CinemaBuzz Weekly Report - 22 April 2013

World's Fastest Growing Cinema Market

No, not China - but close - Russia. Yes, the land of caviar, vodka, oil, furry hats and gulags is currently the fastest growing cinema market in both movie attendance and new cinema construction. 500 new cinema screens opened in Russia last year representing a 19% increase.  Vodka and a movie anyone?

Digital Cinema Empowers Exhibitors

TI's DLP Chip

D-Cinema provides instant opportunities and future innovations for exhibitors says Texas Instruments.  In a press release last week, Texas Instruments, the developer and provider of the DLP technology used in all of the current digital cinema projectors, noted that over 85,000 movie screens have now converted to their DLP digital technology.  TI further noted that the benefits of digital are becoming more apparent every day to both exhibitors and audiences.

In my mind, exhibitors need to obtain two things from their digital conversion:  improve their bottom line and offer a presentation 'wow' factor that surpasses home and mobile entertainment. TI believes the same, "We have been at the core of the digital cinema movement ever since the first cinemas adopted DLP Cinema nearly 15 years ago. Although we are thrilled as more exhibitors and moviegoers enjoy the benefits of digital now, it's the groundbreaking possibilities still to come that are the most exciting" says, Dave Duncan, TI's Manager of DLP Cinema.  And that is what I am most interested in.

Given its high quality imaging, speed, and reliability it's a matter of when, not if, other content alternatives are made available to exhibitors.  For example, it is not a stretch to foresee audiences interacting with a movie, perhaps to direct a scene or select an alternate ending.  Or, using the capabilities of the projector to bring hologram renditions of famous entertainers to the stage in a new type of live, 3D glasses-free performance.

As Greg Von Hausch, President of Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale told us, "With our digital cinema projection, audiences are much happier. So much more content is available and our patrons are delighted by the variety and the brilliant, crisp, and intoxicating image presented. Our crowds love it."

Best & Happy Movie Going!
Jim