SMPTE 2008 Show Opens With Launch Of 3-D Cinema Sound System

Headline Address and Session Picture the Future of Storytelling and Digital Media [The following is a release from Society Of Motion Picture And Television Engineers]

November 3, 2008

SMPTE 2008: Annual Tech Conference & Expo (http://www.smpte2008.org) bowed today with the cinema launch of IOSONO, a fully immersive theatrical sound system for all feature films, especially those exhibited in stereoscopic 3-D. This cinema first followed a keynote address, “The Future of Digital Media,” delivered by IOSONO’s founder, Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Brandenburg, and an in-depth session, “Rebel Alliance – Geeks Lead Hollywood into a New Era,” featuring Emmy Award-winning show runners and other top Hollywood creative talents. IOSONO intensifies the theatrical experience, particularly with 3-D picture, by delivering ghostly whispers straight into viewers’ ears from inches away and placing whirling helicopters directly over seats. Dr. Brandenburg, who is also the director of Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IMDT) and the “father of MP3,” demonstrated the sound system at its first United States cinema location in the Mann Chinese 6 theaters in Hollywood, CA. In his keynote address, Dr. Brandenburg laid out his vision for the future of digital media, which includes a home viewing experience that delivers personalized, automated, broadcast programming to viewers. He was followed on stage by executive producer/writers Tim Kring (“Heroes,” “Crossing Jordan”) and Javier Grillo-Marxuach (“The Middleman,” “Medium”), executive producers Naren Shankar (“CSI,” “UC: Undercover”) and Jesse Alexander (“Heroes,” “Alias”), videogame developer Matt Wolf (“Bourne Conspiracy” videogame) and director Rob Letterman (“Monsters Vs. Aliens”), who shined a light on transmedia, a new form of storytelling that incorporates branding and marketing and that unfolds across the television, Internet, videogames and mobile phones. “It was an exciting opening day for SMPTE 2008, with a packed audience, sold out exhibit floor and inspiring content,” said Kimberly Maki, executive director SMPTE and SMPTE 2008. “We were thrilled to host some of the industry’s top technical and creative talent, who inspired us with their vision of the industry today and tomorrow.” Produced by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, SMPTE 2008 is a conference and tradeshow focused on new and emerging entertainment technologies used in content creation, management, distribution and display. It takes place October 28–30, 2008 at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood, CA, with Wednesday and Thursday sessions devoted to IPTV, image acquisition, the new SMPTE time code, and more. The conference closes with a gala ceremony, Thursday evening, which honors newly named SMPTE fellows and a host of awardees.

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