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Author Topic: Rave's Christie/AIX Deployment Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 07-06-2006 12:30 AM                     We installed 6 of these units here in Little Rock in time for Superman. Yahoo! Results - Christie/AIX Deployment Rave Motion Pictures Commits 445 Screens to Christie/AIX Deployment Plan as Digital Cinema Roll-out Momentum Continues MORRISTOWN, N.J., July 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") today announced that Rave Motion Pictures ("Rave") (http://www.ravemotionpictures.com/), one of the fastest growing and most prominent independent exhibitors in the country, has signed a contract with Christie/AIX, a wholly owned subsidiary of AccessIT, for the initial installation of 445 state-of-the-art digital cinema systems. Rave currently has 23 multiplexes in nine states with plans to add 4 more locations throughout the balance of 2006. It has operations in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida; and as part of its 2006 expansion, it will add two additional states, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Rave is the sixth exhibition company to contract with AccessIT for its total conversion to digital cinema; its commitment brings the total number of screens for the Christie/AIX deployment to almost 3,000 of the planned 4,000. Chuck Goldwater, President and COO of Christie/AIX, commented: "Rave's vision and passion as an industry leader is further enhanced by their commitment now to digital cinema. We are proud and grateful that they have selected Christie/AIX to be their partner as they make this transition to digital. Their decision underscores the accelerating recognition and momentum within the exhibition industry. We look forward to working closely with Rave as they enter the digital era and to helping play an important part in their long-term development plans." "Rave is committed to superior quality in every aspect of our theatre operations," said Tom Stephenson, CEO of Rave. "We are excited about bringing digital cinema to all our theatres, offering our patrons its dazzling, high-quality viewing experience, alternative content attractions, and unique applications like 3-D. We are confident that the Christie/AIX program will help us achieve those goals with their proven technology and Christie's field service organization supporting us." Craig Sholder, Vice-President of Entertainment Solutions, Christie USA, added: "Rave is breaking new ground and demonstrating their industry leadership by recognizing the many benefits of digital cinema projection technology. With the installation of systems in conformance with the DCI standard, integrated by Christie's Entertainment Solutions Unit and installed and maintained by Christie's nationwide Managed Service and Support teams, moviegoers at Rave's theatres will be treated to the highest quality movie-going experience. Rave's enthusiasm to introduce 3-D digital cinema systems is a testament to the enhancements exhibitors can make for their audiences once digitally enabled." The first Christie/AIX systems are already in operation in Rave's Huntsville, AL and Peoria, IL locations. Installations are continuing at Rave locations throughout their circuit including 14 additional 3-D installations that will be ready for the opening of Sony Pictures' "Monster House" on July 21. Total digital conversion of Rave multiplexes is scheduled for completion by mid-2007. The Christie/AIX-funded deployment of Christie DLP Cinema(R) projectors also includes Doremi Cinema's DCP2000 JPEG servers, a central "library" server, two-way satellite communications, data storage equipment, Christie's technical services, project management, and a 10-year maintenance plan which includes parts and labor. The central servers feature AccessIT's unique vendor-neutral Theater Command Centre software, which allows all digitally-equipped screens in a multiplex to be networked, simplifying theater operations through centralized content management, scheduling and reporting. Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (AccessIT) is the industry leader in providing fully integrated software and services to enable the motion picture entertainment industry and all of its constituents to transition from film to digital cinema. Its studio-backed 4,000 screen ongoing deployment of digital systems is the first and the largest of its kind in the world. The company's Theatrical Distribution System software and electronic satellite delivery services provide studios and content owners with a seamless entry into the digital era while its vendor neutral Theatre Command Center and Exhibitor Management System provide exhibitors with all the tools needed to transition to digital cinema. For more information on AccessIT, visit http://www.accessitx.com/. Founded in 1999 by Tom Stephenson, Rave Motion Pictures is a Dallas, TX based company, dedicated to enriching the movie-going experience. With 23 theaters in nine states, Rave is excited to be a top entertainment destination and through ongoing efforts, a good neighbor and corporate citizen. Rave's exacting standards create unobstructed viewing utilizing 18-inch risers. There is a remarkable 48 inches between rows for maximum legroom and ease of motion. Every auditorium has the finest in projection and digital surround sound equipment. Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in projection systems since 1979, Christie has established a global reputation as a total service provider and the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions. Christie offers comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments. For more information on Christie's cinema solutions and to find a theatre with Christie DLP Cinema(R) projectors, visit http://www.christiedigital.com/.  |  IP: Logged Michael Coate Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1904 From: Los Angeles, California Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-06-2006 03:45 AM                     Rave Motion Pictures' theatres with D-Cinema capability (as of July 1, 2006). ALABAMA Birmingham: Rave Lee Branch 15 Daphne: Rave Jubilee Square 12 Hoover: Rave Patton Creek 15 Huntsville: Rave Valley Bend 18 Montgomery: Rave Festival Plaza 16 Orange Beach: Rave Wharf 15 Vestavia Hills: Rave Vestavia Hills 10 ARKANSAS Little Rock: Rave Colonel Glenn 18 FLORIDA Destin: Rave Destin Commons 14 Melbourne (Viera): Rave Avenue 16 Pensacola: Rave Pensacola 18 Port St. Lucie: Rave St. Lucie West 14 ILLINOIS Peoria: Rave Grand Prairie 18 INDIANA Fort Wayne: Rave Jefferson Pointe 18 Plainfield: Rave Metropolis 18 LOUISIANA Baton Rouge: Rave Baton Rouge 16 Baton Rouge: Rave Mall of Louisiana 15 (opens July 21) OHIO Columbus: Rave Polaris 18 West Chester: Rave West Chester 18 TENNESSEE Chattanooga: Rave East Ridge 18 TEXAS Fort Worth: Rave Ridgmar 13 Hickory Creek: Rave Hickory Creek 16 Houston: Rave Yorktown 15 Hurst: Rave North East Mall 18  |  IP: Logged Allison Parsons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 630 From: East Peoria, IL Registered: Oct 2004 posted 07-06-2006 09:13 AM                        Yeah, our Rave here (in Peoria) got them. It was big news for about 1 day. Peoriaians have short term memories, so if you don't promote your new and exciting product constantly, they forget about it. Other than people I work with, I can safetly say I don't know too many people that have acutally made it a point to see a movie in Digital out there. Hell, even I haven't been out there too see it. Of course, our Rave is located out in the middle of a cornfield on the outskirts of town, and I live 20 miles away so I don't get out there often  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 07-06-2006 01:48 PM                     How many Christie|AIX systems are going into these Rave multiplex sites? Are they converting 50% to 75% of screens in a multiplex like Carmike (on an initial sweep) or are they doing the entire complex in one fell swoop? Some places installing D-Cinema systems are just doing a single screen. Cinemark, Harkins and a few other chains are examples of that approach.  |  IP: Logged Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 07-06-2006 04:25 PM                     Currently Rave has 367 screens open with 78 additional screens scheduled to open in the next year. That is the 445 screens committed to and covers the entire circuit. Conversion has started, and locations are converting 25%-50% at a time. Some locations are up to 75% conversion.  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 09-23-2007 03:57 PM                 It has been 443 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 09-23-2007 03:57 PM                     Rave is 100% digital RAVE NOW 100% DIGITAL PROJECTION Rave Motion Pictures becomes United States’ Largest Exhibition Chain to go to 100% Digital Projection Dallas, TX (August 20, 2007) --Rave Motion Pictures, one of the fastest growing and most prominent independent theater circuits in the country, has completed its conversion to Digital Projection. All 427 screens at 27 stadium theater complexes, located in eleven states, will now feature state-of-the-art AccessIT (NASDAQ: AIXD) systems and DLP Cinema® projectors from Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN). This represents one of the largest overall deployments of this revolutionary means of presentation and constitutes the biggest percentage adoption of any chain in the world to date. Access IT systems enable all feature films to now be exhibited in JPEG2000 via their satellite delivery systems or hard drive download. DLP Cinema® technology then displays that image onto the screen with amazing clarity and vibrancy. Unlike the traditional 35mm presentations, there is absolutely no degeneration of image as the engagement progresses. Thomas W. Stephenson, Jr., President and CEO of Rave summarized the circuit’s outlook by stating, “Rave is committed to superior quality in every aspect of our theater operations. We are excited about bringing digital cinema to every one of our screens in every market. It’s a dazzling, high quality viewing experience.” As Chuck Goldwater, President of AccessIT’s Media Services Group observed, “Tom Stephenson and the entire Rave team are true leaders in the exhibition industry. As one of the visionary circuits converting all their theatres to digital cinema they are now leading the way in taking advantage of all the benefits that the technology can bring to exhibitors including expanded alternative content programming options, 3D and much more to come.” The AccessIT system includes their unique Theatre Command Center™ software and Library Management Server™ to automate and fully integrate theatre operations and Christie DLP Cinema® projectors. Chuck Viane, president, Distribution, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, added, “Digital cinema is clearly the way of the future and we salute Rave Motion Pictures for setting the standard for the exhibition community. Moviegoers have demonstrated their enormous appreciation for the digital experience, and have gone out of their way to see films projected in this fantastic format. Rave has been one of digital cinema’s top supporters since the very beginning, and has had successful engagements with Disney’s 3-D presentations of such films as ‘Chicken Little,’ ‘Nightmare Before Christmas,’ and, most recently, ‘Meet the Robinsons.’ We’re thrilled to see Rave embracing this exciting new technology that ensures maximum quality, and we look forward to working with them to deliver the finest in entertainment to our audiences.” Digital enables all kinds of alternative content including 3D, and is currently planned by many great filmmakers for their upcoming projects. Joseph Peixoto, President, Worldwide Cinema for REAL D remarked, “Rave recognized early on that their customers prefer a premium visual experience. Rave installed the most REAL D systems of any circuit for "Chicken Little," the first title released in REAL D. Next Rave announced that every location would feature REAL D. Today, we look forward to the opening of Town Square in Las Vegas that will feature 7 REAL D equipped screens.” Digital projection when coupled with Rave’s whopping 48 inches between rows, plush seats, giant screens, digital surround sound, high back rockers and 18 inch risers for unobstructed views, make for an experience that cannot be replicated at home. Rave is bullish on the theater as the best place to watch a feature film, and remains committed to the communal experience of movie viewing. _______________________________________________________________ Founded in 1999 by Tom Stephenson, Rave Motion Pictures is a Dallas, TX based company. They will open their 28th multiplex theater, the Town Square 18 in Las Vegas this November.  |  IP: Logged David Graves Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Cocoa, FL Registered: Nov 2006 posted 09-24-2007 08:17 PM                     And now Rave is not able to play any releases from my company, because we only release in 35mm. NOW we see why the big studios were willing to chip in.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-24-2007 08:42 PM                        quote: David Graves we only release in 35mm. That's ... er, great, but how long will you stick to that policy when all the big chains are digital?  |  IP: Logged David Graves Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Cocoa, FL Registered: Nov 2006 posted 09-28-2007 11:24 PM                     Well, it's tricky. A digital transfer ($50k) and hard drives/shipping ($600) is worth it when you'd normally do 300+ prints. But if you'd normally only do 10-20, and circuit them, it becomes FAR more expensive, and generally not worth it. So what we'll do is play at arthouses and the theaters that don't convert. Eventually it all goes digital, and we of course will follow suit, but I find it interesting and telling as to why the studios are pushing so hard- it's not only to save money (really, they're getting their prints for around $600), it's to ensure that smaller distributors are locked out of the chain theaters so there are more screens for older studio product.  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-29-2007 03:50 AM                        and there's the real reason! stick to your guns on this, david. there will still be film projectors if people like you keep putting out films. are the films you release shot and post-produced on film (i.e. no digital intermediate)? if so, it would be a real tragedy not to be able to show them that way. does your company have a website?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-29-2007 08:05 AM                     WOW! Your company must be really obscure!!! What films do you distribute? quote: Carl Martin stick to your guns on this, david. there will still be film projectors if people like you keep putting out films. There may be film 10 years down the road but without the Studios huge orders to keep film/lab costs down the price to strike a 35mm print will eventually become so costly that it won't be feasible. Face it boys... the reality is that Technnicolor says they couldn't justify keeping a newly revived small I.B. Lab up and running... do you think they will be hanging on to the large labs they have for Eastman printing/processing? Mark  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-29-2007 12:00 PM                     quote: David Graves Well, it's tricky. A digital transfer ($50k) and hard drives/shipping ($600) is worth it when you'd normally do 300+ prints. But if you'd normally only do 10-20, and circuit them, it becomes FAR more expensive, and generally not worth it. Lots of budget "indie" stuff is shot on video rather than film. In those cases, a film-to-digital transfer isn't really necessary. The original imagery is "digital" in the first place.  |  IP: Logged David Graves Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Cocoa, FL Registered: Nov 2006 posted 09-29-2007 03:17 PM                     It's cheaper- but you still have to get it into the proprietary format, on the right hard drives, and in the Techni cases. Which isn't something you can do yourself or through a vendor. Therefore even digital to digital isn't much cheaper.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-29-2007 05:04 PM                     It isn't like Technicolor is the only company encoding and distributing in D-Cinema format.... Mark  |  IP: Logged

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