Monthly Archives: August 2007

Digital Cinema for Independents

The Cinema Buying Group (CBG), a semi-autonomous buying program under the NATO umbrella for small and medium-sized independent theaters, took a big step forward in making digital cinema equipment available for independent theater operators by issuing a request for proposals for digital cinema equipment and service providers. CBG-NATO members (representing more than 4,000 screens) desire… Read more »

Weekend Box Office 8/10-8/12

August continues the torrid pace established in July. Rush Hour 3 pulled in an estimated $50.2 million in its opening weekend. Box office is up almost 7% and admissions roughly 2% over 2006.  Get the details here.

Cui bono?

Not content with simultaneous release of films in theaters, VOD and DVD, Mark Cuban’s newest idea is to release films to VOD up to three weeks before making it available to theaters. Who benefits? Cable operators, perhaps. Maybe subscribers to Cuban’s own HDNet. Who else? Oh yes – Mark Cuban. The importance of this strategy… Read more »

Captain Picard to the Holodeck!

Performance-capture studio Mova and Gentle Giant Studios unveiled a new “persistence of motion” 3D system at Sigggraph this week. What that means is that the system allows 3D mdeling of images in the round – not just on a flat screen. Star Trek: TNG here we come. According to Mova founder Steve Perlman: “(In time)… Read more »

'Bourne' bags August Record

The Bourne Ultimatum debuted to an August record $70.1 million this weekend, nearly beating the combined opening grosses of the first two installments of the franchis. The rest of the weekend box office is here.