Tag Archives: acquire

Cameras

3ality Technica Combo

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Technica, a geek’s wonderlab that was first to market with dual RED 3D systems, will be at IBC next month, as will 3ality.

The new website isn’t online as of now, but the link will be: 3alitytechnica.com

The press release follows:

(Burbank, California–August 24, 2011) 3ality Digital, considered to be the leading innovator of the most sophisticated S3D production technology in the industry, announced today it has acquired Element Technica, a company long-known for its manufacturing expertise, accessories, and mechanical engineering of motorized S3D camera rigs.

3ality Digital has been named in the 2011 Inc. 500 list and is considered one of the fastest growing companies in the nation.

3ality Digital is now 3ality Technica, and with its acquisition of Element Technica, 3ality Technica now provides all of the control, accuracy, breadth, automation, modularity, accessories, and design of both existing product lines. 

Element Technica’s product line has become synonymous with ease of use, great design, affordability, and durability. 3ality Digital’s product line has become synonymous with precision components, speed of use, incredible accuracy, and advanced image processing. In acquiring Element Technica, – the Company gains an in house manufacturing and design capability, and the opportunity to further expand its already sizable R&D infrastructure. Physically, the companies will combine in an expansion to the 3ality Digital headquarters in Burbank, CA. 

““As our primary competitor, we have always had great respect for Element Technica and their achievements. The complete compatibility and lack of redundancy between the companies has made this an ideal acquisition, strengthening the Company’s position to provide the most advanced and dependable S3D solutions to the market. Perhaps the greatest benefit of this acquisition will be to the motion picture and broadcast producers who will now have an unprecedented amount of tools and technology tailored to meet their specific needs” said Steve Schklair, CEO of 3ality Technica. 

The combined engineering skills of the two companies will help push 3D production to levels of integration and refinement previously unmatched. Many of Hollywood’s major theatrical releases which have been shot utilizing these two companies systems and technology include “Jack the Giant Killer,” “The Amazing Spider-Man, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Prometheus,” “Underworld 4,” “Oz,” and “The Great Gatsby.” Also, companies like BSkyB, the world’s leading 3D broadcaster, and the HBS feeds from the FIFA World Cup have based their productions of live events on the backbone of 3ality Technica technology. 

“With this acquisition, 3ality Technica will be a decade ahead of the rest of the industry. Not only will automation become more common, it will be the standard as the industry begins to enjoy the simplicity and speed it affords,” said Hector Ortega, Senior Vice President of 3ality Technica.

“Integration will fast-forward as the merging systems require fewer and fewer ancillary components. Compatibility with other industry systems will cease to be an issue as 3ality Technica alone already leads the way in seamless connectivity from post production, to VFX, and live broadcast,” said Stephen Pizzo, Senior Vice President of 3ality Technica.

The combined expertise that forms 3ality Technica ranges from Hollywood feature films and television, to live-broadcast sports events and concert performances, to NASA. It also positions the company to offer the world the most comprehensive advanced 3D educational program (3DIQ™) to filmmakers, broadcasters, and craftspeople. 

Element Technica is also well known for their line of both 2D and 3D accessories, and it is planned that this product line will continue under the existing Element Technica banner. 

“You cannot believe the level of excitement we all share, but it’s not just us that are so elated. Some of our key customers and partners that were recently made aware of this deal have shared in this excitement as they all understand the benefit this will have to their work. We have already integrated some of the best aspects of both companies’ product offerings, so the market will see an immediate improvement in tool sets, component integration, and customer service,” said Schklair.

About 3ality Technica™
3ality Technica is headquartered in Burbank, California, and is the leading provider of advanced stereoscopic 3D (S3D) production products that
enable the highest quality live-action S3D. 3ality Technica systems have been deployed for “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “Jack the Giant Killer, “Oz,” “Prometheus,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Underworld 4.” 3ality Technica has enabled most of the world’s first S3D cinematic and broadcast achievements, including U2 3D (the movie), and the first live S3D broadcasts from the NFL, BCS Championship, BSkyB, the Super Bowl, the World Cup and NBC television.

In broadcast, 3ality Technica is the technology and production systems behind the BSkyB launch of their 3D channels, and has been used on a wide range of events including the Isle of Wight Festival, the Ryder Cup, and Champions League Football. To learn more about the advanced products and services available from 3ality Technica, visit http://3alitytechnica.com

Exhibitor News

AMC and Regal Forming New Venture to Acquire and Release Movies

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The following LA Times piece goes into some of the details, but many of the implementation details are unknown…probably not completely worked out.

In addition to the many studio/cable cross-ownerships, within the labyrinths of movie making and cinema exhibition, there are already close connections. Major player Paramount is only a theoretical Redstone family member away from the 1,500 screens owned by National Amusements (which also owns MovieTickets.com 50/50 with AMC.) There are also connections within Regal, as the primary stockholder (Philip Anschutz) owns Walden Media, the production group who put together Narnia, Winn-Dixie and Charlotte’s Web.

See the LA Times article at: AMC and Regal forming new venture to acquire and release movies

Also, see FirstShowing.net’s article for some interesting views: AMC & Regal Partnering on New Acquisition/Distribution Company « FirstShowing.net

Excerpts from the Times article:

The nation’s two largest movie theater chains are about to encroach on Hollywood  studios’ turf.

Regal Entertainment Group and AMC Entertainment Inc. are close to launching a joint venture to acquire and release independent movies, according to people familiar with the situation, a part of the business historically dominated by the Hollywood studios.

The move potentially disrupts the longtime and delicate business relationship between theater operators and studios, in which they have acted as partners and divided a movie’s box office ticket sales. Instead, the venture would essentially thrust theaters into the studio’s role of distributor, turning a partner into a rival as the theaters’ own movies compete for screens against those from the studios.

It also is occurring against a backdrop of increasingly strained relations between theaters and studios as the latter are looking to release movies directly into the home through video-on-demand shortly after they have appeared in theaters. Theater operators fear that will dissuade people from going to the movies.

The still unnamed company has yet to acquire any movies. However, the partners have hired a chief executive: Tom Ortenberg, a former senior executive for the Weinstein Co. and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., who has been working as an independent consultant since 2009.

AMC and Regal hope in part that by acquiring their own movies for distribution they will fill the supply-and-demand gap created by Hollywood’s downshift in movie making. From 2007 to 2010, the number of movie releases in the U.S. dropped 16%, according to Box Office Mojo. At the same time, the theater industry’s trade group estimates that the number of screens in the country has risen 3%, making fewer pictures available for a larger number of screens.

And with attendance flat over the last five years and down 5% in 2010, theater owners have been experimenting with ways to draw more people into their venues, such as showing live sports events and concerts.

Some chains have already taken steps to promote independent movies. AMC currently runs a program called AMC Independent that helps market independent films that play in its theaters. However, the company does not buy distribution rights to the pictures as its joint venture with Regal would.

People familiar with the plan said the joint venture will not compete with the studios by acquiring big-budget event films. Instead, the new company will seek out independently financed movies that may not otherwise make it into theaters, such as low-budget dramas, comedies and horror pictures.

Independent or specialty films have been largely eschewed by the studios in recent years but are experiencing a resurgence thanks to such broad-appeal movies as Oscar contenders “Black Swan” and “The King’s Speech.”

The venture’s movies will have automatic access to theaters owned by AMC and Regal, which together control 31% of the nation’s nearly 40,000 screens, but will also be offered to other cinemas. AMC and Regal also will aim to release movies on DVD, television and the Internet, which would also provide new sources of revenue that theater companies sorely need.

While a 1948 U.S. Supreme Court consent decree barred the major studios from owning movie theaters, the federal government has relaxed the rules over the last two decades. In 1996, MCA Inc., the former owner of Universal Pictures, bought a large stake in theater company Cineplex Odeon. Also, the parent company of Sony Pictures Entertainment previously owned Loews Theaters.

Currently, the Massachusetts theater chain National Amusements Inc., is privately held by Sumner Redstone, the controlling shareholder in Paramount Pictures parent Viacom Inc. And, the largest shareholder of Regal, Philip Anschutz, also owns the movie production company Walden Media.

In addition, independent film financiers such as Mark Cuban own small movie companies and theater chains.

Ortenberg did not respond to a request for comment, nor did a representative for Regal. An AMC spokeswoman declined to comment.

— Ben Fritz and Richard Verrier

Video Processing

In-Three Finds Digital Domain

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Perhaps larger than the movies that In-Three has been a part of (Alice but importantly, not Clash), was the major news of a year ago that In-Three was working with the Indian firm Reliance Media to form a partnership to establish a 1.000 person group in Mumbai: Reliance of India in 3-D Movie Partnership With In-Three Inc. of U.S. – WSJ.com

The formula press release explains the details known thus far:

Digital Domain Holdings Acquires In-Three

–Florida based media group expands digital services and technology portfolio–

Port St. Lucie, Fla. — November 18, 2010 — Digital Domain Holdings, parent company of Academy Award®-winning digital studio Digital Domain, announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire 3D stereo studio In-Three, Inc., developer of the Dimensionalization® process that converts 2D films into high quality, 3D stereo imagery.

Digital Domain Holdings CEO John Textor said, “In-Three has been a pioneer in the research and development of stereoscopic technology. This partnership adds large scale production to In-Three’s world class technology, while creating new jobs in the state of Florida.”

Digital Domain studios in California and Vancouver recently completed production on Walt Disney Studios’ TRON: Legacy, which was generated and produced in stereoscopic 3D. In-Three completed 3D stereo work on Tim Burton’s visionary blockbuster Alice in Wonderland, which grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

“For over 10 years we have been intensely focused on bringing rich and immersive 3D images to the screen,” said Neil Feldman, In-Three CEO. “We are excited to work with Digital Domain to deliver quality 3D stereo entertainment experiences for today’s audiences.”

“3D stereo movies exploded on the market this year,” added Digital Domain CEO Cliff Plumer. “Alice in Wonderland was a visually amazing 3D immersive experience, and TRON: Legacy will end the year with another dazzling 3D entertainment event. I have known Neil and the talented artists and technologists at In-Three for a long time. We will collaborate to provide the highest quality 3D stereo solutions to filmmakers.”

The In-Three team will be based out of Digital Domain Holdings’ headquarters in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

About Digital Domain Holdings

Digital Domain Holdings is the parent company of California-based Digital Domain, the Academy Award®-winning digital production studio. In 2009 Digital Domain Holdings began developing a large- scale digital production studio in the city of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Due to the growth and success of Digital Domain in California and Vancouver, Digital Domain Holdings has accelerated its hiring plans in Florida to provide additional capacity for both traditional and stereoscopic 3D visual effects. The company has also recently announced plans to build the Digital Domain Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, a four-year program in advanced digital media supported by the College of Motion Picture Arts at Florida State University.

Founded in 1993 by film industry icons, Digital Domain is an Academy Award®-winning digital production studio focused on visual effects for feature film and advertising production. Among its 80+ film credits are three features that were awarded the Oscar for visual effects, including Titanic, What Dreams May Come and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A creative giant in advertising, Digital Domain has earned scores of Clio, AICP and Cannes Lion awards for some of the world’s most memorable spots. The studio works with top directors and has become renowned for its technical innovation, claiming four Scientific &Technical Achievement Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Digital Domain is charging forward with its pioneering work in photo-real digital characters as well as projects that cross traditional media boundaries. The company is based in Venice, California and recently opened a studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. www.digitaldomain.com

About In-Three, Inc.

Organized in 1999 to pioneer research and development in stereoscopic reconstruction of two dimensional images, In-Three, Inc. developed and patented a process called Dimensionalization® that makes it practical to convert 2D films into high quality, artifact-free 3D films.

In-Three is unique in offering a director the ability to select the dramatic impact appropriate to each scene. It does this by providing a range of style and degree choices. This capacity to incorporate artistic intent in 2D to 3D reconstruction is an inherent and distinguishing feature of Dimensionalization.

In addition to developing and continuing to refine Dimensionalization, In-Three has created the staff and systems that make “Dimensionalization by In-Three” an appropriate choice for directors and studios.

Contact:

Stan Szymanski Digital Domain Holdings | 772.345.8000