Partnership upgrades the premium movie-going experience with a projection system designed with technologies poised to change the future of filmmaking
Huaxia Film Distribution Co., Ltd. (Huaxia Film), a well-known film distributor in China, today announced at CinemaCon 2019 that it will develop, leverage and promote premium format movies driven by new, advanced configurations, specifically the Cinity Cinema System. Cinity will seamlessly combine related processes and technologies, (e.g. filming, post-production, distribution and projection) that are representative of advanced-format movies, to build a complete industry ecosystem for them.
To accomplish this, specific to the field of projection, Huaxia Film has entered into strategic partnership agreements with Christie Digital Systems Inc. (“Christie”) and Hong Kong-based GDC Technology Limited (“GDC”) to co-develop a projection system for advanced-format movies. This Cinity Cinema System is unique in being designed to project 120fps High Frame Rate (HFR) movies. It will also encompass current and emerging advanced cinema technologies, including 4K, 3D, High Dynamic Range (HDR for contrast ratios), Wide Color Gamut (WCG) and Immersive Sound.
Technology iteration vs. industry upgrading: advanced-format movies are an irresistible trend
From silent movies to the introduction of sound, black-and-white movies to color and 35-mm film to digital, each advancement in movie technologies accelerated the evolution and success of the industry. Upon completion from film to digitization across the world, movies are being further improved with modern, advanced technologies. The Cinity Cinema System from Huaxia Film will combine a variety of advanced technologies such as 4K, 3D, HFR, HDR, WCG and Immersive Sound to deliver the highest specifications and best possible movie presentation in the movie projection era.
“The industry has made some successful efforts in shooting and post-production of advanced-format movies, and developed some preliminary solutions,” said Fu Ruoqing, Chairman of Huaxia Film. “At present, technical challenges along the industry chain are mostly linked to projection. With the application of HFR and other technologies as the bottleneck. By entering into strategic partnerships with Christie and GDC Technology, Huaxia Film will work closely with them to remove this bottleneck and develop the Cinity
Cinema System, thus driving innovation and upgrading of the advanced-format movie industry with technological breakthroughs in the field of projection. By combining art with technology, we will deliver more forms of artistic presentation to the shooting and production processes to improve movie production, create a differentiated and high-end market, and keep movies alive and competitive.”
Leveraging high technologies to deliver an unprecedented movie going experience
Each revolution in the film industry is aimed at improving the movie-viewing experience. The Cinity Cinema System that incorporates a variety of modern high technologies will deliver clearer images, truer to real-world colors, smoother motions, more life-like high-speed actions, more immersive sound, and therefore a more immersive movie-viewing experience to the audience.
“For more than half a century, Christie’s business and technology innovations have led the industry, and with these announcements, we are proud to participate in the latest, seminal improvement to the film industry,” said Jack Kline, long-time Chairperson, CEO & President, Christie. “Christie will provide world-class digital projection technologies and services for the Cinity Cinema System, which will allow cinemas to show commercial movies in a seamless advanced format encompassing 4K, 3D, 120fps HFR, HDR, WCG and Immersive Sound to deliver an unprecedented movie-viewing experience, to the delight of global audiences.”
To facilitate the adoption of the Cinity Cinema System, Huaxia Film will create a Cinity Film Lab to combine filming, post-production and distribution of superior, immersive film-viewing experiences. The company will invite various organizations and famous filmmakers around the world to participate in the construction of the Lab as well as film-making. At CinemaCon, it has invited some internationally renowned film directors to serve as consultants for the Cinity Film Lab, who will help Huaxia to conduct various tests and research projects, aimed at developing talents for shooting and post-production of advanced-format movies. In addition, the company is planning to invest in the production of advanced-format movies and support related organizations, as well as teams to deliver superior advanced-format movies that exemplify profound thoughts, exquisite arts and sophisticated technologies, thus attracting more people to cinemas.
Opening a new channel for international cultural exchanges through advanced-format movies
Movies are not only a comprehensive form of artistic presentation that carry cultural connotations and values, but also, and more importantly, a critical medium for cultural exchanges between different countries. Huaxia Film will start mass production of the Cinity Cinema System, and promote and run it throughout the world, to initiate and enhance these cultural overtures.
“GDC is committed to providing superior solutions for the global cinema chains,” said Dr. Man-Nang, founder, chairman and CEO of GDC Technology Limited. “By working with Huaxia Film and Christie, we will launch advanced-format movies, their technologies and projection approaches across the world to promote exchanges of these films between different regions, and open a new channel for international cultural interactions and exchanges through these films. We are full of hope and expectations for this partnership.”
The Cinity Cinema System is expected to be launched in August, 2019 with the first 100, dual-projection systems to be installed in cinemas across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, with additional systems to be installed worldwide later on.
About Huaxia Film Distribution Co., Ltd.
Founded on August 8, 2003 as a large film company covering the entire industry chain, Huaxia Film Distribution Co., Ltd. (Huaxia Film) is committed to operating its core business of film distribution and ancillary businesses of film development, cinema chain management, cinema development, screening supervision and advertising, and developing new businesses such as international exchanges and cooperation and high technologies of film. In the meanwhile, the company keeps developing new distribution channels such as the campus cinema chain and alliance of art films.
About Christie
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company. Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the world’s most advanced projectors and complete system displays, Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world. From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images. Visit www.christiedigital.com for more information.
About GDC Technology
GDC Technology Limited (“GDC Technology”) is a leading global digital cinema solutions provider. GDC Technology develops, manufactures and sells scalable cinema automation system, TMS, cinema enterprise software such as CMS and NOC, and digital cinema servers that meet the highly demanding performance, security and reliability requirements established by Hollywood studios. GDC Technology also provides a comprehensive suite of digital cinema products and services providing exhibitors and distributors with a one-stop solution for exhibiting digital cinema content, including integrated projection systems, 3D products and projector lamps. Its subsidiary, GDC Digital Cinema Network Limited, has more than 8 years of experience and manages more than 6,300 screens across approximately 700 VPF agreements with worldwide content distributors and exhibitors.