Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB) announced today that the world premiere of 3ality Digital Entertainment’s U2 3D, distributed by National Geographic Entertainment, will be shown in Dolby® 3D Digital Cinema on Saturday, January 19, at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Dolby 3D’s unique technology provides an incredible visual experience and allows Sundance Film Festival organizers to quickly transition screenings from standard 2D format to 3D without the use of silver screens.
“Dolby 3D is an ideal solution for the Sundance Film Festival, as it allows us to easily switch between 3D and 2D films. Since we have a full slate to screen, we cannot afford to devote one theatre entirely to 3D,” said Sarah Pierce, Director of Operations, Sundance Film Festival. “By using the white screens already in place, we can shift between formats within minutes.”
Dolby 3D Digital Cinema uses a unique color filtering technology licensed from Infitec that provides realistic color reproduction and extremely sharp images without the use of silver screens, delivering a great 3D experience to every seat in the house. Furthermore, the Dolby 3D filter wheel inside the projector easily moves out of the light path when switching from 3D to 2D digital cinema presentations.
“We are delighted that the premiere of U2 3D at Sundance will be shown in Dolby 3D,” said David Franks, U2 3D Visual Effects & Imaging Supervisor, 3ality Digital Systems. “Dolby 3D preserves the movie’s image integrity and provides a sharp and vibrant picture, so audience members will actually feel like they are at the U2 concert.”
The Dolby 3D filter wheel is compatible with Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) compliant projectors featuring Texas Instruments’ Digital Light Processing™ (DLP®) digital cinema technology and is inserted into the light path before the image is formed, delivering a stable and sharp picture. Additionally, Dolby’s eco-conscious solution provides patrons with high-quality, reusable 3D glasses for an enhanced and environmentally friendly 3D viewing experience.
“We’re proud to be selected for the premiere of 3ality’s U2 3D at the Sundance Film Festival,” said John Iles, Vice President, Cinema, Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby has worked with Sundance for many years by supplying sound support for screenings, so providing our latest 3D technology this year is a natural extension of our commitment to the festival.”
More than 100 Dolby 3D screens are expected to be available to play U2 3D worldwide by the time of its release. To date, Dolby 3D has presented titles such as Walt Disney Pictures’ Meet the Robinsons, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D and Paramount Pictures/Warner Bros.’ Beowulf. Upcoming Dolby 3D presentations include Fly Me to the Moon (nWave Pictures), Hannah Montana (Disney), and Journey 3D (New Line). For a complete list of Dolby Digital Cinema and Dolby 3D Digital Cinema locations, please visit www.dolby.com/consumer/motion_picture/ddcinemas/.
About Dolby 3D Digital Cinema
Dolby 3D Digital Cinema technology, in conjunction with digital cinema projectors featuring Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology, provides exhibitors with an efficient and flexible solution designed to deliver a superior 3D experience. Dolby 3D utilizes standard white screens, so exhibitors don’t have the added cost or the quality compromise associated with the use of silver screens, delivering a great 3D experience from every seat in the house. Additionally, Dolby Laboratories provides cost-effective and environmentally friendly, passive, reusable 3D glasses. Dolby’s 3D solution uses a unique full-spectrum color-filter technology licensed from Infitec that provides realistic color reproduction and extremely sharp images.
About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) develops and delivers products and technologies that make the entertainment experience more realistic and immersive. For more than four decades, Dolby has been at the forefront of defining high-quality audio and surround sound in cinema, broadcast, home audio systems, cars, DVDs, headphones, games, televisions, and personal computers. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.
Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, features, reliability, and capabilities of Dolby 3D Digital Cinema; the potential benefits and cost savings that studios, exhibitors, and audiences may derive from Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems; the number of screens in which Dolby will install Dolby 3D Digital systems prior to the release of U2 3D; the presentations expected to be shown on Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems; and the anticipated market acceptance of Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems, are "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations. The following important factors, without limitation, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: risks that Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems may not perform as anticipated; risks that the adoption and installation of Dolby 3D Digital Cinema, as well as the timing of such adoption and installation, by exhibitors may not occur as expected; risks associated with building market acceptance of and demand for digital cinema and 3D digital cinema in general, and for Dolby 3D Digital Cinema systems in particular, by filmmakers, studios, cinema operators, and audiences; competition risks for digital and 3D theatre technologies; rapid changes in technical requirements for movie theatrical playback technologies specifically and entertainment technologies for movies in general; risks associated with developing proprietary technologies and products based on open standards; risks associated with the health of the motion picture industry in general; risks associated with developing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with industry participants; and other risks detailed in Dolby’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the risks identified under the section captioned “Risk Factors” in its most recent Periodic Report on Form 10-Q or 10-K. Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Digital Light Processing and DLP are trademarks of Texas Instruments. S08/19137 DLB-G
Contacts:
Joshua Gershman, 415-645-5611
joshua.gershman@dolby.com
