AMIA Newsbriefs

Peter Jackson responds to complaints about 'The Hobbit' footage

When it debuts Dec. 14., The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be the first major performance for 48-frames, while this week’s showcase was just an audition. Jackson says those who remain unconvinced should wait to see more before closing their minds completely. “There can only ever be a real reaction, a truthful reaction, when people actually have a chance to see a complete narrative on a particular film,” he said.

Read the story here:  http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/04/27/peter-jackson-responds-hobbit/?iid=rcfooter-movies-'hobbit'%3A+peter+jackson+answers+critics

Fox reveals its movies are to be distributed digitally 'within two years'

"As a letter from our friends at Fox confirms, no one should rely on the distribution of film prints much longer.
 
"And we know that most other distributors share that belief. Given this reality, the entire industry continues our efforts to bring the promise of digital cinema to all exhibitors."
 
Read the story here: http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/fox-reveals-its-movies-are-to-be-distributed-digitally-within-two-years-1077615
 

How Israel's Museums Are Harnessing Social Media to Share Their Wares

In Israel, curators are among those leading the way to getting museums on the Web.
Using all manner of online platforms, from interactive Facebook Timelines dating back to ancient times to entire multimedia art galleries available in online spaces, Jewish heritage and culture is accessible even to those who are thousands
of miles away.

Read the story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-eglash/how-israels-museums-are-h_b_1458915.html

Footage of 'The Hobbit' draws mixed reaction

Jackson has shot the new film, due out in December, at 48 frames per second. For roughly 80 years, the standard industry frame rate -- the frequency at which images are projected -- has been 24 frames per second. Cameron, incidentally, has vowed to shoot the sequel to "Avatar" at an even quicker rate of 60.
 
 
Read the story here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2012/04/cinemacon-hobbit-frame-rate-depp-gatsby.html

Imax Tests Laser Projector Built With Kodak Patents

The system, which uses two projectors and incorporates Mississauga, Ontario-based Imax’s image-enhancing technology, will allow movies to be shown on screens 120 feet wide or more.
 
Read the story here: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-25/imax-tests-laser-projector-built-with-kodak-patents

The Humanities, Digitized

Like pyramid-building itself, the work of the humanities is to create the vessels that store our culture. In this sense, the digitization of archives and collections holds the promise of a grand conclusion: nothing less than the unification of the human cultural record online, representing, in theory, an unprecedented democratization of access to human knowledge. Equally profound is the way that technology could change the way knowledge is created in the humanities.

Read the story here:  http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/05/the-humanities-digitized

Film vs. Digital in ‘Side by Side’

At the Tribeca Film Festival, a new documentary, “Side by Side,” looks at the formats and weighs the pros and cons on both sides of the debate. Directed by Chris Kenneally and produced by Keanu Reeves, who also narrates, the film explores the technological shifts and talks with the directors David Lynch, David Fincher, George Lucas, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese and Steven Soderbergh, as well as a number of cinematographers.

Read the story here:  http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/tribeca-film-vs-digital-in-side-by-side/

Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee champion 3D at CinemaCon

Hugo director wants all future films to be 3D, Ang Lee more cautious about technology

Read the story here:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/26/scorsese-lee-3d-cinemacon-panel.html

From stately bridges to grisly deaths, 870,000 NYC archival photos go online

Culled from the Municipal Archives collection of more than 2.2 million images going back to the mid-1800s, the photographs feature all manner of city oversight — from stately ports and bridges to grisly gangland killings.

Read the story here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/from-stately-bridges-to-grisly-deaths-870000-nyc-archival-photos-go-online/2012/04/24/gIQAHbljdT_story.html

Fox Will Stop U.S. 35mm Film Distribution Within Two Years

National Association of Theatre Owners president-CEO John Fithian -- during his joint state-of-the-industry address at CinemaCon with Motion Picture Association of America
chairman-CEO Chris Dodd -- said the digital promise is being fulfilled.

Twentieth Century Fox has become the first major Hollywood studio to officially notify theater owners that it will distribute all of its films domestically in a digital format
within the next year or two, bringing an end to 35mm film prints.
 
Read the story here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cinemacon-2012-fox-35mm-john-fithian-chris-dodd-distribution-digital-exhibition-315688