Regal Entertainment Group Plays Ball
CineMedia Theatrecasts
Major League Soccer
DENVER – Regal Entertainment Group (REG) was set to host four live high-definition theatrecasts of Wednesday night Major League Soccer (MLS) contests June 11, June 18, July 9 and July 30.

Utilizing Regal CineMedia’s (RCM) Digital Content Network (DCN), the theatrecasts were slated to feature the following competitions: D.C. United at Colorado Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes at Los Angeles Galaxy, Colorado Rapids at Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew at Los Angeles Galaxy. The games were theatrecast to REG venues in the Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York markets.

“For soccer fans, viewing the competitions in high definition on a 40-foot screen is almost like being there in person,” noted Ray Nutt, executive vice president of RCM business development.

RCM has previously used its DCN to present live, high-definition theatrecasts of a college football game, live concert events, an interactive “virtual classroom” event with “Ghosts of the Abyss” director James Cameron, as well as RCM’s pre-feature program, “The Twenty” (In Focus, April 2003).

Velocity Delivers Service
Microspace Donates Sat
System To D-Cinema Lab
HOLLYWOOD – Microspace Communications Corp. on May 19 announced plans to donate a complete satellite network package to the USC Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) Digital Cinema Laboratory (DCL).

Microspace will provide a high-speed satellite transmission network and a reception terminal to bring its Velocity satellite service to the DCL. The Velocity service rapidly transports d-cinema imagery and pre-show content without resolution limits. Microspace also plans to host special events at the DCL.

“As the DCL begins to focus on the distribution portion of the digital cinema chain, we will demonstrate and test the three alternative means of delivery to theatres: packaged media, terrestrial broadband and satellite,” said ETC executive director and CEO Charles S. Swartz.

In December the DCL was named the official testing site of studio-backed Digital Cinema Initiatives (In Focus, February 2003).

Clark Leads Forum
ASC Launches Digital
Standards Initiative
HOLLYWOOD – The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) launched in May an initiative led by cinematographer Curtis Clark (“Dominick and Eugene,” “Talent For The Game”) that will help form standards and practices within the emerging digital filmmaking world.

“ASC has created an open forum where some of the best minds in the industry are meeting and exchanging ideas about the convergence of film, digital and hybrid motion imaging technologies. These dialogues will provide the basis for our recommendations for standards and practices,” noted Clark.

Clark is also chairing the new ASC Technology Committee comprised of nearly 50 cinematographers and entertainment technology leaders. Three sub-committees have been formed to focus on the evolution of film and digital cameras, digital intermediate and digital cinema technologies.

Visual effects director of photography David Stump (“X-Men,” “Hollow Man”) is chairing the camera sub-committee and will recommend guidelines for imaging characteristics such as resolution, dynamic range and exposure latitude.

Digital effects pioneer Gary Demos (“The Last Starfighter”) recommends guidelines for digital intermediate technology and practices for the purpose of enhancing and preserving the intentions of the cinematographers.

Universal’s senior vice president of technology Jerry Pierce heads the digital cinema sub-committee which recommends standards for digital projection, while cinematographer Ron Garcia (TV’s “Providence” and “Gilmore Girls”) is overseeing the design and production of test footage that the Digital Cinema Initiative will use for evaluating digital projection systems. “ We are building bridges between the creative community, distributors and exhibitors who share a common interest in enhancing the moviegoing experience for audiences in affordable ways,” said Clark.