Nash, TN DLP IS COMING TO CARMIKE'S THOROUGHBRED20!!!

I e-mailed Carmike about getting a DLP theater at the Thoroughbred 20 & here is there reply:

"Dear Scott



We appreciate your interest in viewing movies in the digital format and we are pleased to inform you that the Thoroughbred 20 is currently being prepared for the installation of these digital projectors in selected auditoriums as we communicate.



The plan will be to eventually convert all auditoriums to digital projectors as the industry makes the transition from film to digital content.



We are very thankful that you continue to enjoy movies in the ?theatre? environment and we continue to work hard in providing our customers the best presentation possible.



You should see several of our auditoriums presenting the Summer Big Hits in digital format within the next 45 days.



Hope to see you at the movies!"



Sincerely,



Fred Van Noy

Sr. V.P

Needles to say, the reply was beyond what I expected. I had no idea that work was already underway. I'm looking forward to FINALLY seeing Star Wars on a large format DLP screen (in 3-D for 30th Anniversary)

 

Awesome! It's about time. I'm sure it is not a cheap renovation, so we can be sure the not all local theatres will follow suit. You know, all it takes is a simple letter, and we find out so much..

 

So Scott, how long you give it until it's truly completed?

 

Very cool.

 

If money is at stake for their summer movie blockbuster season, then it will be < 45 days.

Its amazing what people can accomplish when there is money on the line.

 

Um,..it might be helpful if you told us what DLP means.

 

DLP means Digital Light Processing. Its basically Hi-Definition for theaters. The advantages to this type of projection is that not only is the image quality phenominal & contrast optimum, but the 250th showing will look just as good as the first. No more film breaking in the middle of the movie or choppy scenes or fuzziness due to degradation of the film stock. I have experienced this a few times at the Thoroughbred & have been refunded the cost of the ticket price twice. It increases the chance of having a good theater experience every time. And if people have a good theater experience & a better one than what they can view on their televisions at home, they will probably come back again & again. No, it won't keep people from talking or their cell phones from ringing or kids from kicking your seat, or insure that you will never have stale popcorn, but it will at least hopefully greatly diminish the chances for equipment failure.

They have to change out both the projectors as well as the movie screens by installing special reflective silver screens made just for DLP. Not only is it very expensive on the front end, but if there are no digital movies playing a DLP theater will sit empty. This is the main reason that Carmike turned down the opportunity in 2002 when Dream Works offered to help fund the installment of a DLP theater at the Thoroughbred20. However, with more digital movies being produced each year, this should only be an infrequent occurence.

 

According to www.dlp.com, there are currently six movies playing in DLP in the U.S. and another opens this week. At that rate, they shouldn't have any trouble. And they could always just hold a movie a little longer than normal if there would be a lag.

And it really makes a difference on animated films where there is less fine detail so scratches are more apparent.

 

You think we can lobby to the theater and Lucasfilm to replay ROTS, or even all three prequels?

 

I wouldn't be surprised if there's some kind of re-release for the 30th Anniversary in 2007. Maybe a SW marathon.