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Topic: First Run Films In Your Home Theatre

Mitchell Dvoskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1869
From: West Milford, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-06-2013 08:51 AM

The link below is to a company providing a home HD server and access to first run films in the same window they are playing in theatres.

Prima Cinema

While this is undoubtedly an expensive toy, that they will only install for those who have expensive qualifying home theatres, it is yet a another crack in the theatrical window.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-06-2013 10:05 AM

At $500/screening and $35k for the player, it doesn't strike me as being much of a threat to movie theatres.

I assume that the intended market would be well-to-do "celebrities" in non-film-related industries (sports stars, etc.) who feel uncomfortable going to public theatres. I can sort of see the attraction for them (as, presumably, they do not want to get mobbed when they are recognized in public), but they are also probably not attending commercial movies in theatres, anyway.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 05-06-2013 05:53 PM

quote:
The PRIMA Cinema Player outputs movies over HDMI, and will interface directly with practically all modern video projectors & HDTVs and audio receivers & processors. Integration with your home automation system is through your home’s IP network and plug-ins for the automation system. Authorised PRIMA Cinema Dealers conduct a site survey of your home theater to verify compatibility and determine any upgrades if needed.

Sounds like a big hole in the whole "chain of trust" here if the only thing that's protecting the studios precious content is HDCP [Wink]

At this moment, their movie library seems a bit locked into Universal-only releases (which is notably a major investor into this thing).

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Mark Hajducki
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 500
From: Edinburgh, UK
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-06-2013 06:02 PM

There could still be digital watermarking/dCrAP. At $500 per time they could encode a special watermarked edition for each user (at the server end).

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Frank B. McLaughlin
Film Handler

Posts: 76
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Dec 2011

posted 05-07-2013 06:48 AM

$500 today - $50 tomorrow! Price and volume are ALWAYS related.

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Mitchell Dvoskin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1869
From: West Milford, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 05-07-2013 08:46 AM

> $500 today - $50 tomorrow! Price and volume are ALWAYS related.

That is my point. While this is not really a threat to theatres, over time it will be. Not so much the technology, but the concept. It is the first crack in what was a bullet proof window.

I remember in the late 1990's going to Sears to look at the first 45" plasma flat screen tv. It had a price of over $10K. A decade later they were selling for $500.

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Ron Yost
Master Film Handler

Posts: 344
From: Paso Robles, CA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 05-07-2013 11:31 AM

I wonder if this is an offshoot/expansion of the Bel Air Circuit?

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 05-07-2013 01:36 PM

That's exactly what it is. The 'Bel Air' circuit's existence all these years has never hurt the exhibition business.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 05-07-2013 05:39 PM

quote: Mark Hajducki
There could still be digital watermarking/dCrAP. At $500 per time they could encode a special watermarked edition for each user (at the server end).

Agreed - HDCP is the new incarnation of CSS - no more than a minor irritant to those who want to defeat it. I can't believe that anyone in their right mind would rely on that alone to prevent piracy, either. The bespoke file approach makes sense, especially given that the likely customer base for this service consists of seriously wealthy consumers, who at the very least would be capable of paying a massive fine, and may well have reputations at stake as well if they're identified as the source of pirated versions.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 05-08-2013 03:42 AM

Isn't it merely similar, but unrelated, to the Bel Air Circuit?

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Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 05-08-2013 06:02 AM

Isn't this basically the digital version of the uber rich people that used to get 35mm prints in their private theatres during first run in the past?

I can't remember who it was but back 20 years ago (wow I'm getting old), the projectionist at the theatre I worked at used to go to West Palm Beach every so often to run first run film for a multi-millionaire. He paid a few hundred dollars for the print rental.

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Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 05-08-2013 06:27 AM

quote: Lyle Romer
Isn't this basically the digital version of the uber rich people that used to get 35mm prints in their private theatres during first run in the past?

Yes, but it looks like they're trying to grow that market by cutting out the need to install professional cinema equipment. From the stuff on their website, it looks like their player simply connects to whatever video and audio technology you have in your home - anything with an HDMI socket, basically. So if you don't really care about the picture and sound quality but just want the kudos of being able to see newly released blockbusters in your living room, your 40" flat screen from Target will do just fine.

Previously, you needed (a) a 35mm installation, which in turn meant serious architectural modifications to your house, (b) contacts and relationships with distributors in order to rent prints, and (c) to hire a projectionist. With this system, A and C are not needed, and it looks like the company are packaging B along with their player.

I'm guessing that their target customer is seriously rich and might want this as a status symbol, but is not necessarily a committed cinema enthusiast. I can't see it making much of an impact on the theatre business, though: anyone who is able and willing to pay $500 to see a single movie in their home is unlikely to be a regular customer at their local strip mall 12-plex in any event.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-08-2013 07:02 AM

My understanding is that the Bel-Air circuit requires connections to the motion-picture industry (and print rental is free, though presumably shipping is the responsibility of the user, as is the hiring of a projectionist), while this is available for "anyone" (with a spare $35k) to buy.

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Jesse Skeen
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1517
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 05-12-2013 02:16 AM

First heard about this near April 1st, so thought it was an April Fool's joke.

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Mark Strube
Master Film Handler

Posts: 322
From: Milwaukee, WI, United States
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 05-12-2013 01:48 PM

HDCP has been long cracked. So there's that.

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