FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HD Cinema™ - Breakthrough 24p hi-def digital video solutions
for Independent Filmmakers and Television program producers
Jan 10, 2000 Los Angeles, CA

This past year entertainment news sources have been full of stories about independent filmmakers shooting their latest projects on digital video. Some have used professional formats, others have used low-end consumer based DV cameras. By shooting and editing digitally and then transferring to 35mm film, many of the aesthetic qualities inherent in the look of film are achieved. Professional television program producers prefer shooting in film to achieve those desirable qualities, even though their projects never achieve theatrical release and go right to video for broadcast distribution.

Producers who could not afford to shoot in film have always sought the highest quality video available. Until 1998, shooting in High Definition or HDTV video afforded little savings compared to shooting in film. Once the Sony HDCAM™ camcorders were introduced, there was tremendous excitement about shooting with them due to the beautiful images that high definition can deliver. The newest Sony 108024p progressive cameras can even emulate the motion blur that is typical of film exposed with a 180° shutter. When 24p high def video is shot correctly and then transferred to 35mm film for theatrical release, the results are virtually indistinguishable from release prints made from 35mm camera original.

HD Cinema™ provides an integrated group of processes and techniques that allow true wide-screen high definition television technology to be affordably and more effectively used for both feature film and television program production. These processes provide technical solutions to problems that have always dogged producers using purely electronic production tools.

HD Cinema™ provides uncompressed post services in High Definition 60i and 24p video at standard definition digital on-line pricing! Delivery is available in Widescreen, Letterbox and 4:3. PAL masters and downconversions will soon be available from the Sony HDW-F500 vtr.

HD Cinema has combined the latest high speed NT computers, disk arrays and HD boards with custom software to provide a post-production system that offers uncompromised quality and extreme cost effectiveness. The system works with uncompressed 1920xs1080 10-bit data to provide on-line editing, effects and color correction.

Film and television producers can edit their programs from tapes down-converted from high definition on the same traditional Avid systems they always have. They can also use Final Cut Pro to generate their EDL for conforming in HD. Once their project has picture lock, Producers deliver their edit lists to HD Cinema for the final conform and color correction of their HD video at pricing no higher than today's standard definition digital linear on-line editing suites. Special compositing effects can also be accomplished on our non-linear systems, or data can be exported for filmmakers to do their own special effects at high definition resolutions on their existing desktop systems.

HD Cinema™ is ready for 1080/24p

Still state-of-the-art technology, the Sony HDW-700 series HDCAM high definition camcorders record 1035/60i and 1080/60i interlaced video. They have shot tens of thousands of hours of footage that has incredible clarity and detail. The wide-screen images already protect for a future where wide-screen hi-res television displays will become standard, just as color replaced black and white.

1080/24p is the newest digital video format for production and post. Equipment for this format was announced in 1999 and will probably be available in May of 2000. 1080/24p is a production and mastering format, one that provides the best output to film, and the best looking PAL conversions for international distribution. This system tends to be the system of choice for feature film and dramatic television. 1080/60i provides better looking action sequences, and smoother results when the camera is moving, making it the system of choice for sporting events, news and documentaries, and other non-dramatic programming.

Sony Electronics and Panasonic have both announced systems that are switchable between 60i and 24p progressive systems. The Sony HDW-F900 cameras are planned for delivery as early as the second quarter 2000.

Last modified: April 22, 2008