Tag Archives: National Theatre

Daily Cinema Roundup-Monday 18 May

regal-entertainment1–Sony and Regal released a press release this morning, officially announcing that Regal will install the Sony 4K digital projections systems across its entire circuit. (See Celluloid Junkie’s Friday post below on this news).
According to the release, the installation of the systems is expected to take 3-5 years, but the financing is being handled through DCIP. So the question is, when will installations start?
There is still no word on DCIP securing the needed funding to begin its planned wide rollout. DCIP represents AMC, which also plans to deploy Sony technology; as well as Regal and Cinemark.
images1Sony also reported that approximately 1,500 of the Regal screens will be outfitted for 3D using Sony’s dual-lens adaptor technology.
Amy Miles, Regal Entertainment Group’s incoming chief executive officer, is quoted in the press release as saying: “The rollout of these Sony 4K systems gives Regal the opportunity to utilize the latest technology to provide our patrons the best available presentation. Sony’s state-of-the-art 4K systems produce the highest levels of resolution, contrast and overall image quality.”

–Another example of the growing interest and potential of alternative content, The Financial Times is reporting that a June 25 production of Racine’s Phèdre at London’s National Theatre is to be screened live in 170 cinemas worldwide. Dame Helen Mirren stars in the production, which according to the article is nearly sold out in the d-cinema venues. See the complete article, titled “British Theatre to be Seen Around World,” here

–An interesting feature on CNN Money/Fortune titled “Every Blog Becomes a Cinema” examines a new model of distribution, as well as advertising. SnagFilms aims to distribute documentaries—which have always been challenged to find a theatrical release—on the Internet. The article is here

smpte_logo1–Call for Papers: SMPTE is seeking proposals for technical papers and tutorials for the 2009 SMPTE Technical Conference & Exhibition, 27-29 October in Hollywood.
The organization is seeking papers on a range of topics including digital cinema exhibition, d-cinema production and post, advancements in film technologies, content security and stereoscopic 3D Imaging.
Interested parties are invited to submit a one-page abstract, no later than June 12. Further details on how to submit a proposal are here

image003Call for Entries: The Hollywood Post Alliance has issued a call for entries for the Engineering Excellence Award, part of the 4th Annual HPA Awards. The call for entries is now open and will run through July 1. Entrants will be given the opportunity to present their technology during the Engineering Judging Day.
The HPA Awards also accepts entries in categories for compositing, DI/color grading, editing, audio post, as well as for the new Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation in Post Production. For more, see the website here

Popularity: 43% [?]

National Theatre Demolished In Los Angeles

National Theatre in Westwood Village

The National Theatre, the last single screen movie theatre to ever be built in the United States, is presently being demolished in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Since the fall of 2006, when Mann Theatres was forced to give up the lease on the 1112 seat theatre due to increased rent, the future of the National has been in doubt. Now, according to UCLA’s student newspaper, the Daily Bruin, the National Theatre is presently being torn down to make way for a single story retail outlet reported to be a Banana Republic clothing store.

National General Corporation first opened the National Theatre on March 27, 1970 playing ‘The Boys In The Band’. At the time the National was the 289th theatre to be opened by National General Corporation. Mann Theatres picked up the lease on the National when they purchased National General Corporation in the early 1970′s and for more than 36 years the theatre went on to host some of the biggest blockbusters and most critically acclaimed films of all time including ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, ‘Chinatown’, ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Superman’ ‘Star Trek’, ‘Rain Man’, ‘Titanic’ and ‘Gladiator’.

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Popularity: 15% [?]