Barco, Cinema West Partner in CA’s Largest 3D Cinema Cinema West, an independent California exhibitor, chooses Barco DP2000 digital cinema projectors for every screen in their new Palladio 16 multiplex in Folsom, California. With a total seating capacity of 3000, built around an efficient “green” energy concept, the all-digital venue includes six 3D-capable theaters. Barco Digital Cinema announced that California-based independent multiplexer Cinema West has selected Barco DP-2000 projectors for their new Palladio 16 Cinemas site located in Folsom, California. Six DP-2000s are 3D-equipped, using 3D technology from RealD making the Palladio 16 the largest single-site 3D installation in California, if not the West Coast. The digital servers and theatre management systems were supplied and installed by Dolby while the 5.1 surround-sound digital audio system was supplied and installed by both QSC and Dolby. With a current chain of 12 theatre locations throughout northern and central California, Cinema West has a long history of innovation — and the new Palladio 16 is no exception. Each theatre in the complex offers sports stadium seating and wall-towall screens, with individual capacities ranging from 140 to 300 seats. Installation was provided by Theatre Equipment Construction and Service (TECS), based in Santa Rosa, California. “Cinema West has a great policy of wall-to-wall screens, wherever possible, and these screens are enormous” said Robert Hawthorne, Senior Technician for TECS. “To install a 53-foot screen in a room that’s 55 feet wide was a challenge, but the installation went very well and the DP-2000s certainly fill the screens. I’m a big fan of the Barco projectors,” continued Hawthorne, “and the Cinema West team has been just thrilled with what they’ve seen. From my standpoint, the picture is better, they’re easier to work with, and much easier to use.”
Nate Alchesky, General Manager for the Palladio 16 Cinemas, commented on the selection of Barco projectors. “It was the quality and the ease of use,” said Alchesky. “Once we saw the pictures on screen, we realized that this was the best way to go. The picture quality is amazing, and the install couldn’t have been simpler. They were almost plug and play.” Continuing with the spirit of innovation, Cinema West is positioned at the cutting edge of “green” theater installations. Once final implementation is complete in January, the Palladio 16 Cinemas will be able to boast the largest solar system on the roof of any movie theatre in the world. “Presently, our theater in Livermore, California has the largest solar installation of any theater,” said Dave Corkill, Owner of Cinema West, “but once our rooftop installation is complete, this site will be the largest. All the lighting products used in the theater are LED-based. Even the poster cases are backlit with LED lighting, and what appears to be neon is actually LED rope lighting. It uses about 10% of the power. The savings are significant,” continued Corkill, “and our goal to be energy efficient extends to the Barco products as well. Barco projectors use far less power than standard 35mm projectors, so it all adds up, and it makes good business sense.” ”We’re honored to have been selected by Cinema West for their new installation, which is noteworthy on many levels,” explained Terri Westhafer, Director of Business Development for Barco Digital Cinema. “Not only are we part of the largest 3D installation in California, but we also play a part in the company’s high regard for ‘green’ energy use. This all-digital complex in Folsom is a showplace for customers who are visiting our Sacramento offices. Cinema West’s high presentation standards align with our own, and Barco is proud to partner with such an innovator in digital technology.”
Barco Chosen for 60th Anniversary Berlinale Barco Digital Cinema announced that it has once again been chosen as the exclusive digital cinema projector supplier for the Berlinale’s 60th anniversary edition. The Berlin International Film Festival was launched on 6 June 1951. Over the years, it has become one of the most important film festivals in the world, with almost 300,000 visitors. For this prestigious film festival, Barco supplies six digital cinema projectors from its renowned DP series platform to ensure the audience sees the highest quality movie image on screen, exactly as the director intended. ”We are glad to be working with Barco’s digital cinema projectors for our anniversary edition,” says Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick. “We have worked with them on the four previous editions and know we can trust the projectors to perform flawlessly for the festival’s entire duration.” ”Barco is proud to have been chosen once again as the exclusive digital cinema projector supplier for the Berlinale,” comments Tim Sinnaeve, Market Director Barco Digital Cinema. “Barco’s digital cinema projectors offer an unparalleled image quality both in 2D and 3D projection and the technology is revolutionizing the cinema industry. We find it important to support film festivals like the Berlinale, which make such an important contribution to our industry as a whole.” All of Barco’s 2K digital cinema projectors are based on the pioneering
April-June 2010
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