Now the VPF is over and the investment into cinema exhibition is in a 10 year holding pattern, (VPF contracts typically go for 10 years) technological advancement in cinema exhibition has hit a speed bump.  Not much has been happening.  Not much until this year anyway.  This year laser was where the action is with all DLP-Cinema projector makers selling or announcing small to PLF laser projectors.  Plus a shake of Silicon Valley and the social media effect.

I was lucky to get David Hancock of IHS Screen Digest to discuss with me what this means for the Xenon Lamp.  Does this mean we have a new transition like celluloid to digital..  Xenon to Laser?  David’s interview goes deep into this issue.

In recent years I have also started covering NAB, the other side of the equation.  What they do in production will affect where we go in exhibition. (An example of this was “Avatar” and how it pushed us in the new era  of 3D cinema.)  Leading this is the move into ‘Digital Cinema 2.0’ or the next step in trying to archive the capabilities of the human visual system.

Ang Lee’s future of cinema demo did produce a strong reaction on what is to come. “Dolby Cinema” has set the bar high in terms of what we hope to achieve.  Dolby definitely have a premium experience product there and I expect them to do very well with it..  However, one of the big questions I had this year was:  What about the rest of us?  Typical commercially available digital cinema projectors.  When will this technology be available?  Who is making the content? And ultimately, how is cinema exhibition going to take on this change?

With my coverage this year, I talk with all the Laser manufacturers from Dolby, NEC, Barco and Christie.  Attempting to get an idea when Digital Cinema 2.0 may be upon us. (Spoiler: no idea) Also in the following coverage of NAB (to come) I focus on HDR in general.  Spotting some interesting products such as demonstrations from Canon or 300nit (As compared to 108nit in Dolby Vision) projected image demos. Brighter IS better. Will we eclipse Dolby Vision?

Another interesting find at CinemaCon was Atom Tickets. This is an interesting product in its own right, but what I found more interesting is the approch Silicon Valley has to the problem.  And considering that, how can it change other aspects of the business of cinema exhibition.

Many of the featured panels by CinemaCon were also recorded for your viewing.

I hope you enjoy the content, and remember, nothing beats going to CinemaCon itself.  Out of all the conferences for cinema exhibition, it is the one to go to.

• CC16 David Hancock on the effect of HDR in cinema exhibition
• CC16 David Hancock on the migration from Xenon to Laser
• CC16 Barco Lobby Experience Update
• CC16 Barco High Contrast Laser Projector
• CC16 Barco Escape rollout and studio commitment update
• CC16 Barco AuroMAX immersive audio processor preview and INFO update
• CC16 Atom Tickets, a social App for cinema goers
• CC16 USL on new features and products for 2016
• CC16 Ted Schilowitz Update and Details on Barco Escape
• CC16 RealD’s new matte-white “Ultimate Screen” technology for 3D projection
• CC16 Power Technology Illumina Laser Light Source and Light Farm
• CC16 NEC’s new flagship primary laser projector
• CC16 Dolby TMS4, what exactly is a Theatre Management System
• CC16 Christie Phosphor Laser projector
• CC16 Christie Flagship Laser Projector
• CC16 Barco Laser Projection lineup, top to bottom
• CC16 Fuyi Acoustics/Sydeco accustics panels
• CC16 The next big paradign shift of cinema: Globalisation and the world of the CULTUREPLEX
• CC16 Innovations Connecting Audiences in Digital and Physical Worlds
• CC16 Dolby Cinema with HDR in High demand
• CC16 Dolby Atmos update Including new Multi Channel AMP, Lower entry costs
• CC16 Cinemeccanica/ESPARENA™ The first Cinema Gaming Platform
• CC16 Cinemeccanica LUX Laser light source
• CC16 Adapting our organization and tools to success in a digital world
• CC16 Frank Marshall – Filmmaker of the Decade Spotlight
• CC16 Frank Marshall – Filmmaker of the decade acceptance speech
• CC16 David Hancock: The experience side of Cinema

Full list of CineTechGeek videos by date published.