Understanding Digital Cinema A Professional Handbook

"Digital Cinema" is the process of finishing a motion picture in digital form, distributing the digital file to theaters (on fixed media, by satellite, or over broadband connections), and displaying the motion picture using a digital projector. Professionals trained in traditional motion picture techniques have deep expertise in photochemical technology and need a way to apply that expertise to the new and burgeoning field of digital cinema. Understanding Digital Cinema is the definitive work on this new technolgy detailing the information that industry professionals are desperate for. Topics include-post-production workflow, mastering, color theory, compression, security, audio, and theater management systems.

UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL CINEMA: A PROFESSIONAL HANDBOOK is a comprehensive resource on all aspects of finishing, distributing and displaying film digitally. For technical professionals as well as non-technical decision-makers, the book is a detailed exploration of every component of the process, from mastering to theater management. * An overview of digital cinema system requirements* Post production work flow* Color in digital cinema* The digital cinema mastering process* Fundamentals of compression * Security* Basics of audio * Digital distribution* Digital projection technology* Theater systems* The international perspective: Views from Europe, Asia and Latin America* A realistic assessment of the future of digital cinemaWith contributions by:Richard Crudo, President, American Society of CinematographersLeon Silverman, Executive Vice President, Laser Pacific Media CorporationCharles Poynton, Color ScientistChris Carey, Senior Vice President, Studio New Technology, The Walt Disney StudiosBob Lambert, Corporate Senior Vice President New Technology & New Media,The Walt Disney CompanyBill Kinder, Pixar Animation StudiosGlenn Kennel, DLP CinemaPeter Symes, Manager, Advanced Technology, Thomson Broadcast & Media SolutionsRobert Schumann, President, Cinea, Inc., A Subsidiary of Dolby LabsDavid Gray, Vice President, Production Services, Dolby Laboratories, Inc.Darcy Antonellis, Executive Vice President, Distribution and Technology OperationsWarner Bros. Technical Operations Inc. and Senior Vice President, Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.Matt Cowan, Principal and Founder, Entertainment Technology ConsultantsLoren Nielsen, Principal and Founder, Entertainment Technology ConsultantsMichael Karagosian, Partner, Karagosian MacCalla Partners (KMP)Peter Wilson, Vice President, Display Technologies, Snell and Wilcox Ltd.Patrick Von Sychowski, Senior Analyst, Screen DigestWendy Aylsworth, Vice President of Technology, Warner Bros. Technical Operations Inc.

Foreword, How New Technology Has Shaped Motion Pictures: A Short History; Introduction; The New Workflow For Post Production; Color in Cinema; The Mastering Process; Compression; Security; Audio; Distribution; Projection; Theatre Systems; The International Perspective: The View from Europe by Peter Wilson; The International Perspective: The View from Asia & Latin America; The Future of Digital Cinema

Charles S. Swartz oversees efforts to further the entertainment industry through new technology. He draws from more than two decades of experience in feature film and television production, academic programming and strategic consulting to lead the center in identifying emerging entertainment technology issues and developing projects to study them. Swartz assumed his current position at the Entertainment Technology Center in 2003, where he has refocused and recharged the research center. He serves in two positions for SMPTE/Hollywood: Governor of the Hollywood Region and co-chair of the education committee. In 1996, the Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of 100 technology leaders in Los Angeles.