WARCRAFT Powerleveling In China! $145 Million In 4 Days

Contrary to many critics I enjoyed WARCRAFT. Perhaps it's because I've actually played the game and I can pick up on most of the locations and references - it's still a CGI powerhouse and the 3D is amazing.

The 3D is amazing because most of it's pure digital 3D that's well done. It's a positive byproduct of doing most of the movie with CG characters and backgrounds. Loved the action sequences and how it all looked on a giant IMAX 3D screen. I'll be seeing it again on a Real D screen and I'm sure the level of excellence will be the same for stereo enjoyment.

WARCRAFT is the fastest international movie to $135 million ever in China. The movie only opened to $27 million in North America. I love how the movie has bounced back against the critics in China. Absolutely love it.

The story is somewhat hard to follow at times for someone who has not played the game I would imagine, but even if you haven't the visual effects are jaw dropping. The scale of the movie is off the charts.

WARCRAFT is a definite must-see in 3D. The stereo view enhances the CGI and makes the characters much more realistic and closer to crossing the uncanny valley. Trust me. 3D makes this movie.

Blue Sky Studios PEANUTS by Schulz Trailer #2 Impresses

Tim here, and I have to say that this second trailer for Peanuts coming out in 3D next November is looking better and better with each new trailer. I'll be honest and state that I've been a tad skeptical that these characters, who were drawn in a two-dimensional comic strip, didn't seem like they could translate well to the 3D world. This trailer shows that skeptics are wrong. The animators did a great job with subtle 3D, and what could translate into very pleasing stereoscopic 3D images, and maintaining the classic style and framing of the Peanuts comic strip. The texturing and other modern 3D computer animation techniques are subtle to the eye and invoke the nolstagia we hope to get from this movie. Yet, the trailer hasn't revealed anything about the story yet!

IMDB has this written for the storyline: For the first time ever, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the gang we know and love from Charles Schulz's timeless "Peanuts" comic strip will be making their big-screen debut like they've never been seen before in a CGI-animated feature film in 3D. And if you're yearning for a bit of trivia: This is the first theatrical Peanuts movie in 35 years!

There's also a few still frames below that come with this for you to take a closer look at. It's incredibly impressive what the animators have accomplished. It feels like Charles Schulz drew these.

Peanuts comes to theaters in RealD and Digital 3D November 6, 2015 from Blue Sky Studios and 20^th Century Fox.

Alama Drafthouse Cinema At Westlakes Expands Digital Roll-out In San Antonio, Texas

Conversion of all 9 screens for a State-of-the-Art Facility to Enhance Every Aspect of the Movie-Going Experience

San Antonio, Texas, July 12, 2011 -- Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas San Antonio is unveiling their digital conversion when it premieres of one of this summer’s most anticipated 3D blockbusters, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” as part of the movie’s nationwide release. The latest installment of the successful movie franchise opens with a midnight screening on July 14, and the innovative exhibitor is celebrating the event with a Harry Potter marathon, showing the previous seven films starting at 6am and leading right up to the premiere of the new movie at midnight.

This digital upgrade at the Alamo franchise location in San Antonio continues the exhibitor’s emphasis on providing a range of amenities such as award winning food, extensive beer selection and world renowned pre-show programming. It will also feature cutting edge technology including Sony’s 4K digital cinema projection technology on each of its nine screens, the first theater in San Antonio to do so.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas is well-known for its inventive alternative content events and rare film programming as well as showcasing first run films. Its latest efforts with the Harry Potter movies is just one more example of how digital technology can broaden a theater’s range of programming options and deliver a unique out-of-home entertainment experience for consumers.

Liz Burt, Director of Sales and Marketing for the San Antonio market, says “We are excited to launch the best film presentation our industry has to offer. We know our loyal customer base will love the advancements that have been made.”

“Sony’s unique 4K technology is an example of how digital technology is allowing exhibitors more flexibility in promoting movies, like the Harry Potter franchise,” said Andrew Stucker, National Account Manager for Sony’s Digital Cinema Solutions Group. “Movie goers will have every detail brought to life as part of an extremely vivid and immersive entertainment experience.”

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is dinner, drinks, movies and events, all under one roof. Brand expansion has been a key growth strategy for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema since Brandon Arceneaux and Chris Hoegemeyer brought the concept to San Antonio in 2004. Opening the Westlakes 9 screen location first, the company has grown to three theatres in San Antonio, the most recent opening in Stone Oak this past November.

“We could not be happier with how well the San Antonio community has embraced Alamo Drafthouse, and what our concept has to offer,” says co-owner Brandon Arceneaux.

About Alamo:
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse Founder & CEO, Tim League, created Fantastic Fest, a world renowned film festival dubbed “The Geek Telluride” by Variety. Also regarded as the “Comic Con of film festivals” Fantastic Fest showcases eight days of offbeat cinema from independents, international filmmakers and major Hollywood Studios. The Alamo Drafthouse’s collectible art boutique, Mondo, offers breathtaking, original products featuring designs from world-famous artists based on licenses for popular TV and Movie properties including Star Wars, Star Trek & Universal Monsters. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is expanding its brand in new and exciting ways, including the launch of Drafthouse Films, a new film distribution label and plans to extend its theaters and unique programming philosophy to additional markets across the United States. More information about Alamo Drafthouse franchise opportunities are available on the official website.

Alamo Drafthouse – http://www.drafthouse.com
Fantastic Fest -- http://www.fantasticfest.com/
Mondo -- http://www.mondotees.com/

About Sony Electronics Digital Cinema Solutions
Sony Digital Cinema Solutions group combines a full range of Sony technologies, purchasing options, alternative content offerings, training and service to provide a broad range of solutions for exhibitors. The world’s only manufacturer of commercially available 4K resolution digital cinema projection systems, the group also offers (projectors and media blocks); central servers; Sony TMS (theater management system); digital signage hardware, software and content development; security systems and Network Operations Center (NOC) services for the exhibition community. For more information, visit www.sony.com/digitalcinema.

I CLOSELY watch Sony (an end to end S3D company) AND the Alamo chain as I think they both represent the future of movie exhibition. Stay tuned for more whenever I get it...

Germany's CINEMAXX To Deploy REALD Technology

Large Volume Pact to Bring RealD 3D Experience to CinemaxX Theatres Across Germany and Denmark

(Emphasis is mine)

Global 3D cinema leader, RealD, and major German cinema circuit, CinemaxX, have partnered to equip CinemaxX theatres across Germany and Denmark with RealD 3D. This multi-screen pact builds on RealD’s extraordinary momentum that saw 400% growth across Europe in the first half of 2009, cementing RealD as the territory’s preferred 3D provider.

The multi-year agreement kicks off with 30 CinemaxX screens in Germany and Denmark immediately upgraded to RealD 3D in time for the highly anticipated September release of Disney●Pixar’s Up. An additional 30 RealD 3D equipped screens will be added across the CinemaxX circuit by the end of the year, with an ongoing rollout of more RealD 3D enabled screens through 2010.

“We’re pleased to welcome CinemaxX to the RealD 3D platform,” stated Bob Mayson, managing director of RealD Europe. “This partnership will assure moviegoers across the CinemaxX circuit will experience the extraordinary line-up of movies this year and for years to come in crisp, clear, fully immersive RealD 3D.”

“We’re excited to partner with RealD to equip our circuit with the best 3D cinema technology available,” said Christian Gisy, CEO of CinemaxX AG. “RealD 3D will give CinemaxX audiences an unmatched 3D entertainment experience in time for this year’s top films.”

Real D’s new generation 3D technology is deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform with over 8,700 screens under contract and over 3,200 screens installed in more than 45 countries with over 300 exhibition partners. The leading 3D provider around the world, RealD 3D is the market leading 3D cinema platform in territories including North America, Latin America, Australia and Europe, having notched 100% growth to its global install base in the first half of 2009 alone. A bright spot for the entertainment industry, RealD 3D is driving box office to the tune of three to four times per screen revenue of the same film on 2D screens.

About CinemaxX
CinemaxX AG is the most well-known operator of multiplex cinemas in Germany. In total, the company has 36 cinemas with 303 screens and capacity for around 88,000 people in Germany and Denmark. Due to their architectural design, CinemaxX multiplex cinemas occupy a unique position in the German cinema landscape and also offer exemplary standards of comfort and quality - including refined picture and sound quality, extra large screens, modern comfortable seats in air-conditioned cinema halls and an excellent ambience. For more information, please visit www.cinemaxx.de.

About RealD
RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and realistic digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s new generation technology, deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform, provides a stunningly lifelike viewing experience. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provicder of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing , and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D visualization technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more. www.realD.com

Awesome news to hear more conversions taking place. Timing couldn't be better for CinemaxX as AVATAR is ramping up and 2010 promises to be a huge year for 3D. I would love to check out a CinemaxX theater as they seem to be a hugher end venue for movies - I love theaters like that.

Quick Post: Exhibitors Meet with Wall Street; Hope to Speed Up 3D Rollout

Michael here. Variety has an article about a meeting between exhibitors and Wall Street bankers that took place in New York yesterday in which theater operators sought funding for digital and 3D conversions.

The financial crisis, and the resulting frozen credit markets, has slowed the expected pace of the digital and 3D rollouts.

An interesting tidbit from the article is that Regal has been redistributing its 232 3D-equipped projectors amongst various markets to maximize the potential revenue from future 3D shows.

I hope they find sufficient funding and are able to make up for lost time. Entertainment, which always thrives in down economic climates, seems as sure a bet as possible...and 3D films outperform their non-3D showings by significant factors. Let's hope they all see the obvious logic and solve this issue ASAP!

Check out the Variety article for more discussion of the current state of the rollout.

Quick Post: Christie Launches Industry First Technological Breakthrough for 3D

CYPRESS, CA – October 13, 2008 – Christie, a leader in digital cinema projection, is pleased to introduce its Brilliant3D technology that enables 3D content to be projected in full 2K resolution for digital cinema projectors utilizing 1.2” DMD chips from Texas Instruments. A first for the industry, this new technology will be available exclusively on all Christie digital cinema projectors and will be launched at ShowEast beginning October 13th in Orlando, FL. Following the successful demonstrations with RealD at IBC in Amsterdam last month, Christie’s new technology provides 33% more brightness for 3D content and uses only a single lens system.

“We’re very excited about this technological development from Christie. This advancement combined with our RealD XL system enhances the 3D experience tremendously. Together, we can fill screens up to 75ft in width with true triple-flash capable technology, making 3D films even brighter and clearer,” noted Joseph Peixoto, president of worldwide cinema, RealD.

Craig Sholder, vice-president of Christie’s Entertainment Solutions stated, “With more than 15 new movies slated for 3D release over the next 18 months, Christie’s new Brilliant3D will enable exhibitors to project 3D movies onto the largest screens—while reducing both lamp and electricity expenses. Christie engineers initiated development of this technology so that audiences would have the most compelling 3D experience.”

Christie Brilliant3D will be available on the world’s brightest 2K DLP Cinema® projectors, the Christie CP2000-SB and Christie CP2000-XB, as well as on the Christie CP2000-ZX. Christie’s CP2000-M digital cinema projector, based on the .98” DMD chip, will also feature Christie Brilliant3D technology. With this new technology, Christie now offers 3D in full 2K resolution at brightness levels not previously seen before in theatres.

Sholder added, “We’ve enabled our full suite of digital cinema projectors with Christie technology. And, our flagship Christie CP2000-SB will offer double the brightness for 3D projection than any other competitive product on the market. We’re thrilled to offer a much more viable solution to the industry for projecting 3D movies on medium and large screens. Christie remains at the forefront of the digital cinema revolution with 3D solutions for every exhibitor on any size screen.”

In addition, Christie is also announcing a new suite of variable prime zoom lenses that enable a convenient and cost-effective, single lens solution for 2D and 3D content regardless of format, keeping operating costs down. These lenses and new projector solutions will be available for the release of the 3D blockbusters scheduled for the upcoming holiday season.

ShowEast attendees will see Christie’s Brilliant3D technology in action on the Christie CP2000-XB showing select scenes from Lionsgate’s, “My Bloody Valentine”, and Disney’s “Bolt” 3D trailer on the Christie CP2000-ZX displayed at their booth # 1100.

This is awesome news for 2K digital projection. Gotta see this in action!

GDC And Real D Creating 3D Platform Partnership

GDC Forges Partnership with RealD to Deliver Leading-edge 3D Digital Cinema Experience

USA (Oct 9, 2008) - GDC is pleased to announce a partnership with RealD, the global leader in 3D cinema technology. Under the partnership, GDC’s best-selling digital cinema server - SA-2100 will be offered as part of RealD’s premier 3D platform for future 3D rollout.

GDC is the market leader in Asia with two-thirds of the market share and has the second largest deployment of digital cinema servers worldwide. RealD is the global leader in 3D, having captured 90% of the worldwide digital 3D market. The partnership will propel GDC servers into the fast expanding 3D market, estimated to reach between 4000 and 5000 screens by 2009. Early success of the partnership includes 20 installations at Lotte Cinema, South Korea.

GDC’s SA-2100 digital cinema server has been vigorously tested by RealD and awarded the “RealD Ready” status, which is an assurance of full “out-of-the-box” compatibility with the RealD system.

“GDC’s LINUX-based servers are one of the most robust and reliable servers on the market,” stated Joe Peixoto, President, Worldwide Cinema, RealD 3D. “We are encouraged by the initial success in Korea and expect to see additional 3D deployment throughout the rest of world with GDC servers in the near future.”

“3D digital is a rapidly growing force in digital cinema. We recognized this from the beginning and made sure that our SA-2100 digital cinema server can play both 2D and 3D movie files,” said Dr Man-Nang CHONG, founder and CEO of GDC Technology. “We are honored to be a partner with RealD and excited by the prospect of growing our server business together with RealD’s rapid expansion in the 3D digital rollout.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * *

About GDC Technology (website: www.gdc-tech.com )

GDC Technology (“GDC”) is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong publicly listed company - Global Digital Creations Holdings Limited. GDC is one of the leading solution providers for digital cinema, media delivery and display markets. GDC has successfully delivered and installed over 1000 operating digital cinema servers worldwide, including Austria, Africa, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the US and UK. More than 500 feature titles have been released digitally on GDC’s Digital Cinema Servers.

About RealD (website: www.reald.com)
RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and enjoyable digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s next-generation technology, deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform in 24 countries, provides a stunningly realistic viewing experience beyond the usual concepts of 3D cinema. The impact of 3D upon today’s moviemaking has been compared to the advent of color film when once there was only black and white. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provider of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing, and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D visualization technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more.

I can see how this will work reciprocally as well - Real D will have a much more pronounced presence in Asia now and will definitely facilitate aggressive growth in that region. Anytime you can have an out of the box, turn key experience in deploying a technology, its good news for the speed and integrity of the solution. Awesome news!

RealD's XL Technology Illuminating At ShoWest !

RealD continues to lead 3D digital theater projection technology with demonstrations of their innovative XL technology which allows projecting 3D movies on screens larger than 60 feet!

Before the release of this theater technology there was really no one offering the ability to effectively project standard Hollywood issues 3D images on a 60' or larger screen without using two projectors - which obviously doubles the cost of the equipment but can also cause severe issues with ensuring the images line up correctly or risk audience headaches and nausea.

XL technology is yet another step toward RealD being universally accepted as the standard Digital 3D projection technology. I have seen the others in action (IMAX 3D and Dolby 3D) and my opinion is that RealD is the clear leader and continues to set the pace for the industry.

Full Disclosure: RealD is a sponsor of MarketSaw. However, I had the same opinion before they partnered with us.

Here is the full press release:

REALD 3D BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST AT SHOWEST

3D Cinema Leader RealD Uses RealD XL Technology to Bring Digital 3D to Larger Screens Than Ever Before

Los Angeles (March 13, 2008) – RealD 3D, the global leader in 3D, continued its innovations in 3D cinema at the ShoWest film conference with spectacular demonstrations of its RealD XL larger-screen technology, which allows RealD's next-generation 3D experience to reach screens over 60 feet wide with a single projector. RealD XL was first unveiled at the November 5, 2007 premiere of Paramount Pictures' Beowulf in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday , DreamWorks Animation chairman and CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg presented a sneak preview of the studio's Monsters vs. Aliens (releasing March 27, 2009 through Paramount) along with a special 3D clip of DreamWorks's 2D summer film Kung Fu Panda, both in RealD 3D, at the Paris Las Vegas Theatre Des Arts. The clips were shown on the Des Arts's 60-foot screen utilizing RealD XL with a single DLP projector and impressed nearly 2,000 convention-goers with the depth, clarity, and color of the 3D visuals. Mr. Katzenberg said, "The proprietary tools and techniques that we've developed as a part of our 3D initiative and the use of Real D's groundbreaking XL technology together allowed us to project onto the silver screen 3D images with unprecedented clarity during Tuesday's ShoWest presentation."

Wednesday at ShoWest, New Line Cinema and RealD screened New Line's summer tentpole, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (releasing July 11, 2008), also at the Theatre Des Arts , in RealD 3D utilizing RealD XL. New Line Cinema President of Domestic Distribution David Tuckerman said, "We were thrilled to screen Journey in its entirety in RealD 3D to ShoWest attendees. The film looked great on the extra-large screen- bright, sharp, and colorful- and the audience was blown away."

RealD 3D's ability to reach larger screens than any other digital 3D technology enables exhibitors to show the upcoming slate of 3D movies in their largest auditoriums, increasing both the potential audience for 3D films and incremental revenue for the exhibition community. Drew Kaza, EVP, Digital Development at Odeon-UCI Group, said, "RealD's ability to bring 3D to larger screens is great news for those of us who have embraced 3D and wish to maximize its potential in our largest auditoriums. We are thrilled that screen size is no longer a constraint of great digital 3D."

Michael Lewis, RealD 3D chairman and CEO, said, "RealD is committed to 3D cinema and to innovation. 3D is all we do - and this expertise allows us to continually upgrade our cinema technology, providing the absolute best 3D experience available. RealD XL is the latest example of that."

RealD was recently named to Fast Company's "Fast 50" Most Innovative Companies.

RealD XL will be available as a component of the RealD 3D system for larger theaters in late 2008.

RealD is the global leader in 3D, bringing the most advanced and enjoyable digital 3D experience to cinemas worldwide. RealD’s next-generation technology, deployed across the world’s largest 3D platform in 24 countries, provides a stunningly realistic viewing experience beyond the usual concepts of 3D cinema. The impact of 3D upon today’s moviemaking has been compared to the advent of color film when once there was only black and white. Beyond cinema, RealD is the worldwide inventor and provider of key stereoscopic technologies used in science, manufacturing, marketing, and other industries, with thirty years of scientific development behind its systems. RealD’s mission-critical 3D visualization technologies are used by organizations such as NASA, Pfizer, BMW, Boeing and more. For more information, visit www.reald.com.

New 3D Movie announced using Cameron's 3D Tech

Stereo Vision Entertainment Inc. announced that they will be using James Cameron's 3D technology for their upcoming production of "Aubrey Blaze Piranhas 3-D". The technology, known as the Cameron/Pace Fusion 3-D camera system will be used by Cameron's very own crew to film the movie for SVE.

Stereo Vision's Chairman, Doug Schwartz (Baywatch creator and executive producer) stated: "The fully manned PACE Fusion camera crew will be with me and the Stereo Vision team on the ground in Puerto Rico, for the production of the first in a series of Aubrey Blaze 3-D action adventure movies. Having the PACE commitment to work with Stereo Vision in the production of a top quality 3-D movie is great news for the Stereo Vision shareholders."

Links:
Stereo Vision Entertainment
Pace 3D Technology

A Titanic Leak! Avatar Teaser Poster & Concept Photos !

James Cameron's Avatar has a leaked photo! Here's our first glance at brand spankin' new concept photos and a poster apparently taken and smuggled out of Peter Jackson's New Zealand Weta Studios.

Notice down at the bottom of the board there are two photos of the same jungle area, green theone in other in blue (click the top photo of the board for a larger image). I think these are the first images of the digital 3D process. Nice poster too.

Awesome.

Apparently the poster has the planet and titling popping out at you and the whole thing is holographic and will follow you as you walk by it!

Nice way to market the $200m digital 3D production due out in 2009. I would expect more innovative marketing ideas popping out in the meantime!

Stay tuned for more as-it-happens...