Digital Cinema Overview and Issues

1. Digital Cinema Overview and Issues Phil Lelyveld New Technology & New Media The Walt Disney Company phil.lelyveld@disney.com NIST Digital Cinema 2001 1/11/01

2. Digital Cinema Overview and Issues • Components of Digital Cinema • Standards Efforts • Current Situation

3. Completed print FILM Process Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

4. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

5. Other content types Digital distribution Compression + Security Digital Origination Digital Master Transport Fixed media distribution DVD A-D Transfer VHS D-CINEMA HDTV Completed print Internet FILM Broadcast Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

6. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

7. Compression Wavelet:stores only the difference from the previous image,based on a series of progressively smaller images, for all but the ‘base image’ MPEG:uses DCT (discrete cosine transform) compression of blocks of pixels to encode complete intra- (or I-) frames, theninterpolates between I-frames based on motion or changes within the block using predicted (or P-) and bi-directional (or B-) frames. Layered MPEG: in addition to the MPEG concept, it allows data to be sent at progressively higher resolutions (layers). Fractal: two types - Iterated Functions Systems (IFS) recursively uses contractive functions to produce ever-finer detail. - Fractal Transform (FT) is a form of vector quantization (VQ) Other Disney New Technology & New Media

8. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

9. Security • Authentication • verifying parties and content • Encryption • making the content unusable without authorization • Marking • watermark vs. fingerprint • noticeable vs. hidden (steganography) • Physical security • Processes Disney New Technology & New Media

10. Digital cinema system architecture Authenticate / Secure Authenticate / Secure Watermark • End to End • Modular • Interchangable • Renewable • Revocable • Cost vs. results Watermark De/Encrypt Encrypt

11. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

12. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution - satellite - cable - net / telco Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution - disk (options) - tape - other A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

13. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution - satellite - cable - net / telco Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution - disk (options) - tape - other A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print Transport Concerns Data integrity: what goes in = what comes out Security: technology and processes Interface standards Cost Disney New Technology & New Media

14. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

15. Storage & Playback • Example of storage needs • 3 hour 40 minute movie • 24 frames per second • 1080 X 1920 pixels per frame • 10 bits/pixel • 1.97 Terabytes*, uncompressed • At 23.33 to 1 compression • 84.6 Gigabytes* compressed * 8 bits per byte

16. Storage & Playback • Data Rate • Initially, should support typical data rates of 35-90Mbps with visually transparent decompression • Reliable • Fail less than 1(?) show per year • Secure • Must support delivery of encrypted media • Flexible • playlist changes, format changes • Backchannel • Diagnostics (playback, audio, and projector) • Maintenance and support • Adequate quick-response and product modification support

17. Projection Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

18. Projection Multiple projection technologies are desirable Digital Light Processing (DLP Cinema) Direct-Drive Image Light Amplifier (D-ILA) Grating Light Valve Other

19. Projection DLP Cinema • Based on digital micromirror device technology • Each micromirror is a pixel • Micromirrors tilt • Currently in use • TI DLP Cinema technology licensed by Christie, Barco, Digital Projection, …. from Texas Instruments, www.dlpcinema.com

20. Side view Liquid crystal layer Reflective pixel electrode to screen Projection D-ILA • Based on liquid crystal technology • Liquid crystal pixels stop/pass light between the light source and the lense - “light valve” • Theatrical version in development (JVC) From JVC: http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/pro/dila/feature.html

21. Projection Grating Light Value Technology • Micro-electromechanical systems • A single pixel is made up of multiple ribbon-like structures • Each ribbon can be moved up or down by electrostatic forces • The ribbons reflect or refract light • Theatrical version in development From Silicon Light Machines: www.siliconlight.com

22. Projection Reflective LCD (Philips) Laser Cathode Ray Tube (L-CRT) Principia Lightworks (www.principia-optics.com) Polymorphous Silicon Other

23. Storage + Playback Exhibition Other content types Digital distribution Back channel Compression + Security Digital Origination End of run Transport • Back Channel can carry: • Diagnostics • Audience Feedback • Business Information Fixed media distribution A-D Transfer D-CINEMA Completed print FILM Transport Redistribution Repair Destruction Q/C and storage Mass reproduction Secure Transport Exhibition Mktg Dept Trailers Repurposing to other media Disney New Technology & New Media

24. Standards effort

25. Standards effort Brad Hunt Motion Picture Association Goals for Digital Cinema 6 Extensible 7 Single Inventory 8 Transport 9 Secure Content Protection 10 Reasonable Cost 1 Enhanced Theatrical Experience 2 Quality 3 Worldwide Compatibility 4 Open Standards 5 Interoperable Full downloadable word file at: www.mpaa.org/dcinema

26. Standards effort Bob Rast SMPTE:Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Digital Cinema Study Group - 28.X DC 28.1 Steering Committee DC 28.2 Mastering DC 28.3 Compression DC 28.4 Conditional Access / Encryption DC 28.5 Transport / Delivery Systems DC 28.6 Audio DC 28.7 Theater Systems DC 28.8 Projection Studios, NATO, Cinematographers, Vendors www.smpte.org, chairman Curt Behlmer, cbehlmer@soundelux.com

27. Standards effort Don Mead MPEG: Motion Picture Experts Group Technical specifications for digital cinema files Testing criteria for digital cinema performance ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 N3758 (Approved October, 2000) Title: Digital Cinema Requirements Approved ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 N3663 (October, 2000) Title: Ad Hoc Group on Digital Cinema www.cselt.it/mpeg/

28. Standards effort Thomas MacCalla USC ETC (Entertainment Technology Center) • Studio, industry, and vendor support • Neutral test facility • Demonstration sites • Hollywood Pacific Theatre • CST - France • Asia - ? www.etcenter.org/Body.htm

29. Current Situation

30. Demonstration Installations Manchester London (2) Birmingham Berlin Seoul Brussels Düsseldorf Paris Cologne Tokyo (2) Vancouver Toronto Barcelona Madrid Boston Chicago New York (2) Cleveland San Francisco Hollywood Kansas City Los Angeles (2) Phoenix Dallas Orlando San Diego • testing a variety of equipment • sharing experience • open process Mexico City

31. What movies? • Fourteen movies to date Toy Story 2 Bicentennial Man Dinosaur Titan AE Space Cowboys Fantasia 2000 Crimson Rivers Bounce Tarzan Star Wars - Episode 1 Emperor’s New Groove The Perfect Storm 102 Dalmatians Mission to Mars • Distributors:Disney, Fox, Warner, Miramax, Gaumont • Exhibitors:AMC, Edwards, Cinemark, UCI, GCC, Kinepolis, Warner, Famous Players, Cinemex, Gaumont, Odeon, Toho, others

32. What have we learned operationally? • D-Cinema release preparation is a new science • Fixed media delivery is practical; other delivery methods work • Loading/storage/playback technology rapidly evolving • Projectors are highly reliable, peripherals less so • Service and support is a key element

33. What have we learned from exhibitors and the public? • 12,500+ performances as of 12/31/00; up time ~99.4% • Over 1,200,000 patrons - positive response • Exhibitors are aware the “digital cinema” of the future is already coming to the living room • Other uses of d-cinema venues are foreseen

34. What have we learnedcreatively? Issues for this conference • Subjective reactions vary • Resolution, color issues: ‘trueness’ of color imagery, adequacy black levels • Lots to learn in content creation and preparation • (in)appropriateness of video or film metrics for digital cinema • A threshold of quality is essential

35. Challenge Improve the quality and attractiveness of the theatre-going experience for theatre patrons

36. Thank you Phil Lelyveld New Technology & New Media The Walt Disney Company phil.lelyveld@disney.com