There are now around 16,000 digital screens worldwide. A recent convert to the cause was the HMV Group, which elected to install two Barco DP-2000 digital cinema projectors at its prestigious Hammersmith Apollo venue in London.
The installation, which was carried out by integrator Future Projections, comprises a dual-stacked configuration, giving both redundancy as well as the ability to deliver stereoscopic (ie, 3D) material. The compactness of the DP-2000s was deemed to be essential in order to avoid the necessity to make any changes to the venue’s structure, as the Hammersmith Apollo is a listed building, meaning that alterations are prohibited.
The DP-2000 is designed for both large and medium venues, and its 2k (2,048 x 1,080) resolution and lamp up to 4kW make it suitable for screens up to 20m wide.
Barco and Future Projections have also co-operated with the HMV Group to install Barco DP-1200 projectors in its first ’boutique cinema’ at Wimbledon, UK. The Wimbledon cinema – the trial venue for the new concept – is the UK’s first all-digital cinema. Two more theatres are under construction and if all goes well, 25 extra venues are on the agenda.
