DCI Member Studios Unanimously Approve Pursuit Of Delivery System Architecture For Digital Cinema To Accommodate Both 4k And 2k Projectors

LOS ANGELES—Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) announced amajor step forward in the planning efforts toward the launch of digitalcinema with the release of DCI Technical Specifications Version 3.0. Atthe same time DCI also announced the commencement of the next vitaltesting phase of the digital cinema work incorporating the revisionscontained in Version 3.0.

By a unanimous vote, all seven DCI Member Studios approved pursuitof a hierarchical architecture approach for digital cinema, whichdefines a 4K (4096 by 2160) delivery system that will be compatiblewith both 4K projectors expected to be available in the near future andwith 2K projectors available today. DCI is continuing to encouragemanufacturers to develop 4K projectors and related technology for DCItesting and evaluation.

This next phase of DCI’s testing program will undertake reviewof a variety of hierarchical compression techniques and systems capableof both 4K- and 2K-image delivery.

“This new direction for DCI’s testing program is animportant step toward providing a common specification that can beembraced by all the studios,” said Chuck Goldwater, CEO of DCI.“With this step forward we are still on track to deliver a finaldraft version of the DCI Technical Specifications in the spring of2004.”

John Fithian, President of the National Association of TheatreOwners (NATO), added his organization’s support for thisdevelopment. “NATO and its members are pleased that DCI’sVersion 3.0 provides for backwards compatibility while accommodatingboth 2K and 4K capabilities,” said Fithian. “NATO continuesto support the development of technical specifications and standardsthat enable digital cinema systems to operate in a compatible andinteroperable environment.”

Last year, DCI engaged the Digital Cinema Laboratory, a project ofthe Entertainment Technology Center at USC (ETC), to be the facilityand test bed where DCI evaluates the prescribed specification. The ETCis part of USC’s renowned School of Cinema-Television. DCI willfinish installing in the Lab projectors and servers for testing by theend of November.

“With this announcement, today, DCI has taken a significantstep forward in the development of digital cinema,” said CharlesS. Swartz, executive director/CEO of the ETC. “The Lab wascreated specially for high-level testing and evaluation of digitalcinema systems and it will play a critical role in the comingmonths.”

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), through itsTechnology Committee headed by Curtis Clark, ASC, cooperated andco-produced a short film project with DCI over the summer to create asuite of test material for use by DCI and for evaluating digital cinemasystems as well as other new distribution systems. DCI will make thisstandardized test material available to organizations and companies foruse in their various testing programs, which they can do by contactingDCI to obtain a copy.

”We applaud DCI’s commitment to setting the highestpossible standards for the future of the cinema,” says ASCPresident Richard Crudo. “Some of our most illustrious memberscontributed to designing and producing a mini-movie that will enablethe industry to better evaluate the technical performance of digitalcinema systems, and also judge their capacity for retaining nuances inthe original images that are designed to evoke emotional responses.This type of material for standardized evaluations has been needed bythe industry for many years. We believe the DCI Digital Cinema effortis a forward-looking venture, which is headed down the right path tomeeting the needs of the worldwide creative community.”

Details of DCI’s hierarchical architecture approach to digitalcinema can be obtained in the DCI Technical Specifications bycontacting Walt Ordway, DCI’s Chief Technology Officer(walt.ordway@dcimovies.com).

Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) was created in March 2002, asa joint venture of Disney, Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony PicturesEntertainment, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios. DCI’s primarypurpose is to establish and document voluntary specifications for anopen architecture for digital cinema that ensures a uniform and highlevel of technical performance, reliability and quality control. DCIwill also facilitate the development of business plans and strategiesto help spur deployment of digital cinema systems in moviestheatres.