The International 70mm Publishers Host A Gathering To Promote 70mm
Is 70mm making a comeback? The International 70mm Publishers, an organization based in The Netherlands, would like to think so. They recently held a gathering in Los Angeles to unveil their new publication: ""Film Presentation For The 21st Century: 70mm Super Definition Cinema."" Publisher Johan C.M. Wolthuis, Assistant Publisher Wouter A. De Voogd and Los Angeles-based projectionist Paul H. Rayton hosted the gathering which was attended by a few dozen large-format film fans and members of the media. The book was prepared in an attempt to persuade filmmakers and studios to consider (or re-consider, for those who know their film history) using large format film to shoot and exhibit their movies for the finest possible presentation quality. It was pointed out at the gathering that all of the presentation advances made in the past decade have revolved around sound. This has come at the expense of the picture. Sound is fifty percent of the movie experience. ""What about the other fifty percent?"" asked one attendee. With the exception of large-gauge formats such as IMAXÆ and an occasional 70mm blow-up (such as ""Titanic"" in 1997), the superior 70mm format has gone out of fashion. The virtues of large-format origination and projection were demonstrated with clips from ""West Side Story"" (Super PanavisionÆ 70), ""Baraka"" (Todd-AOÆ), ""Mission To Mars"" (70mm @ 30fps), the short subject ""Tour Eiffel"" (Arriflex 765) as well as several film format test comparisons. The first copy of the book was presented to Susan Dougherty of Digital Theatre Systems (DTSÆ) in appreciation of the fact that DTS is the only company currently supporting digital soundtracks in conjunction with 70mm release prints. By comparison, DolbyÆ and SonyÆ only offer their digital systems on 35mm prints. ""Titanic"" (1997), ""Vertigo"" (1996 re-release) and ""Everest"" (1998) have all recently been exhibited in some form of 70mm with DTS digital audio. Features in the book include articles on past recollections of 70mm presentations, insight and suggestions for future 70mm applications such as the newly developed APEXÆ format, an analysis of the cost versus profit of large-format origination and a 70mm filmography. Also included is a peek into what cinemas of the 21st century may offer moviegoers. The book can be purchased for $11.50 at Larry Edmunds Book Shop in Hollywood (323 463-3273) or for $15.00 (includes shipping) at International 70mm Publishers, P.O. Box 65611, Los Angeles, CA 90065 For more information, contact the International 70mm Publishers at: Int70mm@dds.nl.