ASC Calls For Creative Participation In Digital Cinema Standards

By Perry Sun, Widescreen Review

10-May-00

On May 6, 2000, at the Filmmaking Forum 2000 gathering in Los Angeles, California, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) delivered a proclamation calling for the participation of creative communities in the determination of standards for digital film exhibition.Filmmaking Forum 2000 is the second annual conference organized by The Hollywood Reporter and the ASC, and brought together noted cinematographers, filmmakers and those involved with the cutting edge of digital movie production and digital cinema. The purpose of the gathering was to openly discuss issues related to future trends for filmmakers in the digital realm, including digital acquisition, the impact of the Internet and the future of film in relation to digital cinema.The proclamation stems from an apparently unfavorable response to the ASCís lack of involvement in SMPTEís (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) current activities with considering standards for digital cinema presentation. DC28 is the committee within SMPTE formed to examine and evaluate potential standards for digital cinema presentation in a variety of applications from mastering to projection.The ASCís ""protest"" over its absence as a player in the burgeoning standards for digital cinema is reminiscent of the ire it raised over the ATSCís (Advanced Television Standards Committee) standardization of the 16:9 aspect ratio for HDTV.""We welcome and support all efforts to improve the quality, accuracy and efficiency of the presentation of motion pictures to the public,"" said ASC President Victor J. Kemper from the proclamation. ""However, we believe that the authors of films, whose work is at risk, including directors, production designers and cinematographers, must fully participate in the development of standards for digital projection in theatres.""Kemper noted that just as engineers are needed to establish technical standards for distributing and projecting motion pictures in digital format, the creative community should define artistic parameters to ensure that the public experiences movies as they are meant to be seen.""Important and maybe irrevocable decisions are being made regarding standards for digital distribution and projection of motion pictures,"" he said. ""This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to do it right.""""Cinematography is an interpretive and creative process designed to evoke emotional responses,"" continued Kemper. ""Subtle nuances in colors, resolution, contrast, in composition or framing all affect the moviegoing experience for the public.""The ASC resolution calls for standards that require resolution and color fidelity to be at least equal to the best quality of film images projected in laboratory and industry screenings. It also calls for projecting all motion pictures in their original aspect ratios, and for projecting all images in the original height of the frame without letterboxing them into narrower fields.""Letís not settle for the lowest common denominator,"" he stated further. ""This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to set standards which can enhance the movie-going experience for the public. The ASC is extending its hand and offering to cooperate with the SMPTE. We will also work to draw other elements of the creative community into this process.""

Read More: