Christie's leadership takes flight with HFR and IMB - Christie Digital ...

© 2012 Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. All rights reserved.
SUPER
COUPLE”
Christie Solaria and Christie IMB
E N T E R T A I N M E N T S O L U T I O N S W O R L D W I D E FALL 10
KinoNOTES
Christie IMB makes 1st debut
in Asia page 3
Seamlessly integrated.
Flawlessly reliable.
They were made for each other. Literally.
The Christie ® Integrated Media Block (IMB)
seamlessly integrates into the Christie ®
Solaria ® series of projectors to deliver
perhaps the single most reliable projection
system on the planet. No compromises.
No force fit. Just a perfectly matched
solution that is reliable by design and ready
for 4K or high frame rates when you are.
CinemaCon Booth 2111/Milano 1
christiedigital.com/reliablebydesign
ENTERTAINMENT SOLUTIONS WORLDWIDE SUMMER 12
Pushing the boundaries of
4K and 3D page 4
Christie projectors ignite screens
around the globe page 8
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
1st HFR laser projection demo 3
World’s 1st dual stacked
4K & digital-sound demo 6
Independents in NA see
value in VPF programs 10
Canadian exhibitors
embrace total solutions 11
Christie signs technology
co-operation agreement 12
Christie's leadership takes
flight with HFR and IMB
Exhibitors’ investments enhanced with future-proof
technology from Christie
2012 is proving to be an exceptional year for digital cinema across all platforms, screen
sizes, frame rates and resolutions. Filmmakers continue to look for ways to achieve the
look they desire on screen, with technologies for delivering clearer, smoother 3D images
and less judder, flickering and strobing using higher frame rates leading the pack.
Exhibitors are also finding that they can expand and differentiate Story continues on page 2

Increasing frame rates
provide more frames
to better represent fast
moving objects. It also
provides increased image
detail as the camera
shutter is open
for less time
per frame.
To learn
more about
high frame rates
and upcoming Christie
events and demonstrations visit
christiedigital.com/highframerates.
2
Christie's leadership takes flight
with HFR and IMB
Story continues from page 1
their cinematic offerings by providing premium
movie experiences and alternative content
options. Christie continues to lead the evolution
of cinema solutions and offers studios, directors
and exhibitors the software, firmware and
equipment they need to give audiences the most
compelling cinema experiences.
Fast motion action shots, camera panning,
and the elimination of strobing artifacts are now
possible with higher
frame rates (HFR) and
Christie Solaria ® Series
2 projectors. “It’s a
boon to the industry
to have advanced,
upgradeable projector
technology from
Christie to solve part
of the frame rate
puzzle,” notes James
Cameron, chairman
and CEO, Lightstorm
Entertainment Inc.
“3D shows you a
window into reality,
the higher frame rate
takes the glass out of
the window.” Working
closely with James
Cameron's Lightstorm
Entertainment and
Park Road, both
premiere production
facilities, Christie
ensures they will have the right solutions when the
market needs them.
Are you ready
“With the support and the initiative that visionary
leaders like James Cameron and Peter Jackson
have shown for HFR, we foresee this becoming
the next 3D-type of experience where audiences
will actually see a difference — something
astonishing and stunning,” comments Jack Kline,
president and COO, Christie Digital Systems, USA.
Kline believes that with HFR, “the promise of
digital cinema will be fully realized.”
Previewed at ShowEast in October 2011
and launched at CinemaCon 2012, Christie's
Integrated Media Block (IMB) server technology
provides the performance and security that
exhibitors demand. The IMB has become a
requirement for the amount of data encryption
and bandwidth that 4K resolution requires, and
creates a secure, high-bandwidth connection
that manages HFR and 4K content without
compromising image quality.
Ready. Set. Go.
Christie is ready. As the pioneer and expert in HFR
projection capabilities, they have put another tool
in the directors’ and studios’ toolboxes. Christie is
set to expand its leadership role and expertise in
HFR with the introduction of Christie Previsto
HFR technology, among other firmware upgrades,
for an enhanced 2D and 3D experience. And now
Christie goes the extra mile with the development
of the advanced technology designed to deliver
HFR with its new, more powerful and versatile
server technology — the Christie IMB.
Christie is set. They can provide the optimal
performance solution for their Solaria Series
2 projectors, with the introduction of the
future-proof Christie IMB. “Our projectors are
capable of supporting up to 60 frames per
second (fps) per eye, a decoding bit rate of
up to 500 MBIT/sec (more than double the
DCI standard), and the capability for higher
bandwidth 4K and 3D content,” states Dr. Don
Shaw, director, product management, Christie
Entertainment Solutions.
Christie is ready to go. “We can propose to the
exhibitor a safe haven — from both the projector
and the IMB standpoints — that they are not
going to be made obsolete,” Kline assures. “This
is a pledge we make to our customers because of
our history in the business.”
“Christie is the single source for technology
solutions, expertise, and service. Whether
exhibitors need support for streaming
alternative content, the ability to upgrade
easily or to switch back and forth from 24fps
to 48fps or 60fps, to dual stacked-projector
3D setups for special presentations on a big
scale, Christie is committed to digital cinema
for the long term,” notes Dr. Shaw. He adds,
“with Christie’s cost-effective, more reliable and
robust solutions, film makers, post-production
studios and exhibitors can also embrace the
new technology now.”
> See back page for story on Technology Co-operation with Park Road Post Production, Weta Digital and Christie.
Christie IMB makes its debut worldwide
Asia is an early adopter
for Christie IMB
Countries throughout Asia Pacific are often early
adopters of Christie DLP Cinema ® technology.
Shanghai-based Shimao Group, a leading
Chinese property, retail and entertainment
company, was the first to purchase the all-new
Christie integrated IMB solution.
“We are confident that Christie’s IMB will work
well with the Christie Solaria Series 2K and 4K
projectors we have deployed in our cinemas. After
viewing the HFR and IMB solution, which made its
first appearance at the Christie booth at CineAsia,
we are convinced that the IMB solution will offer
us a more complete projection system because it
is integrated within the projector. This is definitely
a value-add for exhibitors like Shimao who is
always eager to embrace the latest innovations
in digital cinema,” commented Liu Ming, general
manager, Shimao Cinema Investment Co., Ltd.
Prototype Christie laser-engine projector shows
James Cameron High Frame Rate demo reel
In April, Christie hosted a HFR Summit at Christie’s worldwide center for
engineering, research and development in Kitchener, Ontario, providing
cinema-industry luminaries the first-ever laser projection of high frame
rate cinema and alternative content on to a 30-foot white screen.
Matt Cowan, chief scientific officer, RealD; Douglas Trumbull, a
recent Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award winner; Ian Bidgood,
technical director, Park Road Post Production; Bert Dunk,
director at the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre;
Demetri Portelli, stereographer, and John Helliker, also director
at the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre, met with
Christie engineering and product development staff for a vibrant
information sharing session and discussion on high frame rates,
laser projection, and the future of 3D and 4K projection.
Most current installations
use a media block in an
external server that is linked
by cables to the projector.
This can create limitations
for displaying alternative
content and for displaying
images at HFR. Christie’s
Shaw explained, “by having
the IMB integrated in the
projector, Christie has made
the IMB an integral part
of the projector, creating a
secure connection that can manage the high
bandwidth required for HFR and 4K content
without any compromise to pixel quality.”
Shimao Group, one of the top five exhibitors
in China, completed the digitalization of at least
75 screens at 10 cinemas at the end of 2011
and will increase the number of multi-functional
cinemas to 60 with 500 screens by 2015.
Christie hosts cinema industry heavyweights
at first-ever HFR laser projection demo
Big, bright and crystal clear will spark cinema
industry renaissance
The consensus of the assembled industry experts was that the industry
needs to differentiate itself from the plethora of varied viewing options,
from tablets to home theaters and all manner of exhibitor setups. Doug
Trumbull said, “Spectacular movies delivered at high-frame rates, on to
big and vividly bright screens, will enable the production and exhibition
of amazingly immersive cinema experiences that will be far more
powerful than any other medium.”
Echoing Mr. Trumbull’s sentiments, Ian Bidgood suggested that
“…3D images must be awe-inspiring to bring back the crowds to
theaters worldwide, and the higher brightness levels that are required
to do justice to these images, along with higher frame rate material,
will be delivered by Christie’s technology in the laser field, with new
projector and cinema solutions for today and the future.”
Christie’s commitment to HFR
The Christie IMB seamlessly
integrates into the Christie
Solaria Series of digital
cinema projectors
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry
develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR
content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and
post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation for the
most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to
assist exhibitors in showing 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these
ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies with
current DLP and new laser technologies. through formal and informal
technology-development alliances with major producers and directors,
post-production facilities, studios and technology partners.
3

Widespread adoption of Christie's
4K and 3D solutions continues worldwide
One of Wanda Group's cinemas
in Beijing
The Asia Pacific region is the most rapidly growing
cinema market and exhibitors enthusiastically
adopt Christie ® 4K and 3D technology. Christie,
the pioneer of digital cinema projection
technology and the first OEM licensee of Texas
Instruments’ DLP Cinema ® chip, is now the first
to present total digital solutions based on 4K.
“The demand for 4K will continue to increase,
especially in Asia where the cinema industry is
experiencing a dynamism that has not been seen
for a long time,” says Lin Yu, vice president,
Christie Asia Pacific.
Christie has deployed its DCI-certified
Christie CP4220 and CP4230 projectors in
various markets in Asia. The Christie awardwinning
Solaria ® Series which now includes a
fully integrated media block (IMB) solution can
manage higher frame rates (HFR) and 4K content
without compromising image quality and security.
Rapid 4K expansion
in China
Christie has four offices throughout
China to provide sales and service
support. According to Jack Kline,
president and COO of Christie Digital
Systems USA, “we really see China as
the future and they see us as a leader
in the cinema space. We are helping
exhibitors find the path through that
next technological advancement.”
Christie has the most 4K installations
in China including more than
350 projectors with the Wanda Group,
Asia’s largest cinema chain, with 71
premium cinemas and more than 600
screens across China. Wanda has plans
for adding another 120 cinemas and more than
400 screens in 2012. “With Christie’s 4K projectors
filling our cinema screens, we are able to provide
a complete 3D experience unequaled in quality,
brightness, image accuracy and alignment — and
ultimately — a total cinema immersion for our
clients,” remarked Ye Ning, general manager of
Wanda Cinema Group.
United Circuit, the cinema operator under
Shanghai Film Group, China’s largest cinema
circuit, and one of the most comprehensive film
groups in China, recently purchased 200 Christie
digital cinema projectors, including the Christie
CP4230. Xu Xiaoping, general manager of United
Circuit, said the 4K digital cinema projectors are
part of the company’s next step in providing
industry-leading solutions for bigger screens and
selected 3D releases. To date, United Circuit has
installed more than 600 Christie digital cinema
projectors across China.
India and Indonesia embrace 4K
At the Urvashi Cinema in Bangalore, India — the
country’s first 3D cinema — the Christie CP4230
digital cinema projector made possible the 3D
screening of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.”
“4K is a premium experience, even going by
worldwide standards. Urvashi prides itself on its
commitment to give our patrons the best viewing
quality, said Amit R Gowda, CEO of Urvashi Cinema.
“We pursue excellence and that is the reason why
we took such a bold move with the installation of
the Christie CP4230 digital cinema projectors.”
Ranjit Thakur, CEO of Scrabble Entertainment,
Christie’s deployment partner in India, agreed,
stating, “The way in which India is progressing on
the digital cinema platform is astonishing. Urvashi’s
move to 4K digital cinema
projection has set the bar
for cinemas everywhere.
This is the onset of a new
revolution and I’m sure in
the near future, we will see
a lot of conversions from
the cinema operators here
in India.”
In Indonesia, Christie is installing close to 200
digital cinema projectors, including several 4K
models. Other Asia markets using Christie 4K
DLP Cinema projection technology include Japan,
Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
Massive digital rollout
in the Philippines
DCinema Alliance (DCA), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Array’s Technologies Inc., is the
leading supplier of cinema projection equipment
and services in the Philippines. Set up to digitize
the Filipino cinema market, DCA has targeted a
minimum of 400 screens in 60 sites, in addition
to the 109 screens already converted. Christie has
had a very good working relationship with Array’s
for the last fifteen years.
The contract for DCI-compliant Christie CP2220
and Christie CP2230 Digital Cinema ® projectors
with installations beginning in Metro Manila
before fanning out nationwide, began in January
2012, and is scheduled for completion within
two years. “Digital cinema is revolutionizing the
cinema-going experience everywhere. We hope
this deployment, which will see a minimum of
400 screens digitized, will support the goals
of our exhibitors to provide a more engaging
cinematic experience for
their patrons,” commented
Rey Del Poso, president,
DCinema Alliance Corp.
ArcLight gets head start
on HFR movie projection
ArcLight Cinemas, part of the Pacific Theatres
group, with 33 auditoriums and 61 screens,
completed the digital conversion of its four
locations in California. They installed Christie
Solaria ® Series 2K and 4K projectors to provide
the best in both conventional and premier movie
experiences. All auditoriums within the ArcLight
brand are premium presentation auditoriums,
focusing on a “black box” design aesthetic, which
emphasizes undistracted viewing and features the
best in sight and sound technology.
“Christie’s Solaria series will make it possible for
us to present the latest technological advances
to our patrons, such as 3D and big-screen
experiences, as well as high frame rate movies
scheduled to launch later this year, beginning with
epics such as Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit,” said
Joe Miraglia, director of design, construction and
facilities for ArcLight. “Since we offer a range of
movies and theaters to suit distinct audiences, we
needed digital projection that could adapt to any
need, and Christie gave us the best solution.”
ACS Enterprises Inc., who handled the installation,
chose Christie because of its winning
combination of product and support excellence.
“At ACS, we care about our clients, their theaters
and their continued success,” said
Jose Alvarado, chief executive officer
of ACS. “Christie is a partner that
shares our philosophy and wanted to
make sure we succeeded in our digital
cinema transitions. In addition to
providing first-rate technology, Christie
collaborated in installation design,
setup and testing through its Christie
Managed Services group, which has
been extremely helpful in quickly and
efficiently providing the assistance
we needed for ArcLight’s unique
requirements,” says Alvarado.
The ArcLight chain includes the famous ArcLight
Hollywood, with its historic and unique Cinerama
Dome — one of only three such theaters in the
world today. The Dome now features Christie
Duo technology, a configuration of two
projectors, advanced software and a space-saving
frame that delivers a completely seamless, premium
movie experience for the world’s largest screens.
Cannes Film Festival renews
Christie partnership for three years
In its 65th year, the Cannes International Film
Festival signed with Christie, a technical partner
since 2006, to provide all the digital projection
equipment and the entire digital projection
platform over the next three years.
As technical partner, Christie provided 2K and
4K DLP Cinema ® projectors for screening the
works shown in 20 digital auditoriums at the
Festival, that took place in May of this year.
Each year, the main projection rooms in
the Cannes Palais des Festivals are equipped
with projectors from the Christie Solaria ®
Series meeting Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI)
recommended standards.
“The Cannes CST, the body responsible for
projection’s technical aspects at the Cannes
Festival, is delighted to be working with
Christie. The partnership between Christie and
the Festival helps us guarantee an outstanding
quality of projection,” said Pierre William
Glenn, chairman of the CST (Supervisory
Technical Committee for Sound and Image).
Pascal Gervais, Manager of Christie France,
added, “This renewed three-year Technical
Partnership with the Cannes Festival confirms
Christie’s high reputation in the film industry and
— because of the demanding qualification process
deployed by the CST — proves our commitment to
offering nothing but the best in terms of image for
one of film’s most prestigious events.”
Technical ParTner DigiTal cinema
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012
ArcLight Cinemas represent
an evolution in the movie
going experience
35mm | DigiTal cinema | 2K | DigiTal cinema 3D | 4K | hFr DigiTal cinema
Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival
the past, present & future of cinema.
www.christieatcannes.com
CD0150_2012_Guide Marché du Film_65th-Cannes_2012_Fv.indd 1 16/04/2012 12:27
4 5

6
The Christie Duo solution
for large format 3D cinema
Christie achieves first
dual-stacked 4K demo in China
On a giant screen 62ft x 33ft (19m by 10m), in a
theater in Shanghai, attended by more than 70
cinema owners and exhibitors in China, Christie
made its initial demonstration of true DLP ® 4K
resolution in 3D.
They achieved an incomparable brightness level
of 68,000 ANSI lumens, using two Christie CP4230
digital cinema projectors. With highly defined
color contrast and superior 3D images, attendees
got a sneak preview of what the next generation,
large-screen premium movie experience promises
to deliver.
Christie’s Advanced Program Development
Chief Scientist, Terry Schmidt, explained how the
dual-stacked 4K digital cinema solution works
on large cinema screens and how they achieve
high brightness for superior 3D applications. He
also conducted a technology preview of Christie’s
auto-aligning software that helps to adjust images
to gain perfect pixel precision.
“With the rapid and significant increase in
the screening of 3D movies, theater owners and
exhibitors are increasingly demanding dual-stack
projector solutions that allows for very clear and
bright 3D displays. This demonstration proved that
Christie is committed to push conversion to digital
4K as a digital projection option for facilitating
3D movies,” said Frank Xiao, general manager,
Christie China.
Poised to deliver the premium
movie experience
The Christie Duo solution enables exhibitors to
deliver the brightest 2K or 4K movie experiences
in 2D or 3D on the largest screens. Coupled with
automated features that easily calibrate, align and
optimize the images from both Christie Solaria ®
Series 2K or 4K digital cinema projectors, Christie
Duo delivers a completely seamless, premium
movie experience to moviegoers worldwide.
When combined with world-leading 3D systems,
exhibitors can achieve 3D image brightness levels
up to twice as high as what can be achieved
using the current large-format market
leader — at a significant overall cost saving
Cameron's Titanic 3D
world premiere projected
by Christie Duo solution
In co-operation with James Cameron’s
Lightstorm Entertainment, Inc., Christie
supplied its Christie Duo dual-projector solution to
bring the bright, vivid scenes of Titanic in 3D to life at
its world premiere at The Royal Albert Hall in London.
“I’m pleased to have Christie continuing to
accompany me on my ‘journey of discovery,’
which will see studios and theater owners
providing stirring 3D and, in due course, high
frame rate movies, to fully immerse their
audiences in experiences that best represent
the creative excellence of today’s producers and
directors,” said James Cameron.
The multi-party effort included Fox Filmed
Entertainment, Bell Theatres Services, Britannia Row
Audio and a full orchestra, with Jon Landau appearing
onstage with James Cameron at the premiere.
“The Hobbit” brought to life
in HFR on massive silver screen
Christie Duo combined with the new RealD
XL-DP Cinema System projected Warner Bros.
Pictures’ “Sneak Peek” of “The Hobbit” in 3D, at
high frame rates (HFR) of 48 frames per second,
achieving an unprecedented combination of
uniformity and brightness. Christie, and RealD,
a leading global licensor of 3D technologies,
powered the presentation in the Colosseum at
Caesars Palace during CinemaCon.
In the setup for the presentation, projection
engineers calibrated the system using brightness
measurements taken towards the edges of the
screen, rather than at the center. By combining
the Christie Duo and
the RealD XL-DP
3D Cinema System,
exhibitors can actually
achieve double the
light output over the
previous leading large
format solutions, and
at a significant overall
value during regular, commercial movie showings.
“With the new RealD XL-DP Cinema System,
there is a technical solution for achieving 3D
brightness at 2D light levels on some of the largest
movie theater screens in the world,” says Rod
Archer, vice-president of Cinema Products, RealD.”
Don Shaw, senior director, Christie’s
Entertainment Solutions product management
group noted that “The incredible experience
delivered by RealD and Christie was achieved on
a silver screen, using Christie’s Pureformity Color
Technology to ‘control’ the center brightness,
allowing us to obtain the most uniform image
possible across this large screen.”
“Theater of the Future” brings
luxury, hi-tech, low maintenance
digital cinema technology to U.S.
Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas launches boothless projection
system with Christie Managed Services
Located in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center
in Carmel Valley, Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas
features two traditional auditoriums and six with
boothless projection systems, seating up to 74
guests, 3D and surround sound technologies,
reserved seating options, and high back reclining
leather chairs for the ultimate in viewing comfort.
Christie Managed Services has implemented
cost effective boothless projection systems,
powered by low-maintenance Christie digital
cinema projectors, the most powerful and
most trusted name for exhibitors joining the
digital revolution. Designed and installed by
Christie Managed Services as part of a complete
customized solution, the boothless systems
eliminate the need for traditional projectionist
booth space and require no human operator.
They also free up space for an additional row of
seating that would normally have been taken up
by the projection booths.
“While we are South America’s largest theater
chain, this is our first entry into the U.S. market,
and it was critical that every aspect of our
patrons’ movie-viewing experience was as perfect
as possible,” said Carlos Wellman, managing
director of Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. “We
selected Christie because they bring more than
80 years in the exhibition industry, and perfectly
understand the old-world traditions of the finest
movie houses and the next generation of digital
technology to meet the sophisticated demands of
today’s moviegoers.”
Christie end-to end solutions
Christie provided an all-inclusive, turnkey
solution for a special lift system that enables
the Christie CP2220 DLP Cinema ® projectors
to be positioned out of the way during normal
operation and lowered for maintenance.
Matthew Heyman, a Cinépolis consultant on this
project notes, “Christie’s boothless lifts create the
space for Cinépolis to transform its theaters into a
unique movie-going experience. These boothless
concepts, like the ones Christie designs and installs,
are transforming the digital cinema environment.”
“Exhibitors are looking for solutions that
enable them to reduce construction costs,
while offering the design flexibility to transform
older facilities to the look and feel of the luxury
cinema,” explained Sean James, vice president
of Managed Services for Christie. “Our
customers need the
benefit of technology
without the complexity
of integration or the
burden of support to
accomplish their design
and cost reduction
goals. We designed and
built boothless systems
that provide the right
environment for the
projector and isolates
the audience from the
noise and heat the
projector and server
generate while allowing
the projection booth to
be removed.”
Recently, an additional
six auditoriums were
installed with Christie
boothless projection
systems at the Cinépolis
Luxury Cinemas La Costa
location in Carlsbad.
Christie Managed Services team also
installed the audio system, screens,
processing equipment, lighting,
drapes, library management systems,
playback and projection systems,
in addition to designing and
deploying the boothless capability.
7

Christie DLP Cinema ® projectors ignite screens around the globe
Christie surpasses 28,000 digital cinema projector milestone
“The versatility and
convenience of
our one-stop
shopping approach,
based on our deep
understanding of
exhibitor needs,
has won us new
customers across
the globe.”
Jack Kline
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
Texas Instruments (TI) announced that in the
12-month period between December 1, 2010
and November 30, 2011, the number of DLP
Cinema ® screens worldwide grew to a total of
51,620 for an increase of 84 percent. Christie
was the first manufacturer to surpass the
5,000 digital cinema milestone in Spring 2009,
followed by the 7,500 milestone in the Fall of
that year. At the Cine Asia 2011 conference
in Hong Kong, TI awarded a commemorative
plaque to Christie customer, United Circuit
Cinemas, Shanghai Film Group, to commemorate
the 50,000th 3-chipset manufactured.
At CinemaCon 2012 in April, Christie reported
that they shipped and installed more than
28,000 digital cinema projectors to date. Led
by the DCI-compliant Christie Solaria ® Series 2K
and 4K projectors — from the popular Christie
CP2220 and CP2230 workhorses to the CP4220
and CP4230 thoroughbreds — Christie now has
more than half of the world’s marketshare.
“The versatility and convenience of our
one-stop shopping for fully integrated solutions
and our end-to-end approach based on our
deep understanding of exhibitor needs has won
us new customers across the globe.
Christie continues to be the exhibitors’
choice for financing options like our
innovative Virtual Print Fee (VPF)
program in North America, leading
edge-hardware and software and
unparalleled support from Christie’s
Managed Services,” said Jack Kline,
president and chief operating officer,
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
EMEA region sees record growth
The first 4K DLP Cinema projector in Russia was
installed in Summer 2011 by Asia Cinema, a
long standing Christie partner, in Cherepovets
— the largest city of Vologda region. It marks
an important stage in the development of the
Russian cinema industry. A Christie CP4230
Solaria Series projector was installed in the largest
hall of the Kinomir cinema, with a 16.2m (53 ft)
screen and a seating capacity of 570.
Since then, the interest in Christie 2K and
4K digital projectors in Russia as well as across
the EMEA region continues unabated. As the
undisputed leader in this field, Christie is continuously
pushing the boundaries for its integration
partners and cinema exhibitors, to further expand
its dominance in the cinema area.
”We are seeing significant investment in a
majority of territories in EMEA, in particular in
Germany, France and Russia, where we have
been number one in terms of active digital
cinema installations for years,” comments Dale
Miller, vice president, Christie EMEA. ”Our
Christie CP4230 is proving particularly popular,
and the fact that we are always a step ahead
when it comes to the future trends of cinema
— with the development of Higher Frame Rates
(HFR) or IMB solution — is a strong sign of
support to our cinema exhibitors who know they
are investing in high end performance and futureproof
digital projection systems.”
Christie acquires $40 million
digital cinema projector order
for India market
Scrabble Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary
of UFO Moviez India Ltd, and India’s largest
DCI-compliant digital deployment entity,
announced its commitment to purchase Christie
digital cinema projectors valued at approximately
$40 million for rollout in the Indian market.
Scrabble is the only aggregator of DCI-compliant
screens in India with VPF agreements with major
Hollywood studios. The order includes the awardwinning
Christie CP2210, Christie CP2220 and
Christie CP2230 digital cinema projectors from
the Christie Solaria Series. The installation of
these projectors has begun and is slated to be
completed by the end of 2012. “Christie has
proven to be a reliable brand for the cinema
industry for many years. Scrabble partnered with
Christie four years ago for the first phase of DCI
rollout with the installation of 300 screens across
India. In the second phase, we plan to rollout an
additional 1200 screens across premium Indian
multiplex and single screen properties, further
reinforcing the confidence we have in Christie.
Christie’s digital cinema projectors are not only
reliable, but unrivalled in terms of resolution,
brightness and performance,” said Ranjit Thakur,
CEO, Scrabble Entertainment.
According to Kapil Agarwal, Joint Managing
Director, UFO Moviez, “We have very aggressive
plans for the next phase of our DCI rollout in
India. Riding on the strength of our innovative
business model, the UFO-Scrabble combination
will exponentially increase the number of
DCI-compliant cinemas from our existing 400 to
1500 by the end of 2012, providing Hollywood
content owners unparalleled reach in the
Indian subcontinent. This transition is especially
significant as UFO has over 2,750 non-DCI digital
screens in India.”
“We are delighted to work with Christie for
this significant deployment. It is a well-known
fact that Christie is leading on many fronts in
digital cinema technology, including 4K and
screening movies at higher frame rate than
the current standard. Through this partnership
with Christie, we hope to leverage on these
advancements in digital cinema solutions and
bring them to cinemas in India,” says Agarwal.
Harkins Theatres selects Christie
for 400+ projectors in the U.S.
Celebrating 78 years, Harkins Theatres is the
largest privately owned theatre chain in the
country and the premier movie exhibitor of
the Western U.S. operating over 420 screens.
Featuring a large selection of film, snacks, and
innovative amenities to moviegoers since 1933,
Harkins Theatres, based in Arizona, is renown
for its commitment and passion for offering the
Ultimate Moviegoing ® experience. Founded by
renowned showman, inventor, and community
leader Dwight “Red” Harkins, Harkins Theatres has
historically been a trailblazer for advancements in
the motion picture exhibition industry.
Christie provided Harkins Theatres with more
than 400 Christie Solaria Series 2 digital cinema
projectors deployed at the end of 2011. The chain
has also subscribed to Christie’s VPF program.
“Harkins Theatres is both an entertainment
and a cultural destination for the many
diverse communities it serves throughout the
Southwest,” said George Scheckel, director,
Business Development, Entertainment Solutions
at Christie. “As a major supporter of so many
charitable organizations and community-based
educational programs, Harkins is committed
to providing the highest quality movie-viewing
experience to its patrons. Christie is pleased
that its new generation of DLP Cinema ®
projectors will now help contribute to their
inspiring legacy that includes groundbreaking
innovations in cinema.”
China’s Great Hall of The People
chooses Christie CP Series digital
cinema projectors
Located on the western side of Tiananmen
Square, in Beijing, the Great Hall of the People
is the political hub of China and home to the
National People’s Congress and the Chinese
People’s Political Consultative Conference, held
annually in March. It is also used
for ceremonial events and in recent
years, this historic venue has hosted
several non-political conventions
and concerts. According to Frank
Xiao, general manager, Christie
China, the Great Hall of the People
has inked an agreement with
Christie to install two Christie CP
series digital cinema projectors in
one of its auditoriums, slated to
begin as early as 2012.
“The Great Hall of the People
is one of the most important and
prestigious government buildings in
China. Christie is extremely honored
to be associated with such an exalted organization
and even more honored that our latest CP series
digital cinema projectors have been selected for
this momentous deployment. We are immensely
pleased that the Great Hall of the People has
supported Christie all these years,” said Lin Yu,
vice president, Christie Asia Pacific.
8 9

Apex Entertainment has
received several honors
and awards for its
dedication in exhibition
Independents in North America
value Christie equipment,
services and VPF Program
Smaller independent exhibitors play an important
role and provide local audiences a connection to
their communities. Christie has helped regional
and local exhibitors move into the 21st century
of entertainment by providing the world’s most
preferred DLP Cinema ® projectors and dependable
customer service. Along with the Christie Virtual
Print Fee (VPF) Program, independents can now
afford their digital conversions and continue
to operate the way they always have, without
unwieldy fees and restrictions.
Apex Theatres, Louisville, KY
Locally owned by a group of
investors, Apex Entertainment, LLC,
currently operates 16 screens in
Louisville, Kentucky, including Baxter
Avenue Filmworks Theatre (Baxter).
Opened in 1996, Baxter is far from
a typical multiplex. It offers first-run,
foreign, and independent fare and
most recently, 3D movies, on eight
wall-to-wall screen auditoriums.
In addition to state-of-theart
projection equipment and
sound systems, Baxter's most
show-stopping assets are its
aesthetic allure, including a
multimedia video wall above the
concession stand, lighted moving sculptures, and
vintage posters and hand-painted murals by local
artists throughout.
“We have always had the highest regard for
Christie equipment, even before we started
installing their digital projectors,” says Leslie
Aberson, President, Apex Theatres. Currently
Baxter has five Christie Solaria ® Series digital
projectors installed with the remaining three
screens scheduled for conversion by mid-2012.
“We appreciate Christie's reliability and economical
operation that provide savings day in and day out.
According to Gary Engvold, president of
Integrity Entertainment Solutions, LLC, a certified
Christie partner, who handled the installation,
“We recommend Christie projectors because
they typically use a lamp size smaller than the
competition on the same screen, providing more
light and using less electricity. They are known for
the brightest and highest performance projectors
and the lowest cost of ownership.”
Christie VPF — best return on
investment
After much research, Baxter contracted with
Christie for their VPF Program because they
considered it to be the most friendly. “The
Christie VPF Program is straight forward, and
in comparison to others, it is the best deal out
there. In terms of simple economics, we get the
best return on our money because the VPFs are
paid faster and we have the ability to depreciate
the equipment under Christie’s self-financing
program,” explains Aberson. “We didn’t have
to jump through hoops and deal with all sorts
of restrictions.”
In response to exhibitors, Christie has expanded its
VPF Program until September 30, 2012.
Canadian exhibitors embrace
Christie total solutions
Landmark selects Christie
for full digital conversion
Landmark Cinemas of Canada Inc.(Landmark) is
western Canada’s largest independent exhibitor.
They operate 31 cinema complexes, with a
combined total of 111 screens, in 28 locations
in the four western provinces and the Yukon.
Privately owned and operated since 1965, the
partners who make up the ownership group of
Landmark have strong roots to film exhibition.
The digital conversions for 100+ screens —
including a range of DCI-compliant Christie
Solaria ® Series projectors installed by King
Cinema — is to be completed over the next six
months with no disruption in service. Landmark
will provide state-of-the-art entertainment in all
its markets, including 2D and 3D movies, live
events and other alternative content.
“Christie guarantees us the twin pillars of
superior product and the best people,” says Neil
Campbell, chief operating officer, Landmark
Cinemas. “The team at Christie is highly responsive.
I can find the managers I need whenever I need
them, and they’re always focused on meeting the
unique requirements of each cinema.”
Christie Managed Services
and VPF Program
Signing onto Christie Managed Services enables
Christie to remotely monitor and manage
Landmark’s digital cinema environments in real
time and to reap the full benefit of digitization.
Included with the hardware will be Christie’s
Library Management Servers for playing on
multiple Landmark screens. They also subscribe
to Christie’s simplified and customized Virtual
Print Fee (VPF) Program that provides financial
support for exhibitors seeking the greatest
independence in making the move to DLP
Cinema ® digital cinema projection systems.
“The program offers Landmark expert support
and flexible options for all phases of the digital
conversion process, including Christie’s Network
Operations Center (NOC) services, providing
24/7 /365 technical support,” added Muscat.
Cinémas Guzzo goes
100% digital with Christie
One of Canada’s leading independent chains,
Les Cinémas Guzzo (“Guzzo”) is the largest
privately owned cinema chain in Quebec. Part
of the Quebec cinema scene since 1974, it was
founded by Angelo Guzzo, and currently has
more than 140 screens, mainly in the Montreal
area. Angelo Guzzo and his son Vincenzo work as
a team to bring moviegoers the best that cinema
has to offer, including installation of Christie
Solaria ® Series Series 2K projectors as well as
the upgrading of 27 screens to Christie’s next
generation Solaria 4K DLP Cinema ® projectors.
“In addition to the terrific image quality offered
by digital projection, the conversion will give us
more flexibility in the types of presentation we can
offer, such as 3D, and more personalized pre-show
and alternative content,” says Vincenzo Guzzo,
executive vice president and chief operating officer,
Cinémas Guzzo. The conversion of all 142 Guzzo
screens, managed in-house and supported by
Christie, is planned for completion by April 2012.
“With Christie, we get first-class service and great
after-sale support. We’ve been with Christie from
our first installs in 2008, so we know they’re the
most reliable choice for this project,”Guzzo added.
Services, systems and support
Guzzo is working with Christie Managed Services
in support of sourcing,
integrating and validating
hardware that enables
remote monitoring and
management of Guzzo’s
digital cinema projection
environments. Included with
the hardware are Library
Management Servers that
hold the feature films,
advertisements, trailers and
other digital content for
playing on multiple screens.
Cinémas Guzzo will also use
Christie ACT , a theater
automation controller to
automate presentations in
some of its theaters.
Dave Muscat, senior director of sales, Christie
Canada, noted, “Christie has helped Cinémas
Guzzo make this pivotal transition to digital, with
best-in-class product and flexible, customized service.
Today we have more than 85 percent of Canada's
digital cinema market through our commitment to
long-term partnership with our customers.”
“Christie guarantees
us the twin pillars
of superior product
and the best
people.”
Neil Campbell
Chief Operating Officer
Landmark Cinemas
10
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Projection, post-production and
visual effects leaders to exchange
ideas, test results and evaluations
on current industry directions
Christie ® signed a technology co-operation
agreement with Park Road Post Production Ltd.
(“Park Road”) and Weta Digital Ltd. (“Weta”) to
work together to advance the state of the art of
digital cinema production and projection, with an
emphasis on high frame rate (HFR) delivery — the
industry's most exciting new technology.
For its part, Christie will supply a combination
of ‘direct to engineering’ technical support,
Christie Solaria ® Series DLP Cinema ® projectors
and early access to prototype projection
technologies, including laser projectors, that
Christie is developing.
As part of the agreement, Park Road and Weta
will upgrade their current facilities with Christie
projectors and provide Christie with review,
testing and feedback on new hardware and
software developments related to high-bandwidth
interfaces and HFR technology. In addition, they
will sample movie content (consistent with the
content owner’s permission) for Christie to use in
testing its projectors and integrated media block
(IMB) units.
“The team at Park Road has a strong and
long-standing relationship with Christie and
we are delighted that this will continue into
The move to HFR is the
future of movie-going
For over eight decades, Christie has been dedicated to leading
the development for advanced cinema technologies. With deep
ties to the motion picture community, along with its long-term
partnership with James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment,
Christie will enable exhibitors to deliver a new level of
enhanced viewing experiences as well as an opportunity for
premium pricing.
For more information about HFR, go to:
www.christiedigital.com/highframerates
the future,” said Cameron Harland, general
manager, Park Road, a premier post-production
facility located in Wellington, New Zealand. “We
hope that our joint research and knowledge
exchange on high frame rates in particular will
benefit filmmakers, studios, exhibitors and most
importantly the movie-going audience.”
Weta Digital is a five-time Academy Award ®
winning visual effects facility based in Wellington,
New Zealand. Kathy Gruzas, chief information
officer, Weta said “Christie shares a common
vision with our facility and Park Road — that
is, to be on the leading-edge of world-class
developments in digital cinema — and we look
forward to combining the sum total of our
collective experience and knowledge to thrill
cinema audiences in the upcoming, new world of
3D and HFR.”
“We are delighted to be teaming up with these
two legends in the post-production and visual
effects world,” said Don Shaw, senior director,
Product Management, Christie Entertainment
Solutions, “and look forward to pushing the
envelope with Park Road and Weta on this
exciting endeavor.”
Contact us
Visit our website at:
www.christiedigital.com
Corporate offices
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
USA – Cypress
ph: 714 236 8610
Christie Digital Systems Canada Inc.
Canada – Kitchener
ph: 519 744 8005
Worldwide offices
United Kingdom
ph: +44 118977 8000
Germany
ph: +49 2161 664540
France
ph: +33 (0) 1 41 21 44 04
Spain
ph: +34 91 633 9990
Eastern Europe and
Russian Federation
ph: +36 (0) 1 47 48 100
United Arab Emirates
ph: +971 (0) 4 299 7575
India
ph: +080 41468941 – 48
Singapore
ph: +65 6877 8737
China (Shanghai)
ph: +86 21 6278 7708
China (Beijing)
ph: +86 10 6561 0240
Japan (Tokyo)
ph: +81 3 3599 7481
Korea (Seoul)
ph: +83 2 702 1601
Independent sales
consultant offices
Italy
ph: +39 (0)2 9902 1161
South Africa
ph: +27 (0) 317 671 347
We welcome your comments, questions, story
submissions, updates and installation inform ation.
Send correspondence to:
Kati Bujna
kati.bujna@christiedigital.com
KinoNotes is published 3x a year by Christie
and distributed in print to our cinema partners
and customers. We wish to thank our customers
for their support in producing this newsletter.
No part of this newsletter may be reproduced
in whole or in part without the written consent
of Christie.
© 2012 Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. All rights
reserved. All brand names and product names are
trademarks, registered trademarks or tradenames of their
respective holders. Printed in Canada on recycled paper.
CHRI9510 KinoNotes Summer 12.pdf
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