Documento senza titolo

Dear readers,

the seventh edition of MEDIA Salles’ “DigiTraining Plus: European Cinemas Experiencing New Technologies” course will take place next month in Helsinki. This well established course will as usual consist of a combination of lectures, discussions, visits and hands-on experience dealing exclusively with the challenges concerning the transition to digital technology in our cinemas. Business plans, technological matters, security and programming possibilities will be presented by international veteran professionals and participants will have a close look at the ambitious Finnish plans for their national roll out of digital technology.
Thanks to the Finnish Ministry of Education and the Finnish Chamber of Films it has been made possible for MEDIA Salles to highlight the situation in Scandinavia, which should interest and enlighten cinema owners and cinematic institutions all over Europe.
See you in Helsinki from 17 to 21 February.

Jens Rykaer
President of MEDIA Salles

WOMEN IN DIGITAL CINEMA
Maria Costeira
XpanD Cinemas, Slovenia - USA
As a theatrical entertainment professional, I am aware that digital cinema is one of the greatest technological accomplishments of the 21st century and I'm delighted to be working during these evolutionary times. Early in my career, while in Portugal, I observed that, eventually, cinema exhibition would have to change and adapt to meet new trends and a more technology-driven generation. Since then, everything has changed, from filmmaking techniques, production advancements through CGI platforms and special effects to an ever-demanding audience who expect both inspiration and excitement. Having the desire to deliver the best cinema entertainment possible, I brought my vision to Ljubljana, Slovenia, where I became part of the Kolosej group, which, at that time, was a small exhibition company with only incremental expansion. In 2004, we proceeded to start driving the digital future by establishing and promoting 3D as a mainstream platform and created XpanD™, now a world leader and one of the largest suppliers of 3D systems, which uses the unsurpassed active shutter glasses technology, with more than 2,000 locations globally.
Launching the first ever, all-immersive sensory 3D theatre, known as XpanD X6D, at the Kolosej entertainment complex in 2005, the theatre was enhanced with digital projection, aromatic and motion sensory applications and was presented in the large-screen format. In the years that followed, four more 3D digital screens known as XpanD X3D (without sensory/motion), capable of showing premium Hollywood content were launched in the region and for a small marketplace XpanD has significantly helped to improve the per capita digital screen count. By 2011, we estimate there will be at least four more installations to support the full charge of Hollywood 3D releases, in addition to securing the distribution of 2D digital titles already on the market.
Simultaneously, by deploying and testing our new 3D digital immersive cinema products on the Slovenian local markets, we’ve become a major global player in the field of digital technologies. Through the acquisition of a production facility in the US (Portland, OR) which, produces the active glasses technologies and an array of other 3D applications, we have traversed into the consumer markets, whereby XpanD has fast become one of the biggest names in the world of digital entertainment.
The XpanD brand was uniquely created and supported by a predominantly female team of professionals. From marketing and sales, to programming, content distribution and other various auxiliary services - the women have been at the helm. I can't emphasize enough how the business of cinema, in all its aspects, is more suitably adapted to the female approach and philosophies. I’m extremely proud of our accomplishments at XpanD, and being able to endorse the company through our female professionals is a testimony to any business endeavor - especially the cinema business. We have proven that women’s specific skills and attention to audience demands are what is needed for great success!