, 38,719 screens (out of a total of 39,789 screens) in the United States have been converted to digital (15,643 of which are 3D capable), 3,007 screens in Canada have been converted (1,382 of which are 3D), and 93,147 screens internationally have been converted (59,350 of which are 3D).[20]
How digital cinema works
In addition to the equipment already found in a film-based movie theatre a DCI-compliant digital cinema screen requires a digital projector and a computer known as a "server"[21]
Movies are supplied to the theatre as a digital file called a Digital Cinema Package (DCP).[22] For a typical feature film this file will be anywhere between 90 and 300GB of data (roughly two to six times the information of a Blu-ray disc) and may arrive as a physical delivery on a conventional computer hard-drive or via satellite or fibre-optic broadband.[23] Currently (Dec 2013) physical deliveries are most common and have become the industry standard. Trailers arrive on a separate hard-drive and range between 200 and 400MB in size.
Regardless of how the DCP arrives it first needs to be copied onto the internal hard-drives of the server, usually via a USB port, a process known as "ingesting". DCPs can be, and in the case of feature films almost always are, encrypted. The necessary decryption keys are supplied separately, usually as email attachments and then "ingested" via USB. Keys are time limited and will expire after the end of the period for which the title has been booked. They are also locked to the hardware (server and projector) that is to screen the film, so if the theatre wishes to move the title to another screen or extend the run a new key must be obtained from the distributor.[24]
Several versions of the same feature can be sent together. The original version (OV) is used as the basis of all the other playback options. Version files (VF) may have a different sound format (e.g. 7.1 as opposed to 5.1) or subtitles. 2D and 3D versions are often distributed on the same hard drive.
The playback of the content is controlled by the server using a "playlist". As the name implies this is a list of all the content that is to be played as part of the performance, the playlist will be created by a member of the theatre's staff using proprietary software that runs on the server. In addition to listing the content to be played the playlist also includes automation cues that allow the playlist to control the projector, the sound system, auditorium lighting, tab curtains and screen masking (if present) etc. The playlist can be started manually, by clicking the "play" button on the server's monitor screen, or automatically at pre-set times.[25]
Technology and standards
Digital Cinema Initiatives
Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI), a joint venture of the six major studios, published the first version (V1.0) of a system specification for digital cinema in July 2005.[26] The main declared objectives of the specification was to define a digital cinema system that would "present a theatrical experience that is better than what one could achieve now with a traditional 35mm Answer Print", to provide global standards for interoperability such that any DCI-compliant content could play on any DCI-compliant hardware anywhere in the world and to provide robust protection for the intellectual property of the content providers.
Briefly, the specification calls for picture encoding using the ISO/IEC 15444-1 "JPEG2000" (.j2c) standard and use of the CIE XYZ color space at 12 bits per component encoded with a 2.6 gamma applied at projection. Two levels of resolution for both content and projectors are supported: 2K (2048×1080) or 2.2 MP at 24 or 48 frames per second, and 4K (4096×2160) or 8.85 MP at 24 frames per second. The specification ensures that 2K content can play on 4K projectors and vice-versa. Smaller resolutions in one direction are also supported (the image gets automatically centered). Later versions of the standard added also additional playback rates (like 25 fps in SMPTE mode).
For the sound component of the content the specification provides for up to 16 channels of uncompressed audio using the "Broadcast Wave" (.wav) format at 24 bits and 48 kHz or 96 kHz sampling.
Playback is controlled by an XML-format Composition Playlist, into an MXF-compliant file at a maximum data rate of 250 Mbit/s. Details about encryption, key management, and logging are all discussed in the specification as are the minimum specifications for the projectors employed including the color gamut, the contrast ratio and the brightness of the image. While much of the specification codifies work that had already been ongoing in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the specification is important in establishing a content owner framework for the distribution and security of first-release motion picture content.
In addition to DCI's work, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) released its Digital Cinema System Requirements.[27] The document addresses the requirements of digital cinema systems from the operational needs of the exhibitor, focusing on areas not addressed by DCI, including access for the visually impaired and hearing impaired, workflow inside the cinema, and equipment interoperability. In particular, NATO's document details requirements for the Theatre Management System (TMS), the governing software for digital cinema systems within a theatre complex, and provides direction for the development of security key management systems. As with DCI's document, NATO's document is also important to the SMPTE standards effort.
E-Cinema
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) began work on standards for digital cinema in 2000. It was clear by that point in time that HDTV did not provide a sufficient technological basis for the foundation of digital cinema playback. In Europe, India and Japan however, there is still a significant presence of HDTV for theatrical presentations. Agreements within the ISO standards body have led to these non-compliant systems being referred to as Electronic Cinema Systems (E-Cinema).
Digital cinema projectors
Only four manufacturers make DCI-approved digital cinema projectors; these are Sony, Barco, Christie and NEC. Except for Sony, who use their own SXRD technology, all use the Digital Light Processing technology developed by Texas Instruments (TI). Although D-Cinema projectors are similar in principle to digital projectors used in industry, education, and domestic 'home cinemas' they differ in two important respects: first, they must conform to the strict performance requirements of the DCI specification, second, they must incorporate anti-piracy devices intended to protect the content copyright. For these reasons all projectors intended to be sold to theaters for screening current release movies must be approved by the DCI before being put on sale. They now pass through a process called CTP (Compliance Test Plan). Because feature films in digital form are encrypted and the decryption keys (KDMs) are locked to the serial number of the server used (linking to both the projector serial number and server is planned in the future), a system will allow playback of a protected feature only with the required KDM.
DLP cinema projectors
Three manufacturers have licensed the DLP cinema technology developed by Texas Instruments (TI): Christie Digital Systems, Barco, and NEC. While NEC is a relative newcomer to Digital Cinema, Christie is the main player in the U.S. and Barco takes the lead in Europe and Asia.[citation needed] Initially DCI-compliant DLP projectors were available in 2K only, but from early 2012, when TI's 4K DLP chip went into full production, DLP projectors have been available in both 2K and 4K versions. Manufacturers of DLP-based cinema projectors can now also offer 4K upgrades to some of the more recent 2K models.[28] Early DLP Cinema projectors, which were deployed primarily in the U.S., used limited 1280×1024 resolution or the equivalent of 1.3 MP (megapixels). Digital Projection Incorporated (DPI) designed and sold a few DLP Cinema units (is8-2K) when TI's 2K technology debuted but then abandoned the D-Cinema market while continuing to offer DLP-based projectors for non-cinema purposes. Although based on the same 2K TI "light engine" as those of the major players they are so rare as to be virtually unknown in the industry. They are still widely used for pre-show advertising but not usually for feature presentations.
TI's technology is based on the use of Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs).[29] These devices are manufactured from silicon using similar technology to that of computer memory chips. The surface of these devices is covered by a very large number of microscopic mirrors, one for each pixel, so a 2K device has about 2.2 million mirrors and a 4K device about 8.8 million. Each mirror vibrates several thousand times a second between two positions, in one light from the projector's lamp is reflected towards the screen, in the other away from it. The proportion of the time the mirror is in each position varies according to the required brightness of each pixel.
Three DMD devices are used, one for each of the primary colors. Light from the lamp, usually a Xenon similar to those used in film projectors with a power between 1 kW and 7 kW, is split by colored filters into red, green and blue beams which are directed at the appropriate DMD. The 'forward' reflected beam from the three DMMDs is then re-combined and focused by the lens onto the cinema screen.
Sony SXRD projectors
Alone amongst the manufacturers of DCI-compliant cinema projectors Sony decided to develop its own technology rather than use TI's DLP technology. SXRD projectors have only ever been manufactured in 4K form and, until the launch of the 4K DLP chip by TI, Sony SXRD projectors were the only 4K DCI-compatible projectors on the market. Unlike DLP projectors, however, SXRD projectors do not present the left and right eye images of stereoscopic movies sequentially but use half the available area on the SXRD chip for each eye image. Thus during stereoscopic presentations the SXRD projector functions as a sub 2K projector, the same for HFR 3D Content.[30]
Stereo 3D images
In late 2005, interest in digital 3-D stereoscopic projection led to a new willingness on the part of theaters to co-operate in installing 2K stereo installations to show Disney's Chicken Little in 3-D film. Six more digital 3-D movies were released in 2006 and 2007 (including Beowulf, Monster House and Meet the Robinsons). The technology combines a single digital projector fitted with either a polarizing filter (for use with polarized glasses and silver screens), a filter wheel or an emitter for LCD glasses. RealD uses a "ZScreen" for polarisation and MasterImage uses a filter wheel that changes the polarity of projector's light output several times per second to alternate quickly the left-and-right-eye views. Another system that uses a filter wheel is Dolby 3D. The wheel changes the wavelengths of the colours being displayed, and tinted glasses filter these changes so the incorrect wavelength cannot enter the wrong eye. XpanD makes use of an external emitter that sends a signal to the 3D glasses to block out the wrong image from the wrong eye.
Impact on distribution
Digital distribution of movies has the potential to save money for film distributors. To print an 80-minute feature film can cost US$1,500 to $2,500,[31] so making thousands of prints for a wide-release movie can cost millions of dollars. In contrast, at the maximum 250 megabit-per-second data rate (as defined by DCI for digital cinema), a feature-length movie can be stored on an off-the-shelf 300 GB hard drive for $150 and a broad release of 4000 'digital prints' might cost $600,000. In addition hard drives can be returned to distributors for reuse. With several hundred movies distributed every year, the industry saves billions of dollars.
The digital cinema rollout was stalled (as can be seen by major equipment purchases and future commitments to new equipment during this time); exhibitors acknowledged that they would not purchase equipment to replace projectors since the savings would be seen not by themselves but by distribution companies. The Virtual Print Fee model was created to address this (some claim by Frank Stirling at Boeing - Boeing was involved in digital cinema deployment at that time) and this was successfully done, accelerating the rollout of this technology and with it the reduction of the barrier to entry. Given that digital projectors make low volume distribution at last an economic possibility it is the studios' support of the VPF model that has accelerated the introduction of competition, both in terms of alternative distributors and also alternative content including cinematic series.
As a consequence of the rapid conversion to digital projection, the number of theatrical releases exhibited on film is dwindling. As of 4 May 2014, 37,711 screens (out of a total of 40,048 screens) in the United States have been converted to digital, 3,013 screens in Canada have been converted, and 79,043 screens internationally have been converted.[20]
Telecommunication
Realization and demonstration, on October 29, 2001, of the first digital cinema transmission by satellite in Europe[32][33][34] of a feature film by Bernard Pauchon[35] and Philippe Binant.[36][37]
Live broadcasting to cinemas
Digital cinemas can deliver live broadcasts from performances or events. For example, there are regular live broadcasts to movie theaters of Metropolitan Opera performances. In February 2009, Cinedigm screened the first live multi-region 3D broadcast through a partnership with TNT. Previous attempts have been isolated to a small number of screens. In December 2011, the series finale of the BBC dance competition series Strictly Come Dancing was broadcast live in 3D in selected cinemas.[38]
Subsequently live broadcasting, formerly known as Alternative Content, has become known as Event Cinema and has become a sizeable revenue stream in its own right, earning a loyal following amongst fans of the arts, and the content limited only by the imagination of the producers it would seem. Theatre, ballet, sport, exhibitions, TV specials and documentaries are now established forms of Event Cinema. Worldwide estimations put the likely value of the Event Cinema industry at $1bn by 2017.[39]
Pros and Cons
Pros
The digital formation of sets and locations, especially in the time of growing film series and sequels, is that virtual sets, once computer generated and stored, can be easily revived for future films.[40] Considering digital film images are documented as data files on hard disk or flash memory, varying systems of edits can be executed with the alteration of a few settings on the editing console with the structure being composed virtually in the computer’s memory. A broad choice of effects can be sampled simply and rapidly, without the physical constraints posed by traditional cut-and-stick editing.[41] Digital cinema allows national cinemas to construct films specific to their cultures in ways that the more constricting configurations and economics of customary film-making prevented. Low-cost cameras and computer-based editing software have gradually enabled films to be produced for minimal cost. The ability of digital cameras to allow film-makers to shoot limitless footage without wasting pricey celluloid has transformed film production in some Third World countries.[42]
Cons
High profile film directors such as Christopher Nolan,[43] Paul Thomas Anderson,[44] David O. Russell[45] and Quentin Tarantino[45] have publicly criticized digital cinema, and advocated the use of film and film prints. Most famously, Tarantino has suggested he may retire because (although he can still shoot on film) he cannot project from 35 mm prints in most American cinemas, because of the rapid conversion to digital.[46] Steven Spielberg has stated that even though digital projection would produce a much better image than film if it were originally shot in digital, it is "inferior" when it has been converted to digital from film, and attempted at one point to release Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on motion picture film only.[47] Paul Thomas Anderson recently was able to create the most 70-mm film prints in years for his film The Master.
Roger Ebert publicly criticized the use of DCPs after a cancelled film festival screening of Brian DePalma's film Passion at New York Film Festival caused by a lockup due to the coding system.[48]
The theoretical resolution of 35 mm film is greater than that of 2K digital cinema.[49][50] 2K resolution (2048×1080) is also only slightly greater than that of consumer based 1080p HD (1920x1080).[51] However, since digital post-production techniques became the standard in the early 2000s, the majority of movies, whether photographed digitally or on 35 mm film, have been mastered and edited at the 2K resolution. Moreover, 4K post production is becoming more common (Dec 2013). As projectors are replaced with 4K models[52] the difference in resolution between digital and 35 mm film is somewhat reduced.[53] The Digital cinema servers play with far greater bandwidth over domestic 'HD' which is what makes the difference in quality (e.g., Blu-ray colour encoding 4:2:0 48MB/S MAX datarate, DCI D-Cinema 4:4:4 250MB/S 2D/3D, 500MB/S HFR3D). Hence, each pixel has greater detail per frame.
Because of the smaller dynamic range of digital cameras, correcting poor digital exposures is more difficult than correcting poor film exposures during post-production. A partial solution to this problem is to add complex video-assist technology during the shooting process. However, such technologies are typically available only to high-budget production companies.[40]
Digital Cinemas efficiency of storing images has a downside. The speed and ease of modern digital editing processes threatens to give editors and their directors, if not an embarrassment of choice then at least a confusion of options, potentially making the editing process, with this ‘try it and see’ philosophy, lengthier rather than shorter.[41]
Because the equipment needed to produce digital feature films can be obtained more easily than celluloid, producers could inundate the market with cheap productions and potentially dominate the efforts of serious directors. Because of the quick speed in which they are filmed, these stories sometimes lack essential narrative structure.[54]
Costs
Pros
The electronic transferring of digital film, from central servers to servers in cinema projection booths, is an inexpensive process of supplying copies of newest releases to the vast number of cinema screens demanded by prevailing saturation-release strategies. There is a significant savings on print expenses in such cases: at a minimum cost per print of $1200–2000, the cost of celluloid print production is between $5–8 million per film. With several thousand releases a year, the probable savings offered by digital distribution and projection are over $1 billion.[55]
The cost savings and ease, together with the ability to store film rather than having to send a print on to the next cinema, allows a larger scope of films to be screened and watched by the public; minority and small-budget films that would not otherwise get such a chance.[55]
Cons
The initial costs for converting theaters to digital are high: $100,000 per screen, on average. Theaters have been reluctant to switch without a cost-sharing arrangement with film distributors. A solution is a temporary Virtual Print Fee system, where the distributor (who saves the money of producing and transporting a film print) pays a fee per copy to help finance the digital systems of the theaters.[56]
A theater can purchase a film projector for as little as $10,000[57] (though projectors intended for commercial cinemas cost two to three times that; to which must be to be added the cost of a long-play system, which also costs around $10,000, making a total of around $30,000–$40,000) from which they could expect an average life of 30–40 years. By contrast, a digital cinema playback system—including server, media block, and projector—can cost two to three times as much,[58] and would have a greater risk of component failure and obsolescence. (In Britain the cost of an entry level projector including server, installation, etc., would be £31,000 [$50,000].)
Archiving digital masters has also turned out to be both tricky and costly. In a 2007 study, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences found the cost of long-term storage of 4K digital masters to be "enormously higher—up to 11 times that of the cost of storing film masters." This is because of the limited or uncertain lifespan of digital storage: No current digital medium—be it optical disc, magnetic hard drive or digital tape—can reliably store a motion picture for as long as a hundred years or more (something that film—properly stored and handled—does very well).[59] The short history of digital storage media has been one of innovation and, perforce, of obsolescence. Archived digital content must be periodically removed from obsolete physical media to up-to-date media.
The expense of digital image capture is not necessarily less than the capture of images onto film; indeed, it is sometimes greater.[citation needed]
List of digital cinema companies
- Arts Alliance Media — Digital Cinema Software
- Barco — digital projector manufacturer*
- Blackmagic Design — digital cinema camera and distribution equipment manufacturer
- Christie — digital projector manufacturer
- Cinedigm — Digital Cinema Software, Distribution
- Deluxe Digital Studios — distributor and theater system integrator
- Digital Blocks, Inc. — 4K Digital Cinema Display Controller
- Dolby Laboratories — theater system integrator
- Doremi Labs — Digital server and theater management system manufacturer
- GDC Tech — Digital server and theater management system manufacturer
- IMAX — digital projector manufacturer
- Kinoton — manufacturer of digital projection solutions
- Kodak — theater system integrator
- NEC — digital projector manufacturer
- [LEONIS] — digital cinema technology provider
- Marquise Technologies — Digital Cinema mastering, quality control, server and distribution products manufacturer
- MasterImage 3D — 3D cinema and mobile display technology
- Panavision 3D — 3D cinema display technology
- Qube Cinema — Digital Cinema mastering, distribution and server products manufacturer
- RealD Cinema — 3D cinema display technology
- Rohde & Schwarz DVS GmbH; — Mastering, Broadcasting Manufacturer
- RED Digital Cinema Camera Company — digital cinema camera manufacturer
- Silicon Imaging — digital cinema camera manufacturer
- Sony — manufacturer of 4K digital projector, cinema camera manufacturer and digital cinema servers and theater system integrator
- Technicolor — distributor and theater system integrator
- Texas Instruments — developers of DLP Cinema projector technology
- UFO Moviez — world's largest satellite based Digital Cinema
- dcinex — theater system integrator & digital server manufacturer
- Digital Projection; partnered with Texas instruments was the first company to use DLP chip projectors
See also
- JPEG 2000
- 4K resolution
- Digital cinematography
- Digital projector
- Digital intermediate
- Digital Cinema Initiatives
- Display resolution
- Digital 3D
- 3-D film
- Color suite
- List of film-related topics (extensive alphabetical listing)
References
- ^ Digital Cinema Conversion Nears End Game
- ^ "Live via satellite: the first digital premiere | Penn Current". Upenn.edu. 1998-10-15.
- ^ "D Day for Two Digital Movies as "The Cruise" and "The Last Broadcast" Debut in Theaters Today | Filmmakers, Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews". Indiewire.
- ^ "The Last Broadcast". Thelastbroadcastmovie.com.
- ^ Charles S. Swartz (editor), Understanding digital cinema, 2005, p. 159.
- ^ "SMPTE's Digital Cinema Committee Takes Off Running". MKPE consulting. 2000. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
- ^ Philippe Binant, " Au cœur de la projection numérique ", Actions, 29, Kodak, Paris, 2007, p. 12.
- ^ Laurent Creton, Kira Kitsopanidou (editors), Les salles de cinéma. Enjeux, défis et perspectives, Armand Colin / Recherches, Paris, 2013, p. 116.
- ^ Eric Leroy, Cinémathèques et archives du film, Armand Colin, Paris, 2013, p. 82.
- ^ "DIGITAL CINEMA – KEY FIGURES & FACTS" (PDF). 2006-07-23.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) - DIGITAL CINEMA SYSTEM SPECIFICATION, VERSION 1.2". Dcimovies.com.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666288/trivia
- ^ China Digital Cinema Development Center
- ^ "Digital movie in Malayalam released". The Hindu. 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
- ^ Taub, Eric A. (March 29, 2009). "AMC to Get Sony Digital Projectors". New York Times. New York. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
- ^ http://www.isuppli.com/media-research/marketwatch/pages/digital-screen-numbers-and-forecasts-to-2015-are-finalised.aspx
- ^ Screen Digest
- ^ Romanek, Neal (2013-02-07). "Inaugural UK Digital Cinema conference assesses the state of digital cinema | News | Screen". Screendaily.com.
- ^ Persico, Joyce J. (March 19, 2012). "Newtown's old-time movie house looks for revival in the digital age". The Times, Trenton. New Jersey On-Line LLC. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
- ^ a b http://natoonline.org/initiatives/cinema-technologies/
- ^ Doremi Labs. "DCP-2K4 Digital Cinema Playback Server | Doremi Labs – Technology leadership for Digital Cinema". Doremilabs.com.
- ^ "The ABCs of DCPs: Unwrapping the Digital Cinema Package". Filmjournal.com. 2012-08-28.
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ MKPE Consulting LLC. "How Digital Cinema Works: Part 4". Mkpe.com.
- ^ "Dolby Screen Server (DSS200)". Dolby.com.
- ^ "DCI Cinema Specification v1.2". Digital Cinema Initiatives. March 7, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2011.
- ^ "NATO Digital Cinema Requirements v2.1" (PDF). December 12, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
- ^ "DLP Cinema Projectors|Christie - Visual Display Solutions". Christiedigital.co.uk.
- ^ "What is Digital Cinema – About Digital Theater - DLP Cinema Technology | DLP – Texas Instruments". Dlp.com.
- ^ SRX-R515P. "SRX-R515P (SRXR515P) : Specifications : United Kingdom : Sony Professional". Sony.co.uk.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Frazer, Bryant. Animating a Personal Flash Epic. Studio Daily. May 22, 2008. Accessed on: May 22, 2008.
- ^ France Télécom, Commission Supérieure Technique de l'Image et du Son, Communiqué de presse, Paris, October 29th, 2001.
- ^ «Numérique : le cinéma en mutation», Projections, 13, CNC, Paris, September 2004, p. 7.
- ^ Olivier Bomsel, Gilles Le Blanc, Dernier tango argentique. Le cinéma face à la numérisation, Ecole des Mines de Paris, 2002, p. 12.
- ^ Bernard Pauchon, France Telecom and digital cinema, ShowEast, 2001, p. 10.
- ^ Première numérique pour le cinéma français, 01net, 2002.
- ^ E. J. Des B. Binwag, Introduction to Data Communications, Saint Louis University, p. 17.
- ^ BBC Strictly Nora. "Strictly Come Dancing: The Strictly Final Live in 3D!". BBC.
- ^ http://www.eventcinemaassociation.org/assets/eca-screendigestreport2013.pdf
- ^ a b Creeber, Glen; Martin, Royston (2009). Digital Culture: Understanding New Media. Open University Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-33-5221974.
- ^ a b Creeber, Glen; Martin, Royston (2009). Digital Culture: Understanding New Media. Open University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-33-5221974.
- ^ Creeber, Glen; Martin, Royston (2009). Digital Culture: Understanding New Media. Open University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-33-5221974.
- ^ Merchan, George (2012-04-15). "Christopher Nolan talks film vs. digital, his take on CGI, his disinterest in 3D, and much more in insightful DGA interview - Movie News". JoBlo.com.
- ^ "pta on digital vs. film". YouTube. 2006-08-10.
- ^ a b Galloway, Stephen; Belloni, Matthew (November 28, 2012). "Director Roundtable: 6 Auteurs on Tantrums, Crazy Actors and Quitting While They're Ahead". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Quentin Tarantino: 'I can't stand digital filmmaking, it's TV in public' - Movies News". Digital Spy. 2012-11-30.
- ^ "Steven Spielberg on Digital Cinema". YouTube.
- ^ "Digital Projection Mishap Derails Premiere of De Palma's "Passion" at New York Film Festival - EntertainmentTell". Technologytell.com.
- ^ "Resolution of 35mm film and 70mm IMAX film?". Reduser.net.
- ^ Laemmle, Robert (2004). The Movie Business Book, Third Edition - The Independent Exhibitor. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0743219376.
- ^ "2K vs 1080p resolution question [Archive". REDUSER.net.
- ^ Boxoffice Media, Llc. "BoxOffice® — SONY’S DIGITAL CINEMA MOMENTUM CONTINUES WITH RECORD NUMBER OF 4K PROJECTORS SHIPPED; EIGHT YEARS OF CONTINUOUS GROWTHBoxOffice® — News". Boxoffice.com.
- ^ "How many pixels are there in a frame of 35mm film?". Technologytell.com.
- ^ Creeber, Glen; Martin, Royston (2009). Digital Culture: Understanding New Media. Open University Press. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-33-5221974.
- ^ a b Creeber, Glen; Martin, Royston (2009). Digital Culture: Understanding New Media. Open University Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-33-5221974.
- ^ AAM VPF. "AAM VPF". AAM.
- ^ "Westar Cfec 105 x 35 mm Projection System New Unused". eBay. 2012-04-17.
- ^ "DLP 3 Chip Projectors". Projector Reviews.
- ^ "The Digital Dilemma. Strategic issues in archiving and accessing digital motion picture materials". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2007.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help)
- Bibliography
- Philippe BINANT, Au coeur de la projection numérique, Actions, 29, 12-13, Kodak, Paris, 2007. ISNN 1271-1519
- Charles S. SWARTZ (editor), Understanding digital cinema. A professional handbook, Elseiver, Oxford, 2005. ISBN 0-240-80617-4