THERE will not be a single slide or reel of film left in the Lilac City Cinemas by the middle of next month.
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Owners Andrew and Mandy Moore will begin a renovation on April 30, which will see their family business transform into a state-of-the-art 21st century cinema.
Over two weeks, they will remove all the old film projectors and replace them with the latest digital technology. The renovations will carry a price tag of close to $400,000 and revolutionise the way the cinema operates.
The cinema currently operates on 35mm film and a platter system, which requires someone to make up each film at the start of the week and eliminate changeovers.
An average movie comes on about five separate reels and takes roughly an hour to put together, however some epics can come on up to 11 reels.
With the digital technology, films will come on portable hard drives and will have to be uploaded to each projection system. While the uploading process might take some time, Mr Moore said it would save time down the track.
“Once it is all downloaded it will take a hell of a lot less time,” he said.
“There will be full automation so the projectionist won’t be required to be in the projection boxes all day. The system we are using is so sophisticated that it could be operated from an iPad from the front counter.”
Staff will only have to create a playlist at the start of each cinema week. Mr Moore said the decision to go digital had not been made hastily. The technology has been around for about five years and has advanced to a point where it can now improve cinematic experience.
“When we first looked at it a few years ago I didn’t think the quality was as good as film but now my thoughts have reversed. It is clearer on the screen – it is nice and crisp – and the light is better too.”
“We have changed over the projectors at our other cinema in Campbelltown and it is already proving to be a better proposition.”
For the time being the cinema will not be installing 3D projectors, saying it would not be economically viable.
On Monday, April 30 Cinema One and Cinema Three will close for seven days while the projectors are changed. The following week, Cinemas Two and Four will undergo their renovations. The unaffected cinemas will continue to operate throughout.
