UK Roll Out of Digital Projectors

The UK Film Council is funding the establishment of a network of 250 screens [equipped with digital projectors] in around 150 cinemas throughout the country, with the aim of promoting British and independent film.

-- at Digital Media Europe via Cinema Minima.

Commentary: I've blogged about this before, and think Australia should follow suit - especially in the context of the IndiVision strategy. The advantage of DV features is that they are cheap to acquire, problem is the filmout is expensive. Its actually more economical, overall, to shoot on Super16mm and get an optical film out than it is to shoot DV and get a laser-out - and guess which is going to look much much better? Super16mm - it'll wipe the floor with DV. In the hands of a good DoP, contemporary S16mm stocks look better, imnsho, than 35mm did say 20 years ago (the 90s saw a big leap in 35mm emulsion, I think). However, introduce digital projection and all kinds of projects, shot on HDV or better, become viable for limited theatrical release... and the TRUE cost of dv feature film making is lowered.

I'll blog about the Sony Z1P later... but I was impressed. Its a very good choice for zero-budget projects. I'm considering using it as a b-roll in my next music video, cause I think it'd intercut well (enough) with the cinealta... and at less than $250 to rent for a weekend... WTF not? If it gets one shot that saves your butt in the edit room, then its worth $250.