J.A. DeSève Cinema goes high-tech
Film studies students are in for a special treat this fall as the J.A. DeSève Cinema will have been transformed into a cutting-edge cinema. With improved audiovisual, sound and lighting technology, the facility will provide users with increased options and flexibility.
Renovations at the theatre, located in the J.W. McConnell Library Building, will take place from June to August, with the exception of July 18 to August 6 when the cinema will play host to the FanTasia International Film Festival.
Going Digital
The theatre, which has been equipped to screen in the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) format since 2011 when a high-definition 2K video projector was purchased, will go fully digital this summer with the replacement of the theatre’s 20-year-old screen which will meet DCP standards. DCP is the standard convention accepted worldwide for distributing and projecting movies in a digital format and is also the most widely compatible format used by theatres worldwide. The cinema can also accommodate 35 and 16 mm formats.
“The technology needed to evolve according to the needs of the students,” says Katie Gilkes, cinemas manager in Instructional and Information Technology Services. “Students need to be able to screen their films with the latest technology,” she adds, noting that Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema will be moving to a fully digital workflow for the fall term. The theatre is used mainly for film studies classes from September to early April, but is available to clients on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, as well as throughout the summer.
Sound and Lighting
Users will also benefit from a vastly improved sound system as new panelled (acoustic) walls and surround speakers are to be installed.
A new energy-efficient LED lighting system will allow for much more control and flexibility as different areas of the cinema can be lit simultaneously, including the podium, stage and audience. “It will be more user-friendly,” says Gilkes, noting that high-profile events have not typically been booked in the cinema due to insufficient lighting for photography and video.
Out with the red, in with the blue: Seating and Wireless
Not only will the colour scheme of the theatre’s 160 seats change, they will be equipped with self-storing writing tablets as well as plug sockets to hook up electronic devices such as laptops and cameras. Consequently, wireless coverage will get a boost as numerous access points are added to the room.
Additional wheelchair-accessible space has also been allocated, and new carpeting and podiums will be installed.
Audio/video feeds
Messy wiring will be a thing of the past with the installation of a forward-thinking cabling schema, allowing for an audio and video feed at any point in the room. “This will increase the functionality of the room,” says Gilkes, who notes that the space will now be able to better accommodate webcasting, event recording and simultaneous translation directly from the projection booth.
“The design was developed with an eye on future technology. It allows us to stay current with the needs of students and to continually update our technology.”
Related links:
• J.A. DeSève Cinema web page and online booking
• Instructional and Information Technology Services
• Facilities Management
• Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema
• Fantasia International Film Festival