Movie Theaters Get High Tech Upgrade
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By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Since multiplex theater chains were first introduced here in the late 1990s, the movie theater has evolved with more conveniences in modern-looking venues that are equipped with various facilities.
Now they are upgrading their projectors, sound equipment and screens with new technology that will offer better picture and sound quality.
The nation's biggest multiplex theater chain CJ CGV will open an IMAX theater in December at its two multiplex theaters in Yongsan, Seoul, and in Inchon where two- and three-dimensional IMAX films will be screened. The company plans to increase the number of IMAX theaters at up to 10 of its theaters by 2007.
Different from conventional IMAX theaters that screen only IMAX movies, mostly educational documentaries on nature and science, the two theaters will screen Hollywood blockbuster movies in the IMAX format.
As IMAX movies are shot with 70mm film, which is 10 times larger than conventional 35mm film and requires specially curved screens, projectors that advance film horizontally instead of vertically and new surround-sound technology, ordinary theaters cannot screen them.
But thanks to digital re-mastering technology, which allows conventional 35mm film to be converted into 70mm IMAX film, the two IMAX theaters can screen virtually any kind of movies in the IMAX film format, so moviegoers can enjoy both conventional 35mm and 70mm IMAX films.
The first two IMAX theaters will screen "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" as the first in their lineup films at the theaters on Dec. 1, which has been re-mastered in the format of 2-D IMAX film.
The theaters will screen the first full 3-D action and adventure films such as "Nascar 3D: The IMAX Experience" in January, "Cyberworld 3D" in March and "T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous" in June, as well as 2-D action films "Superman Returns" in July.
As it costs about 2 or 3 billion won to renovate an ordinary theater into an IMAX theater with proper equipment, and because digitally re-mastered IMAX film is two or three times as expensive as normal film reel, the IMAX theaters will introduce scaled entrance fees _ 7,000 won for normal IMAX films, 10,000 won for digitally re-mastered 2-D IMAX films and 14,000 won for digitally re-mastered 3-D IMAX film.
Meanwhile, the most obvious change at multiplex theater chains is the effort to upgrade their theaters digitally.
As computer graphics has emerged as a powerful tool for filmmakers to bring their imagination to their movies, theaters also have to keep up with the latest technology to fully show what filmmakers intend to express.
The Megabox Theater chain plans to convert 32 theaters into digital cinemas, beginning with its 16-screen theater at COEX Mall in Samsong-dong, southern Seoul. CJ CGV also plans to replace its conventional 35mm film screening system with digital projectors and equipment at its 266 theaters nationwide by next January.
Although installing the expensive digital system is a huge investment, CJ CGV believes that it will save millions in the annual cost of duplicating and shipping copies, as well as the boon it will glean from enhanced customer satisfaction when it provides quality the high-tech movies, especially films using a lot of computer graphics.
Staff Reporter
Since multiplex theater chains were first introduced here in the late 1990s, the movie theater has evolved with more conveniences in modern-looking venues that are equipped with various facilities.
Now they are upgrading their projectors, sound equipment and screens with new technology that will offer better picture and sound quality.
The nation's biggest multiplex theater chain CJ CGV will open an IMAX theater in December at its two multiplex theaters in Yongsan, Seoul, and in Inchon where two- and three-dimensional IMAX films will be screened. The company plans to increase the number of IMAX theaters at up to 10 of its theaters by 2007.
Different from conventional IMAX theaters that screen only IMAX movies, mostly educational documentaries on nature and science, the two theaters will screen Hollywood blockbuster movies in the IMAX format.
As IMAX movies are shot with 70mm film, which is 10 times larger than conventional 35mm film and requires specially curved screens, projectors that advance film horizontally instead of vertically and new surround-sound technology, ordinary theaters cannot screen them.
But thanks to digital re-mastering technology, which allows conventional 35mm film to be converted into 70mm IMAX film, the two IMAX theaters can screen virtually any kind of movies in the IMAX film format, so moviegoers can enjoy both conventional 35mm and 70mm IMAX films.
The first two IMAX theaters will screen "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" as the first in their lineup films at the theaters on Dec. 1, which has been re-mastered in the format of 2-D IMAX film.
The theaters will screen the first full 3-D action and adventure films such as "Nascar 3D: The IMAX Experience" in January, "Cyberworld 3D" in March and "T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous" in June, as well as 2-D action films "Superman Returns" in July.
As it costs about 2 or 3 billion won to renovate an ordinary theater into an IMAX theater with proper equipment, and because digitally re-mastered IMAX film is two or three times as expensive as normal film reel, the IMAX theaters will introduce scaled entrance fees _ 7,000 won for normal IMAX films, 10,000 won for digitally re-mastered 2-D IMAX films and 14,000 won for digitally re-mastered 3-D IMAX film.
Meanwhile, the most obvious change at multiplex theater chains is the effort to upgrade their theaters digitally.
As computer graphics has emerged as a powerful tool for filmmakers to bring their imagination to their movies, theaters also have to keep up with the latest technology to fully show what filmmakers intend to express.
The Megabox Theater chain plans to convert 32 theaters into digital cinemas, beginning with its 16-screen theater at COEX Mall in Samsong-dong, southern Seoul. CJ CGV also plans to replace its conventional 35mm film screening system with digital projectors and equipment at its 266 theaters nationwide by next January.
Although installing the expensive digital system is a huge investment, CJ CGV believes that it will save millions in the annual cost of duplicating and shipping copies, as well as the boon it will glean from enhanced customer satisfaction when it provides quality the high-tech movies, especially films using a lot of computer graphics.
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