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Cine 160
The need for a practical film format for 3D and widescreen, to replace 70mm

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in70mm.com
The 70mm Newsletter
Written by: Allan Silliphant Date: 17 November 2005
I have loved 70mm film format though ALL of my adult life. At one time I was lucky enough to have a 70mm screening room in my studio and 9 or 10 65mm production cameras.

Nobody ever loved 70mm more than me as a big screen obsessive, young film maker.

I even had built from scratch 65mm reflex cameras and hand-held 65mm for shooting 3D polarized stereo.

I think that the time has come to re-invigorate the core ideal of 70mm by bringing it back in a more practical and cost effective form. The form I suggest is actually printed on, or photographed on 35mm stock, with a conventional sprocket pattern. Plain 35mm film, upon which, a TALLER 6 perf. FRAME is displayed. If you use the area normally devoted to optical sound, you can have 1.60 as much usable area to work with. Any image that is 1.60 times as clear, bright, less grainy, or more color saturated, is moving far down the road to the now almost defunct 70mm conventional widescreen format.

 
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Internet link:

Cine 160

Allan Silliphant
Cine 160 3D/ Anachrome 3D Group
P.O.Box 941112
Simi Valley CA 93094-1112
USA

Anybody interested in more information may reach me by e-mail 
 
This new format can be run on very old conventional projectors will a moderate amount of refitting. For more money a brand new machine with modern features could be built for less than 1/10 of the cost of a digital projection system that would surpass the present look of the best digital theater installations.

I have named my new format, "CINE 160", referring to the area increase ratio. I would propose 3 applications of the basis format:

1.

A 3D stereo mode where two 1.85 to 1 widescreen images are placed on the frame to make a left/right stereo pair for polarized projection. The lack of light in a 4 perf. frame, split into left/right dictates the increased size.

2.

An anamorphic squeezed format to get 1.85 to 1 out of the full frame for release of true blockbuster, class A films that would have had extensive 70mm release in the seventies and eighties in the largest theatres. Films like "Star Wars", "King Kong", "Lord of the Rings", "Titanic" would all look better with the "big format" treatment.

3.

The IMAX big square format could be scaled down to this size for showing in small communities or in the poorer regions of the world. This could be a real boon to the stalwart community of LF (large format) documentary producers. And in this form could be shown as a double bill 90 minute presentation. At least 1000 new venues could be established around the world, probably many more.

We all know that digital presentation will likely be the rule in 5 to 10 years, but a transitional format like this will greatly facilitate the transition. and just prop aircraft continue to be used after 55 years since the introduction of the first jets, this format may turn out to be superior for special presentations.
 
 

December 2005 - Added comment by Allan Silliphant

 
In November of 2005, Disney opened their animation film "Chicken Little" on 84 screens digital 3D. The results were very encouraging, with about 3 times the business per screen going to the 3D equipped screens. Another Disney film, "Meet the Robinsons" will result in installation of hundreds more of the 2K digital machines in 2006.

There are at least 6 other 3D films scheduled for release in 2006, either in digital or IMAX 3D. Most are animation.

2K digital is only 1/4 as big of a file as 4K. To properly replace and improve on film cinema, the 4K format must be the new standard. Present 2K digital is not as good as film, and cannot be shown on large screens. 35 feet is the practical limit.

CINE 160 is far better than 2K and basically conforms to 4K brightness and clarity standards. Until 4K can be installed at a reasonable price, it makes sense to install at least 2000 Cine 160 machines around the world to allow 3d production and the showing of "semi-70mm- 2D", SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.

Bigger, brighter screens result, and makes this larger format & 3D available to less affluent countries.

I believe that $10,000 projector kit and screen packages in CINE 160 can be provided to keep big screen film cinema alive and promote more 3D exhibition.
 
21. November 2005

We have a Cinerama projector, (actually later WONDERAMA - Century) and have a modified Mitchell NC camera for 6 perf. There is no DVD for CINE 160. I'm Going to Rome tomorrow to work on a dual HD camera rig with an Italian company.

Allan Silliphant
 
 
 
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Updated 12-05-08