Tag Archives: AccessIT

The Beyonce Experience (not the least bit) LIVE!

November 14, 2007

Sometimes digital cinema operators should be slapped very hard with the Trade Descriptions Act, or whatever the US equivalent is. Particularly ones that advertise a ‘LIVE!’ concert (capital letters, exclamation mark and all) of Beyonce, which is actually a recording of her shaking her booty almost two months ago at the LA Staples centre. From the waaaaaa-haaaaaa-haaaayyyy over the top AccessIT/Bigger Picture press release:

“Beyonce - close up, live and singing - what more could fans around the country want? How about a theatre packed with other fans singing and dancing and their seats, appreciating The Beyonce Experience LIVE! right along with them? This concert will give fans all of that, with beautiful digital cinema sound and picture,” said Jonathan Dern, Co-president of The Bigger Picture. “There is nothing like feeling as though you have the best seats in the house; Beyonce fans shouldn’t miss it!”

This unique movie engagement provides fans with an unparalleled opportunity to see and hear Beyonce, Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z up close and personal. To find a theater near you that will be screening The Beyonce Experience LIVE! Event on Monday, November 19th, log on to www.TheBiggerPicture.us.

It is so ‘LIVE!’ that I could have caught Ms Knowles performing in person in Mumbai in the time between the Los Angeles show RECORDING! and the file’s play-out in cinemas. The company is doing the alternative content field a disservice by advertising the event as something that it is not. Or has anyone ever shown a concert that was not recorded live? Perhaps next AccessIT will start advertising the digital screening of films showing LIVE! acting by actors in front of movie cameras. Just an idea.

Posted in Alternative Content

Comments

AccessIT Signals Phase 2 of Digital Deployment

By Patrick von Sychowski

November 7, 2007

AccessIT logo AccessIT, the company that kick started the roll-out of digital cinema in the United States, has given details of its ‘Phase Two’ deployment plans. With the goal of the first 4,000 digital screens now in sight, the speculation had been whether they could extend the first phase to the ofte-stated aspiration of next converting a further 10,000 screens. While there are no hard specifics in the press release, there is plenty enough to suggest that it wll happen:

Further solidifying its global leadership in Digital Cinema, Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (”AccessIT”) today announced its intent to provide up to an additional 10,000 networked Digital Cinema systems to exhibitors across the United States and Canada. The Company has reached substantial agreement with several of the major movie distributors who fully supported its initial “Phase One” deployment of close to 3,750 screens, completed last month. Agreements are structured so they may be amended to international deployment as well. AccessIT also is in active negotiations with several exhibition chains that were ready to commit to “Phase One” but were unable to participate due to timing. This “Phase Two” deployment is anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2008 and to continue for three years. While AccessIT has not yet executed final agreements, announcements regarding studio and exhibitor signings are expected shortly.

Posted in Digital Cinema, Integrators

Comments

U2’s digital 3D release dates announced

By Patrick von Sychowski

November 5, 2007

Normally better known for distributing animal documentaries, National Geographics will be bringing U2 3D to digital stereoscopic cinemas in January 2008 world wide. (Cue the inevitable jokes about showcasing mammoth films about aging rock dinosaurs). Anyone who attended this year’s ShoWest, Cannes Film Festival, Cinema Expo, IBC or ShowEast can’t have failed to hear about it already, as it must be the most trailered music movie ever. According to the original article in Variety:

Concert pic was produced by 3ality Digital and directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington. Owens has been U2’s visual content director for more than 15 years, while Pellington directed the band’s “One” video.

“Digital 3-D is a new cinema medium that truly allows moviegoers to immerse themselves in the experience, energy and emotion of being in a prime seat at a U2 concert,” 3ality Digital CEO Sandy Climan said.

National Geographic Cinema Ventures prexy Lisa Truitt sad the release of “U2 3D” is a natural expansion of her division’s growing presence in theatrical distribution.

More details about this new direction for National Geographics was announced recently in th setting up of a new unit “that will incorporate National Geographic’s Cinema Ventures, Feature Films, Kids Entertainment, Home Entertainment and Music & Radio divisions.” Given that Beowulf will have finished playing in digital 3D by then and no other major digital 3D film will be out for some time the concert film should have its pick of the 1,000+ digital 3D screens in the US, with additional ones in Korea, UK and elsewhere.

In more traditional 2D digital news, it’s been also announced that Bon Jovi will play on more than 100 screens that are part of the Christie/AIX network on 6 November, while on 14 November Garth Brooks can be seen live on 24 Empire cinema screens in a joint event with National CineMedia’s Fathom:

“It’s things like this that make me praise technology. The gift that AEG and participating theatres have given me is to be able to go on a virtual tour without leaving home. How does it get any better than that?” said Garth Brooks.

Hmm… I suppose the only way technology could top that would be a 3D hologram of Bono that could be sent to every trouble spot in the world at the same time, without the singer himself ever having to leave Ireland.

Posted in Alternative Content

Comments

ShowEast deals round up - Day 1

By Patrick von Sychowski

October 16, 2007

As always, a raft of digital and cinema related deals were announced on the first day of ShowEast. Below are the key ones.

AccessIT partners Sensio for live 3D streaming

Digital cinema integrator AccessIT has announced a partnership with stereoscopic technology solutions provider Sensio to broadcast live 3D events, together with AccessIT’s existing satellite partner IDC.

Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (”AccessIT”) (NasdaqGM:AIXD - News) announced today, CineLiveSM, a new proprietary product that will bring both 2-D and 3-D live content to movie theatres equipped with digital cinema. CineLive, the next step in leveraging the digital era to further enhance exhibition offerings, is a new set of hardware, developed exclusively for AccessIT by International Datacasting Corporation (Toronto:IDC.TO - News) and Sensio® Technologies Inc. (Sensio) (CDNX:SIO.V - News) which allows live 3-D and 2-D content to be converted from satellite feeds into theatrical entertainment.

What the press release takes a round about and convoluted way of saying is that Sensio has a technology for squeezing two high definition video streams (left eye, right eye) into one HD channel, so tat 3D events can be transmitted in real time over existing HD(TV) network, such as IDC’s. This should be a boost for AccessIT’s live events division, though as of yet they have not announced what events they have lined up, with rumours saying that Cirque de Solei might be one. Read More »

Posted in Trade Shows

Comments