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Author Topic: Slow transition to digital Claude S. Ayakawa Film God Posts: 2738 From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-25-2012 02:44 PM                        From reading about your theatre operations, most of you seem to have just about converted over to digital . As far as I can tell,the Regal Pearl Highland Theatres in Pearl City near where I live also have switched over completely to digital with Sony 4K systems. I am sure their Dole Cannery and Windward Mall in Honolulu and Kaneohe has too as well as as their other theatres in Hawaii. For some reason, Regal International seem to be taking their time converting their Consolidated Theatres here in Hawaii to digital. Of all of their eighteen auditoriums, at their flagship theatre, the Ward Centre, only four of their houses has digital, Most of their other theatres on Oahu each has only one except the Mililani which has two . The Koko Marina 8 and the Koolau 10 has none. They both have a 3-D auditorium but uses the Technicolor film system. I wonder if Reading is also holding back with digital projection at their other theatre operations in the other parts of the U.S. and the world? It is mind boggling when I think about the how much Reading will have to spend converting over all of their film houses to digital at the same time when they are forced to do so when film is replaced with digital. Are there any other major chains dragging their feet converting to digital that you know of? -Claude  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 01-25-2012 02:59 PM                     Yes some are certainly waiting.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-25-2012 03:31 PM                     Probably economics, priority and lastly, VPF deals to secure - very costly to do a sudden full conversion, esp with Real D to add in which includes installations of silver screens, and these alone are not cheap in themselves. Carmike took the plunge early to do a full conversion since they got ahead before the economic dive in 2008.  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 01-25-2012 04:17 PM                     ...leaving Carmike with a bunch of Series 1 projectors which are considered by some almost obsolete in the new electronic world of cinema. In the 35mm days, that would have not been the case.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 01-25-2012 04:40 PM                     Dunno. The fact that some converted earlier doesn't mean the others are 'slow'. We're only half way through the transition. I would consider 2013/2014 conversions als 'slow'. After introduction of series II projectors, we are currently in a technical transition phase again - IMB, 4k, upcoming laser light sources, >5.1 sound installations. I would think it is not a bad idea to consider your options carefully before you buy. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Frank Cox Film God Posts: 2234 From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada Registered: Apr 2011 posted 01-25-2012 04:57 PM                        Your mention of laser light sources interests me. Does that mean that at some point we'll be changing out the xenon bulbs that we have now and replacing them with some kind of a "laser pack"?  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-25-2012 05:15 PM                     Laser Projection would be a whole different animal - a completely new projection design using lasers as the direct source of light ..as mentioned in this previous post. Then, the concept of projectorless OLED displays, et.al. - anything to eliminate the projector all together. With this digital stuff, it looks like a whole new "can of stinky worms" has been opened up where the dollar bill will always be chased to keep up with the advancing technology where one technology will always outdo the other. (remember I8088, 286,386,486,et.al.? looks like digital is heading in the same direction as with the computers: never ending advancements and just more to spend monies on..) This will definitely do some serious separation or forced conversions for the cinema owners-a choice will have to be made: to buy, or to head to lease agreements. ..to where it looks like they should have left film alone...and I'm building four film prints today...  |  IP: Logged Bruce Hansen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 847 From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-25-2012 05:31 PM                     If enough theaters stay with film, even a good bit of just one major chain, the studios will HAVE to continue producing film prints. Remember red light readers? Remember when the "new" Star Wars fick was only goin to go to digital screens?  |  IP: Logged Claude S. Ayakawa Film God Posts: 2738 From: Waipahu, Hawaii, USA Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-25-2012 05:59 PM                        I made a error when I started this thread. The chain that owns Consolidated Theatres in Hawaii is Reading International and not Regal International. I read my thread again and discovered the error. -Claude  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 01-25-2012 06:11 PM                        I think that before we see widespread deployment of laser projection we will see a transition to high-output LED modules as the next light source. Prototypes of these are already in development. These LED modules will replace the present xenon lamps. I'm pretty sure we'll see field deployment of this in just the next couple of years.  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 01-25-2012 06:38 PM                     One amazing thing about the Runco LED home theater projectors is the speed of the LED! Single chip DLP without need of a color wheel! The latest model looked better than any DLP I have seen in a commercial theater! On a 100 inch screen that is. With top of the line stuff behind it. One problem right now is they cannot go much bigger because the LED lights are not strong enough.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-25-2012 11:00 PM                     I can almost see a good number of years before these LED modules needs replacing...but as with LED's, light output will have to be closely monitored since with LED's fade with age.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 01-26-2012 12:38 AM                     Here in Bakersfield, the Regal Edwards Marketplace 14 finished going all digital about two weeks ago. SO they have 1 theatre with an NEC 2K (Real-D XL), 5 screens with Sony 4K (set to 2-lens 2-K for BOTH 2-D and 3-D), and the 8 newest screens are all Sony 4K 2-D. The late-run Starplex 6 ($1.00 before 6p, $1.50 after) is also 100 percent digital, with 4 screens featuring Real-D XL. feet dragging is going on with the other theatres. Maya Cinemas 16 (a tiny chain with only one other theatre in Salinas) has digital in only 3 theatres, the same number when they first opened (all with Dolby 3-D, 1 with two rows of D-BOX Motion code seats). The Reading 16 Cinemas has only two digital screens (both Dolby 3-D). Strangely, these auditoriums use common height masking when in 3-D mode, and common width when in 2-D mode!) A discount theatre in a banrupt mall is a former UA 10 (now Regency). It is all 35mm with one Technicolor 3-D screen.  |  IP: Logged Carsten Kurz Film God Posts: 4340 From: Cologne, NRW, Germany Registered: Aug 2009 posted 01-26-2012 05:29 AM                     As discussed before, there are very different ways to implement laser technology for cinema projection. Barco, e.g. recently announced their solution as a drop-in replacment light source for their existing DLP projectors. Completely redesigned projectors may utilize laser light sources more specifically, like e.g. the Kodak/IMAX approach. There are a couple of high-power RGB solid-state laser sources available, e.g. Sony makes stackable RGB packs. So wether LED or Laser might not make such a big difference. For power stacking, Laser is easier to implement. Whatever - when Series II came out, I thought that would set the gold standard for at least 5 years or so, including the later 4k variants. However, it is moving fast to IMB, HFR, laser, and possibly other 3D solutions as well. Not a bad idea to wait a little longer with your investment, as long as you're still supplied with 35mm or you don't miss your VPF deal. - Carsten  |  IP: Logged Mike Frese Master Film Handler Posts: 465 From: Holts Summit, MO Registered: Jun 2007 posted 01-26-2012 09:52 AM                        quote: Claude S. Ayakawa Are there any other major chains dragging their feet converting to digital that you know of? None in the Midwest. Claude I would factor in geography why Hawaii might be slower in the conversion. Much more costly to get equipment there. In my market, we are the only first run not converted. 38 screens out of 42 converted. 3 different companies operating 4 locations. The largest of the 3 is Hollywood, then Goodrich, then B&B.  |  IP: Logged

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