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100-Percent Cyan Track; No Silver Involved
DreamWorks Launching
1st Dye-Only Wide Release
GLENDALE, Calif. – DreamWorks Pictures takes
the reins this month in the move to replace traditional silver replicated
soundtracks with cyan dye analog tracks with its September 19 release
of the Jason Biggs-Christina Ricci romantic comedy “Anything Else” – the
first feature to use 100-percent dye-only prints.
The studio’s
wide release of the cyan prints marks a significant
breakthrough in making the conversion to pure cyan
a reality for NATO, which has worked closely with the
Dye Track Committee, a group of motion picture executives
formed in 1998, in the fight to replace silver tracks
with pure cyan dye tracks.
“We are delighted
that DreamWorks Pictures has taken the lead to release
the first ever feature film in 100-percent cyan dye-only
prints,” noted NATO president John Fithian.
“This marks the
culmination of effort by a number of industry professionals
to bring about an important environmental improvement. We
at NATO have been involved from the beginning. Our
members allowed their theatres to be used as test venues
for the developing technology and provided input along
the way. We commend DreamWorks for being first, and
look forward to a time in the near future when all
prints are processed in this way.”
Conversion to cyan
requires the installation of red LED readers in projectors,
as a pure cyan soundtrack played on a white light or
infra-red reader will cause distortion, sound reduction
or possible inaudibility.
At the May 2002 NATO
board meeting in Washington D.C., Technology Committee
members recommended, and the board adopted a firm position,
that exhibition should complete the installation of
red readers and be ready for the transition to full
release of films in the new format by July 1, 2003,
making dye-only wide releases a practical possibility
for the first time.
Environmental-friendly,
dye-only soundtracks eliminate caustic chemicals and
silver used in the print manufacturing process and
significantly reduce the use of water needed for silver-replicated
tracks, which collectively use approximately 20 million
gallons of water a year – enough drinking water
for a town of 75,000.
Distributors further
reduce waste by eliminating the need for replacement
prints due to redevelopment problems in silver soundtracks.
DreamWorks head of
operations Mark Christiansen noted that because cyan
dye tracks eliminate the need for the silver soundtrack
application process after the developing procedure,
there are less potential problems with print quality
utilizing dye-only tracks.
“The fact that
it [the cyan process] is environmentally friendly is
great [and] it’s wonderful that we have a chance
to improve the prints and do something for the environment
at the same time,” said Christiansen.
Cyan tracks offer exhibitors
nearly five times longer LED life than a tungsten light,
slowly fading over time, giving operators warning that
replacement is due.
Digital soundtracks
do not require silver replication and are thus not
affected by the new process. 
Site of Scottsdale’s
Historic Cine Capri
Harkins Bows Arizona 15
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Harkins Theatres employed a traditional handprint
ceremony to christen its new Scottsdale, Ariz., 14-plex, which opened
its doors to the public June 27.
 The
multi, which stands where the historic Cine Capri stood
before it was demolished four years ago, contains a special
commemorative 600-seat Cine Capri auditorium, which boasts
gold curtains, rocker love seats with cup-holder armrests
and a 27- by 69.5-foot screen.
The site also features an in-house Cine
Capri museum, showcasing relics from the original site,
such as carpet samples, tiles, old photos and architectural
drawings, as well as a documentary displayed on a 60-inch
plasma screen.
Patrons may request seating in the Cine
Capri auditorium and can find current Cine Capri movie
titles and showtimes online at www.harkinstheatres.com.
“It’s an emotional triumph
for us to open this theatre which will feature the recreation
of the Cine Capri auditorium,” said circuit CEO
Dan Harkins.
Scottsdale-based Harkins Theatres currently
operates 259 screens at 22 Arizona sites.
May Debut In Valdosta
GTC Bows 16-Plex
In South Georgia
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Georgia Theatre Co. (GTC) celebrated the opening
of its new Valdosta Stadium Cinemas 16 in Valdosta, Ga., opening its
doors to the public May 30.
 The
60,000-square-foot 16-plex features stadium-style seating,
high-backed seats with retractable cup-holder armrests,
digital surround sound and wall-to-wall screens in all
auditoria. The lobby features a large concession area,
two arcades, a birthday party room and in-lobby screens
featuring commercials and movie previews.
Pre-opening activities included a three-day run of
dollar movies, with all proceeds going to local charities
such as the Valdosta Humane Society, the Habitat for
Humanity and the Valwood School.
St. Simons Island, Ga.-based GTC currently operates
265 screens at 28 sites.
Salinas Awaits Remodeling
Century Upgrades 7
To Stadium-Style 10
SALINAS, Calif. – Century Theatres enjoyed a busy summer in the
Central California city of Salinas. On May 14 the chain announced plans
to upgrade its existing Salinas Park 7-plex into a 10-plex. On July 2
it celebrated the grand opening of Salinas’ Northridge Mall 14-plex.
Renovation of the Salinas Park facility, which will
remain open during construction, was set to be completed
by fall 2004.
The all-stadium-style 10-plex will feature wall-to-wall
screens, rocker love seats and a Cinema Café.
“We’ve had a long and successful relationship
with movie-lovers in Salinas,” noted circuit owners
Raymond Syufy and Joseph Syufy. “Now we’re
going to recreate the location into a state-of-the-art
movie theatre.”
The Northridge 14-plex, which replaced a 22-year-old
Century 8-plex (In Focus, January
2003), features stadium-style seating, rocker love
seats, digital surround sound, wall-to-wall screens,
an express-serve snack stand and a Cinema Café.
San Rafael, Calif.-based Century currently operates
over 900 screens in 11 states.
Wall-To-Wall For Illinois
Marcus Erects
4th UltraScreen
ELGIN, Ill. – Marcus Theatres on June 4 announced plans to add
a 500-seat “UltraScreen” auditorium to its existing 14-plex
in Elgin, Ill.
 Set
to open early next year, the auditorium will feature
stadium-style seating, plush high-backed seats with cup-holder
armrests and double-wide love seats. Its new 70- by 30-foot
screen will be backed by more than 10,000 watts of six-channel
Dolby digital surround sound.
“The UltraScreen takes moviegoing to a totally
new level of excitement that can never be experienced
at home,” said circuit president Bruce J. Olson. “The
UltraScreen is 500 times bigger than a typical 19-inch
television screen.”
Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres currently operates
488 screens at 46 sites in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota
and Ohio.
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Summer Kid’s Combos
Emagine Creates
Reading Program
NOVI, Mich. – Emagine Entertainment launched its first kids reading
event this summer. Participating in the program, which ran June 1 through
Aug. 31, were the circuit’s two sites: its 18-plex in Novi, Mich.,
and its 10-plex in Birch Run, Mich.
 Patrons
under 11 who read at least three books and completed
a form supplied by the circuit received a free kid’s
combo at the concession stand. Kids were able to receive
an unlimited number of combos as long as they met the
reading requirements during the three-month period.
Emagine also rewarded students 11 and under who received
satisfactory grades each marking period with a free small
drink and popcorn with a paid admission.
Students 12 and older with a “B” or better
grade point average were able to save $1.50 off the price
of an adult evening ticket by bringing in their most
recent report card and obtaining a student discount card.
Emagine currently operates 28 screens at two sites.
$50,000 To Cinema Employees
Cal/Nev NATO
Sails Scholarships
LOS ANGELES – NATO of California/Nevada announced
in July the 2003 recipients of its annual $50,000 scholarship
program.
 The
10 winners, all field-level employees of the association’s
member cinemas, each received a $5,000 scholarship to
be applied toward his or her post-secondary/vocational
education.
 All
candidates completed an essay answering the question, “What
movie character would you most like to emulate and why?” The
organization also announced that it received a record
number of applicants this year, up 52 percent from 2002.
The association’s NATO 2003 scholarship recipients
are:
- Jessica Cella, REG Edwards 14 Theatre, Bakersfield,
Calif.;
- Theresa Felice Flores, Fallon Theatres, Fallon,
Nev.;
- Marc Gans, Pacific’s Northridge Fashion Center
10 Theatre, Northridge, Calif.;
- Erin Johnson, Sierra Cinemas, Grass Valley, Calif.;
- David Morrison, Pacific’s Valley Plaza 16
Theatre, Bakersfield, Calif.;
- Karly A. Pearson, Century’s Presidio Theatre,
San Francisco;
- Samantha J. Scheible, Fallon Theatres, Fallon, Nev.;
- Amiee Thompson, Premiere Cinemas, Hollister, Calif.;
- Rochelle Thrower, Pacific’s Rohnert Park 16
Theatre, Rohnert Park, Calif.; and
- Brock Wells, Signature’s Placerville 8 Theatre,
Placerville, Calif.
Mall Entrance In Pipeline
Loews Renovates
Tucson 15-Plex
TUCSON, Ariz. – New York-based Loews Cineplex reached an agreement
with Feldman Equities in late spring, allowing the circuit to construct
a new entrance and make other renovations to its Foothills Mall 15-plex
in Tucson, Ariz.
The new entrance will redirect patrons through the
interior of the mall, rather than through the site’s
side parking lot.
Plans for the 4,251-seat, 77,284-square-foot multi
were also set to include a retrofit of seven existing
auditoria to stadium-style seating, with 45-inch platforms
and 14-inch risers. Additional improvements were earmarked
for the remaining auditoria, foyer and lobby area. The
renovated site, set to be completed by December 2004,
will emerge with 3,598 seats and stadium-style seating
in all auditoria.
Loews currently operates 2,448 screens at 262 sites
in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Summer Promotions
Loews Shifts Film,
Marketing Heads
NEW YORK – Loews Cineplex announced the promotions of two key execs
in June.
June 4 saw former vice president of marketing John
McCauley elevated to senior vice president of marketing.
Ten days later came word that Steve Bunnell, formerly
vice president and head film buyer, would assume the
role of senior vice president of film buying.
 McCauley,
who joined Loews in 2001 as vice president of marketing,
previously worked for Price Waterhouse, Merrill Lynch,
Chrysler Capital, Reebok and the National Football League.
In his new role, he will oversee all marketing efforts
for Loews properties and report to circuit president
Mike Norris.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce John’s
well-deserved appointment,” noted Norris. “He
has spearheaded numerous innovative brand-building and
marketing campaigns, community outreach initiatives and
unique promotional partnerships.”
 Bunnell,
a 10-year Loews vet, was previously a general sales manager
for the Samuel Goldwyn Company responsible for distributing
specialty films nationally. From 1985 through 1991, he
was a film buyer for Mann Theatres in Los Angeles. As
the senior film buyer, Bunnell will lead and oversee
all film buying efforts for the circuit.
"Steve’s background in film buying, coupled
with his extensive industry experience, make him the
perfect candidate to lead our film buying and acquisitions
department,” said Norris.
Richard Brandt Steps Down
Jankowski New
Trans-Lux Chair
NORWALK, Conn. – Broadcast vet Gene Jankowski was elected the new
chairman of Trans-Lux Corp. on May 29, filling the role long held by
53-year circuit vet Richard Brandt.
 Serving
as an independent board member for Trans-Lux since 1994,
Jankowski, 69, is currently chairman of Jankowski Communications
Systems, advisor managing director of Veronis Suhler & Associates
and a director of TV Azteca. Formerly the chairman of
the CBS Broadcast Group and chairman emeritus of the
American Film Institute, Jankowski is now the co-chairman
of St. Vincent’s College and a trustee of St. Vincent’s
Medical Center.
 Brandt,
75, will continue with Trans-Lux as a board member and
consultant. Having originally joined Trans-Lux in 1950,
he was elected president of the company in 1962 and named
its chairman in 1974.
Trans-Lux, a cinema consulting group and multimedia
systems provider, operates 60 screens at 11 sites throughout
New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Wyoming.
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