CinemaCon yields more growth for Volfoni’s passive 3D system

Friday, April 19th, 2013, Las Vegas, NV—Volfoni’s passive 3D theatre system, SmartCrystal Cinema, is fast becoming a favorite in the West. After recent deals made with theater chains like Regency Theatres and ShowBiz Cinemas, it’s safe to say that U.S. sales of the Volfoni system are on the rise, with no signs of stopping.

Volfoni is pleased to announce another deal this week during CinemaCon 2013. This new partnership is with long-time California theatre owner, John Roush. As owner of several upscale theatres in locales such as Paso Robles and Lemoore, Roush wanted to made sure his demanding clientele got the latest in digital passive 3D theatre technology. And Volfoni’s passive 3D system fit the bill.

“John Roush is a class act, and has witnessed many technology upgrades over the years. We are pleased at how impressed he is with our system’s light efficiency, especially after comparing us to other providers,” says Matt Garelik, VP Business Development at Volfoni.

The Volfoni SmartCrystal Cinema is a high-end passive 3D theatre solution made in Europe. Approved by the major Hollywood studios, the system features incredible light efficiency thanks to Volfoni’s innovative “Surface-Switching” liquid crystal technology. The unit is easy to install, and comes with an extendable warranty. No contracts or licenses required.

Having owned and operated theatres in California for over 30 years, Roush knows a thing or two about the demands of upscale audiences. “My customers will only continue to attend an enhanced 3D experience if they trust I will deliver the best 3D experience possible. Volfoni easily beat our previous provider, on both presentation and price,” says Roush.

To learn more about Volfoni’s creative 3D technology, please visit www.volfoni.com

About Volfoni:

Founded in 2007, Paris-based Volfoni is a renowned 3D technology provider. Volfoni maintains control over its entire manufacturing chain, from R&D to mass production, and has offices in France, the U.S., Germany, Spain, Asia, India, and the UK. The company is proud to count a team of world-class scientists (including three with PhDs in liquid crystal technology), as well as engineers, technicians and designers. Volfoni is one of the few companies in the world offering a wide variety of 3D technologies with the utmost attention to quality. Volfoni products are appreciated by the most demanding users because they answer, in a creative way, the constantly changing demands of the 3D industry.

Volfoni introduces SmartCrystal™ Cinema Horizontal at CinemaCon 2013

Volfoni is proud to announce their involvement in this year’s CinemaCon, April 15th-18th, at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. In just two short years, the 3D technology company has gone from a renowned French enterprise, to one with global recognition, particularly in the U.S. From a booth featuring an exciting new version of a celebrated product, to a special gift in each attendee goody bag, Volfoni’s presence will be felt across the show.

While just the start of the second quarter of the year, Volfoni has already had an impressive 2013. One could say that Volfoni has truly made a splash in the U.S., with multiple deals signed and great strides made in the digital 3D cinema industry. Volfoni’s SmartCrystal™ Cinema passive 3D theater system is now installed in over 50 screens in the U.S. and in over 500 locations worldwide.

Now, Volfoni is excited to introduce SmartCrystal™ Cinema Horizontal, the highly modular version of their famed SmartCrystal™ Cinema solution. The Horizontal model is a compact, small-volume unit, weighing only 13 lbs (6 kg). It features a quick and easy “boothless” set-up, and symmetrical snap-hook mounting. There are a variety of different mounting options thanks to the panel’s ability to move horizontally. SmartCrystal™ Cinema Horizontal has NOC, a “rackable” remote controlled interface, and a sleek, sexy design. When the product is in 2D mode, the panel is protected from dust and impact, leading to maintenance-free longevity.

“We are delighted to introduce this adaptable version of our popular SmartCrystal™ Cinema system. With the original vertical model, and this new horizontal model, we are pleased to offer a passive 3D cinema solution for all exhibitors,” says Alain Chamaillard, Vice President Cinema Market.

SmartCrystal™ Cinema Horizontal has all the same high-end features as SmartCrystal™ Cinema Vertical: light efficiency (18%), “Surface-Switching” technology (cost-effective for lamp usage), and 3D image quality approved by the major Hollywood studios. Both models are designed and produced in Europe, come with a 3-year warranty (and optional 2-year extension), and require no licenses or contracts. See the two systems in person at Volfoni’s CinemaCon booth, #2809A.

http://www.volfoni.com/en/products/passive/polarizer/smartcrystal-cinema-horizontal

About Volfoni 
Founded in 2007, Paris-based Volfoni is a renowned 3D technology provider in Europe. To offer the highest quality of products to its customers, Volfoni has invested significantly over the last couple of years to build and control the entire manufacturing chain, from R&D to mass production. The company is proud to count a team of world-class scientists (Three of which have PhDs specializing in liquid crystal technology), engineers, technicians and designers. Volfoni has now become one of the very few companies in the world to offer a wide variety of 3D technologies (active and passive) with high quality standards (endorsed by the Hollywood studios’ golden eyes). Volfoni products are appreciated by the most demanding users because they answer, in a creative way, the constantly changing needs of the various 3D applications which are currently booming.

Press contact
Stéphane Francotte, sfrancotte@volfoni.com

ShowBiz Cinemas Selects Volfoni as its New Digital 3D Cinema Provider

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

Los Angeles, CA – Texans are independent minded, and its executives are forward thinking. Kevin Mitchell, President and CEO of ShowBiz Cinemas, is now growing his circuit by forging his own path.

After rigorous testing, ShowBiz Cinemas announced today it has adopted a new digital 3D provider: Volfoni, Inc.- the leading French manufacturer of high quality active and passive digital 3D equipment. This exciting deal calls for 21 of Volfoni’s passive SmartCrystal Cinema 3D systems, and glasses, for the ShowBiz Cinemas circuit.

The Volfoni SmartCrystal Cinema system is a high-end passive 3D theatre solution made in Europe. Approved by the major Hollywood studios, the system features Volfoni’s innovative “Surface-Switching” liquid crystal technology, and incredible light efficiency. “We are pleased to continue growing in the North American market, and honored to be in business with Kevin Mitchell and his partners at ShowBiz Cinemas,” said Jérôme Testut, Managing Director for Volfoni U.S.

“Kevin and his team put us through our paces to make sure ShowBiz Cinemas would continue to provide their customers with the immersive 3D environment they expect,” noted Matt Garelik, VP Business Development for Volfoni U.S.

“At ShowBiz Cinemas, we pride ourselves on providing an unparalleled theatre experience for our customers. When we decided it was time to purchase our 3D equipment, Volfoni presented the best technology and price available. It has been a pleasure working with them,” said Kevin Mitchell, President and CEO of ShowBiz Cinemas.

To learn more about Volfoni’s creative 3D technology, please visit www.volfoni.com

About ShowBiz Cinemas:

ShowBiz Cinemas, LLC was established in 2007. Our mission is to provide a first class movie going experience for every patron that enters our theatres and have fun doing it. We are passionate about our business and exceeding our customer’s expectations. To contact our corporate office: ShowBiz Cinemas Churchill Tower 12400 Coit Rd. Suite 800 Dallas, TX 75251 Phone: (214) 751-8180. Go to www.showbizcinemas.com for more information.

About Volfoni:

Founded in 2007, Paris-based Volfoni is a renowned 3D technology provider. Volfoni maintains control over its entire manufacturing chain, from R&D to mass production, and has offices in France, the U.S., Germany, Spain, Asia, India, and the UK. The company is proud to count a team of world-class scientists (including three with PhDs in liquid crystal technology), as well as engineers, technicians and designers. Volfoni is one of the few companies in the world offering a wide variety of 3D technologies with the utmost attention to quality. Volfoni products are appreciated by the most demanding users because they answer, in a creative way, the constantly changing demands of the 3D industry.

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Regency Theatres Selects Volfoni as its Newest Digital 3D Cinema Provider

Volfoni to speak at ISE on 3D Education with EON Reality

Volfoni and EON Reality will be presenting together at ISE 2013 in Amsterdam on January 29th, 30th and 31st. ISE or Integrated Systems Europe is the world’s best-attended tradeshow for the professional AV and electronic systems industry. Mats Johansson, President & CEO of EON Reality, and Bernard Mendiburu (VP Professional Market at Volfoni) with Renáta Rybecká (Sales Manager at Volfoni), will share the latest 3D industry trends with a special emphasis on how 3D is utilized in museums and educational environments. 3D technology is being used more and more in professional environments because it offers a much deeper and clearer illustrative experience for the rigorous audience. 
 
The presentation will be in two parts—part one will illustrate how 3D is currently used in museography and how it attracts visitors through its more intense, compelling viewing experience. In part two of the presentation, Volfoni and EON Reality will discuss 3D learning technology. 3D use in education provides an array of important benefits for the students: increased interest, better understanding and higher productivity. These rapidly expanding uses are important developments for the 3D industry, and you won’t want to miss this opportunity to see them in action. 
Interactive 3D demos will be shown in stereoscopic 3D and a live session will include a how-to on creating virtual 3D learning content in less than 5 minutes.
 
The presentation will take place at ISE’s 3D Theater (exact location to be announced), 29th and 30th of January at 11:15am and the 31st at 10:30 am. More than 40,000 visitors are expected to come to ISE this year.

About Volfoni
Founded in 2007, Paris-based Volfoni is a renowned 3D technology provider in Europe. To offer the highest quality of products to its customers, Volfoni has invested significantly over the last couple of years to build and control the entire manufacturing chain, from R&D to mass production. The company is proud to count a team of world-class scientists (Three of which have PhDs specializing in liquid crystal technology), engineers, technicians and designers. Volfoni has now become one of the very few companies in the world to offer a wide variety of 3D technologies (active and passive) with high quality standards (endorsed by the Hollywood studios’ golden eyes). Volfoni products are appreciated by the most demanding users because they answer, in a creative way, the constantly changing needs of the various 3D applications which are currently booming. For more information, please visit www.volfoni.com and at ISE booth # 7-T182

About EON Reality
EON Reality is the world’s leading interactive 3D solutions provider for business and education based on Virtual Reality technology. A customer centric culture, global presence, innovation and integrity are the pillars of EON Reality’s success story. We have been supporting customers since 1999 with 3D visualization solutions that improve communication and knowledge transfer – from simulation based learning and safety training to the creation of Interactive 3D sales and marketing materials that provide realistic authentic experiences anytime, anywhere. We deliver versatile productivity to the energy, education, aerospace/defense, industrial and medical sectors. Organizations use EON’s solutions to increase sales, better communicate product functionality, decrease cost of training and travel less.

About ISE
With 50% of the show’s attendees serving both commercial and residential market sectors, ISE is uniquely positioned to offer the whole world of systems integration solutions under a single roof. ISE 2013 will be the largest ISE ever, occupying all 12 halls of the Amsterdam RAI for a total net floor area of around 32,500 net square metres.

Contacts:
Renáta Rybecká, rrybecka@volfoni.com
Jean-Luc Ros, jros@volfoni.com

Are you ready for high-frame-rate 3D? (as in, The Hobbit)

“When the 3-D version of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” debuts in movie theaters on Dec. 14, the film will likely wow viewers with its special effects. But audiences at select theaters will get even more bang for their buck: they’ll be the first to witness a new technology that displays images at a rate of 48 frames per second, twice as fast as the current standard.

The new display rate is sure to look different. Whether audiences will like it is less certain. So far, early reviews have been mixed, according to 3D Focus, a website that tracks changes in 3-D-viewing technology. 

Some people think the effects look “too real.” For others, eyestrain, headaches, nausea and other discomforts are as much of a hazard as they were with the older technologies. That’s because most films that are designed to make images look like they are popping out of the screen work by showing each eye different pictures at different times. That forces the brain to merge conflicting messages — an obstacle that 3-D studios are still working to overcome.

“People really differ,” said Marty Banks, a vision scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. “Some people just don’t get it and they’re fine. Other people are fairly uncomfortable. The industry is really worried about this. They’re listening to us scientists and they’re taking our advice.”

ll movies, whether “2-D” or “3-D” create the illusion of movement by flashing one still image after another onto the screen at a rate that is fast enough to fool our brains into seeing action. If the sequence of images is presented too slowly, the result is a shaky effect called “judder” that can sometimes look like a double image.

3-D technology (which Banks prefers to call stereo-3-D or S3-D because even “2-D” movies look three-dimensional) raises the risk for judder because these films usually show screen shots in an alternating sequence to one eye at a time. First the left eye sees an image, then the right eye sees one, then the left eye sees the next image, and so on.

With the latest generation of 3-D glasses, polarizing filters allow each eye to see light coming from just one direction, and screen shots are displayed so that a single lens is targeted at a time. When one eye is stimulated, the other eye is presented with darkness.

It’s up to the brain to put everything together into a coherent picture. But with each eye seeing alternating flashes of brightness and darkness, jumpy judder can creep in, causing distraction or discomfort.

To solve that problem, 3-D films that are shot at a standard 24 frames per second actually show the left eye a single image three times in a row with flashes of darkness in between. Then the right eye gets its image three times in a row, and that pattern continues for the entire film. This “triple flashing” allows the screen to display 72 frames per second, which reduces flicker effects.

For the new Hobbit, director Peter Jackson used new technology to film at 48 frames per second instead of 24. In real life, our visual systems take in information continuously, and some experts speculate that images will need to be captured at more than 100 or even 150 frames per second before a movie looks truly real. But with any increase in frame-rate speed, motion should look smoother and more realistic.

“As you increase the rate of new incoming data, you’re getting closer and closer to the real world,” Banks said. “At some rate, you will get to the point where you can’t tell the difference.”

But first, moviemakers have some technical issues to deal with.

One question, Engle said, is whether the technological limitations of the projectors used by most theaters will require them to use fewer flashes for each eye before switching to the other eye’s image  — a switch that could actually cause new stuttering problems.

Some theaters use a dual-projector set-up that gets around that issue by showing images to both eyes at the same time, and in those cases, Engle said, the results should be spectacular. But theaters that use a single projector to display 3-D movies will have some new decisions to make, and audiences might not be universally happy about the final product.

“You have to be careful what you wish for,” said Rob Engle, 3-D supervisor at a major film studio in Burbank, Calif. “If you have to make compromises in order to increase the frame rate by decreasing the flash rate, you start to run into trade-offs.”

As higher frame rates lead to more realism, dismay is also cropping up among people who are used to seeing films that look like films rather than television or real life. Similar complaints have emerged whenever filmmaking technology has risen to a new level over the decades.

“Every time we’ve moved closer to reality by adding sound, adding color or getting rid of scratches, in the end, the audience has accepted it and there’s no going back,” Banks said. “I think the same is going to be true here.

“In the end, we all want immersion. We want to feel like we’re in that scene and closer to reality. I think once people see it, they are going to go, ‘Wow. I want that.’” “

Volfoni Presents Their Passive 3D Theater System at ShowEast 2012

Worldwide 3D equipment specialist Volfoni is proud to present their passive 3D system, SmartCrystal™ Cinema, at this year’s ShowEast conference, taking place November 5^th-8^th in Hollywood, Florida. ShowEast gathers together East Coast exhibitors and the companies who serve their fine cinemas, to showcase new products and solutions for the industry. 
  
Volfoni has sold over 200 units of SmartCrystal™ Cinema around the world in just a couple of months since its release. Manufactured in Europe, SmartCrystal™ Cinema is the latest 3D technology system that exhibitors in the U.S. have been waiting for. With no licensing or subscription fees required, the SmartCrystal Cinema theater system is one completely portable product to suit your passive 3D cinema needs. 
  
“We are happy to present an affordable, high quality passive 3D option with SmartCrystal™ Cinema. Volfoni believes our product will change the North American cinema market which is almost entirely concerned with passive 3D equipment. We are flattered to see some of our historical competitors following us down this path,” says Thierry Henkinet, CEO and co-founder of Volfoni. 
  
Derived from “Surface Switching” technology developed by Volfoni, SmartCrystal™ Cinema allows for the most beautiful 3D imagery on the market, in terms of both brightness and color quality. Easy to install, the system sets up quickly with any DCI-compliant DLP projector. It works with projector lamps up to 7kW, and silver screens up to 60 feet wide. Another item becoming very popular with cinemas is Volfoni’s passive 3D clip-on glasses. For wearers of prescription glasses, viewing a 3D film has never been simpler. Volfoni clip-ons easily fit over any style of prescription glasses. 
  
All of Volfoni’s 3D products have been met with approval by the major Hollywood studios after undergoing their rigorous testing procedures. 
  
“Volfoni’s products have found their way into a plethora of establishments: homes, schools, universities, military bases, concerts, bars, restaurants, amusement parks. But most people’s best 3D experience will be at their local cinema, with their closest family and friends, enjoying the newest 3D film from Hollywood. And we are very pleased to be a part of this experience,” says Jerome Testut, Managing Director, Volfoni Americas. 
  
You can find Volfoni at booth 1007 at ShowEast, November 5^th-8^th 2012

EON Reality, Volfoni, NEC and TI Participate in ‘Cannes 3D Education’ Project

EON Reality, the world’s leading interactive 3D software provider, today announced that the City of Cannes has selected EON Reality as the software and content provider for their “Cannes 3D Education” project, which aims to confirm results of previous pilot projects conducted in 2011 in 15 European schools showing the positive effects of learning in 3D.

The City of Cannes will begin experimenting with 3D in four primary schools, where 120 pupils from CM1 (age 9) and CM2 (age 10) will use 3D as a new learning tool in the classroom. Teachers will be given kits to create their own interactive 3D learning courses that will include a 3D projector by NEC, active 3D glasses by Volfoni, and 3D content creation software by EON Reality. With EON Creator software, teachers will be able to create complete 3D lesson plans from content on the EON Experience portal, an online library of thousands of 3D models, which can then be shared online with other teachers and students. “Today’s students have changed,” said Evelyne Brun, Deputy Mayor in charge of Education at the City of Cannes. “They grew up with rapid technological developments. The use of these tools is natural for them. In the school environment, it creates a new motivation.”

Results thus far have exceeded expectations, both on the faculty’s side and on the 3D manufacturers’ side.”We have received excellent feedback from teachers,” said Pierre-Julien Barraud, Business Development Director at EON Reality in Europe.”Everyone has reported an overall increase in students’ understanding. Attention levels doubled from 46% to 92% after a 3D session. Students seemed more motivated to learn, asked more questions, and were more engaged. EON Reality is proud to contribute to this project and supports teachers and students with 3D learning tools.”

“We are very pleased to participate in this project in favor of education. We hope that our products bring a real benefit in the teaching process and that it will improve student learning,” said Thierry Henkinet, President and co-founder of Volfoni.

 ”With its significant expertise in the field of education and technology pioneer for active 3D projectors for classrooms, NEC Display Solutions has enthusiastically joined this initiative by the City of Cannes. Active 3D in education has demonstrated, through various projects, all of these advantages and benefits in terms of learning, we are very confident about the success of this technology with students in Cannes,” said Nadir Ben Bouali, Sales Director of NEC France.
 
Projectors and 3D glasses provided respectively by NEC and Volfoni, are based on the DLP-link technology invented by Texas Instruments, which allowed democratization and the ease of use of the 3D, especially in education.

“We are very proud to participate in this ambitious project as the use of the 3D in education particularly inspires us. The DLP technology empowering 3D-ready projectors offers a bright, clear, contrasting picture with remarkable level of details so that students and teachers can live the high quality educational 3D experience. An independent study initiated by Texas Instruments has already proven that 3D had a high potential in the French educational system. We are confident that Cannes’ pupils participating in this project will be excited by the discovery of this new technology”, said Emmanuel Herbreteau, EMEA Marketing Manager for the DLP Division.

www.eonreality.com
www.nec.com
www.volfoni.com

Rio Tech and Volfoni sign joint venture for China’s cinema market

Beijing, August 22, 2012. Rio Tech and Volfoni announced today the creation of a joint venture for the industry of Chinese cinema technology. The 50/50 venture will launch a new series of passive 3D polarization modulators during BIRTV.

“Volfoni is a very innovative and creative 3D company that offers world-class cutting-edge 3D technology,” says Mr. Pan Zhou, president of Rio Tech. “We are very excited about the joint venture with Volfoni. It will accelerate the development and popularity of 3D viewing in China.”

“Rio is one of the key companies in the Chinese cinema business,” says Mr. Thierry Henkinet, CEO and co-founder of Volfoni. “We look forward to working with Rio to offer all Chinese installers and cinema owners more choices to allow for the best 3D experience. The joint venture gives us closer contact to our customers in this important market, and lets us adapt best to their needs.”

The joint venture will present for the first time in China the new SmartCrystalTM Cinema, a polarization modulator designed and made in Europe and approved by Hollywood studios. This exceptional product will be on demo during BIRTV (booth 2A240, from August 22 to 25). Derived from “Surface Switching” technology developed by Volfoni, SmartCrystalTM Cinema allows for the most beautiful 3D imagery on the market, in terms of both brightness and color quality.

About Volfoni :

Founded in 2007, Paris-based Volfoni is a renowned 3D technology provider in Europe. To offer the highest quality of products to its customers, Volfoni has invested significantly over the last couple of years to build and control the entire manufacturing chain, from R&D to mass production. The company is proud to count a team of world-class scientists (Three of which have PhDs specializing in liquid crystal technology), engineers, technicians and designers. Volfoni has now become one of the very few companies in the world to offer a wide variety of 3D technologies (active and passive) with high quality standard (endorsed by the Hollywood studios’ golden eyes). Volfoni products are appreciated by the most demanding users because they answer, in a creative way, the constantly changing needs of the various 3D applications which are currently booming. For more information, please visit www.volfoni.com

About Guangzhou Rio Tech Optics Co., Ltd :

Guangzhou Rio Tech Optics Co., Ltd. (Rio Tech) specializes in 3D solutions including cinema systems and glasses. Rio Tech’s products include polarization modulators, dual polarization 3D system, active3D systems, circular polarized glasses, linear polarized glasses, active 3D shutter glasses. Rio Tech provides all-around professional solutions to its customers and has become one of the biggest 3D cinema product suppliers in China.

Press contact: Volfoni - Seon LE SACHE, slesache@volfoni.com, +33 6 7718 0454 RIO – Alice Peng, rio_pa@163.com, +86 20 8388 7337