From the monthly archives:

March 2010

Executive Summary

March 2010

  • DCIP Finally Announces. The announcement may have been anti-climatic, but details always tell a story.
  • Another deployment entity on the way?
  • DCI and NIST. A solution in the wings?
  • TI passes DCI. A true first in digital cinema.
  • Demonstration Success! ISDCF and NATO slogged their way through, with much learned and much to do.
  • SMPTE and cinema sound. There’s always something to fiddle with, isn’t there?
  • 3-D Crash. 3-D has become more than just a creative tool.
  • Arts Alliance Media scores €s.
  • Creditors gain Panavision.
  • Mike Fidler exits, and Gary Johns steps up to lead Sony DCSS.
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DCIP Finally Announces, and Maybe a Surprise Coming?

March 2010

The most significant announcement for the rollout of digital cinema was also the most anti-climatic.  DCIP finally announced the completion of approximately 70% of its financing package.  The announcement was hinging on the signing of a purchase agreement with Sony Electronics.  Last minute haggling?  Given that Sony will collect the lion share of the money [...]

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DCI and NIST: Why This Relationship Can’t Continue

March 2010

Last month it was pointed out that the storm long brewing over the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) security requirement in the DCI specification was coming to a head.  It has been known for a few years that National Institute of Standards and Technology, known as NIST, planned to obsolete the FIPS 140-2 specification, for [...]

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TI Passes DCI (hurray! well…almost)

March 2010

Texas Instruments announced this month that it passed the DCI procedural test as administered by Cinecert.  The remaining step is for its security system to pass a design review provided by a third party entity.  At this point, the design review should be a formality.  For this reason, TI deserves to boast its achievement.  In [...]

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SMPTE and Cinema Sound

March 2010

Last month it was pointed out that Annex A of SMPTE 429-2 DCP Operational Constraints was missing a vital part needed for DCI compliance testing.  SMPTE DCP-compliant audio does not spell out how to distribute the full complement of 16 channels of audio.  However, DCI compliance testing requires this capability.  In addition, the industry needs [...]

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The Demonstrations Worked!

March 2010

There must be a book somewhere that explains why waiving arms alone doesn’t move technology forward.  But knowing this intuitively, Jerry Pierce, chairperson for ISDCF, your author, and several others plotted a course of demonstrations to give manufacturers a visible milestone in the effort to achieve SMPTE DCP compliance and SMPTE accessibility standards.  It worked.  [...]

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3-D Crash

March 2010

There are those pessimistic people (perhaps you know someone?) waiting for the first spectacular 3-D flop.  It’s possible they may not have to wait long.  Major 3-D releases are fighting for screen space.  3-D has become a strategic play in the battle for box office.  And studios are willing to cut corners on quality just [...]

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Other News

March 2010

Arts Alliance Media closed on €50M funding with Sankaty Advisors.
Ron Perleman decided to relinquish his shares of Panavision and allow creditors to take over in a debt restructuring plan.
Mike Fidler, Sony’s EVP that led the formation of its Digital Cinema Solutions and Services group, is reported to be stepping down and turning the reins over [...]

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