EDCF GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006

June 29th 14:00

RAI Conference Centre, Amsterdam

Minutes

EDCF President, Åse Kleveland, introduced the meeting by noting it is 5 years since the formation of EDCF in June 2001. Now getting closer to implementation & entering a new phase & reality in many countries – the ugly phase. A tough phase but by having a forum to talk & exchange information will reduce the pain.

Future Direction of EDCF

AK- Time for EDCF to change as the industry enters this new phase. A lack of resources has maybe limited our effectiveness, so how will we have a larger presence? This is for you the members to decide.

Steve Perrin- what EDCF should be to make itself relevant? D-Cinema is now a reality and EDCF needs to be relevant to all sectors, needs to be more outward facing and increase its international profile. The USA is v important for everyone, EDCF has to be engaged, to deal & be a powerful voice.

The commercial aspects should be the main focus. Will vpf work internationally? Exhibitors need information. To build its worldwide stage, EDCF must consider appointing a CEO. This person will need a breadth of vision, technical knowledge & an internationally respected person. EDCF Phase two should start today

John Wilkinson – Exhibitors are late have been late getting into this but are now engaged. EDCF has the opportunity is act as co-ordinator of technical information & to make some sense of this the various offers being made to Exhibitors and to help them make the best decision. The smaller operators will have problems. How will we service the whole European industry eg how to deal with non-DCI product. Jpeg, mpeg dual servers are now being built following pressure from EDCF. The Early Adopters Guide is an excellent publication & should be reprinted. EDCF should concentrate on serving exhibition and, Yes, should appoint a chief Executive.

Michael Karagosian spoke to support the previous two speakers.

Dave Bancroft -DCI is an attempt to be international, but perhaps we need more than one format. Do we have the seeds for a war? John Wilkinson stated that DCI is everyone’s aim but with more flexibility to allow time to migrate towards it.

John Graham took the opportunity to deny the rumours in circulation that EDCF is anti-DCI

SP – emphasised that there has to be only one standard.

Angelo D’Allessio– we have now to do the job. The relationship with SMPTE is very important

Matthieu Sintas – there can only be one standard and we need to support those who need help to achieve this.

Denis Kelly – We have to have the Europeans under the same umbrella as people in the USA. EDCF has to play a role in this to support our own to avoid divergence

Gwendal Auffret– D-C will work if it is standardised, and note that current, traditional cinema always delivers on 35mm even if shot on other formats, so a similar model will work for Digital Cinema.

Kees Ryninks – we must make provisions to ensure that no one is left out. Cinemanet could not have started at 2k but used cheaper format to make a start and is now now migrating towards 2k, jpeg etc

Wendy Aylsworth thanked EDCF for being around; it has created a channel of communication. The concept that jpeg is expensive needs investigation to look at the reality of this statement. All production starts with raw images & then we compress. Convert into jpeg and deliver to any projector. Technologists now need to step back & allow others to take things forward.

Jan v Dommelen noted that there is a war because exhibitors want to stay bosses in their own theatres. Compliance work in now in progress and an Executive should be put in place to co-ordinate so that UNIC & EDCF are saying the same things, which is not always the case. JvD also expressed concern about how vpf will work especially difficult for smaller the smaller operator. Perhaps EDCF has a theoretical approach not practical enough. Dealing with Studios is difficult so need support of EDCF in this.

Charles Sandbank – peel away the layers and find the common core. EDCF tries to be inclusive, SMPTE does listen and is an international organisation.

AK – all technology changes involve periods of difficulty. Cannot be to rigid to start with. There is Board consensus to strengthen the organisation.

EDCF Board 2006 –8

JG – explained that there are 7 seats guaranteed on the Board for the 5 founding organisations plus UNIC & FIAD as agreed by the membership at IBC 2004. This leaves 8 seats for election by the Subscribing members. Because there were 8 nominations for the 8 electable seats there is no need for a vote & the new Board is:-

Jean MenuCNC

Matthieu SintasCST

Charlie SandbankDTI

John GrahamBKSTS

TbcSFI

Antoine VirenqueFIAD

Jean-Pierre DecretteUNIC

Anders GeertsenDFI

Kees RyninksNFF

Kommer KleinImago

Angelo D’AlessioCDG

Bernard CollardXDC

Paul CollardAscent Media

Peter WilsonHDDC

John WilkinsonCEA

The new Board will now select a new President to replace Åse who is leaving this industry to return to her roots in the music Industry in her native Norway.

CS – Thanked Åse her for special contribution. Has persuaded many to join and held political influence on behalf of EDCF. thanks & admiration.

AK – new board will have new challenge; need to solve the problem in Brussels who think we are to friendly with USA. It would be a waste if Politics should intervene in a “dumb” way EDCF will have to put more time into thi.

Technical module

Peter Wilson reported a well attended & very productive meeting the previous day. A guide for mastering for DCI chain to be written – broad understanding needed. A group has been formed including US contributors. Interop between levels 2 & 3. How do these levels co-exist? Make a practical evaluation of how to get non dci content into your cinema.

New group for Archives is being created but still seeking a team leader; two main issues - archiving for DI, access to archives

Frame-rate proposal has been presented to smpte who will now form a study group. The various Interoperability groups have agreed to work together where possible under EDCF leadership.

Training for D-C

Angelo presented an EDCF proposal for training professionals;-

Aim: improving the management skills of European audiovisual teachers and professionals, as well as adapting their technical and management skills to the new Technical and operational model required by D-Cinema.

Among the specific interventions of “EDCF Media 2007”:

• Improve the quality of education and training systems by helping structures and processes and providing better training to teachers, trainers and professionals;

Align education and training more with labor market needs through emphasis on vocational aspects of study programs in many organizations and closer cooperation between educational institutions and the business sector to meet their needs;

• identifying and anticipating competences and qualifications needs;

• recognizing and validating competences and qualifications;

• information, support and guidance;

• promote learning at the workplace;

(The complete presentation will be available on the EDCF web-site)

Nordic Project

Patrick Von Sychowski gave an overview of the Interoperability project in Norway info at

What EDCF has meant for us – a bridge eg into the USA

EDCF is a forum, which builds a level of trust and has empowered us

Need to reach out to exhibitors and not allow any gatekeepers – need more individual exhibitors involved with EDCF. Members should aim to bring 3 exhibitors to the next EDCF meeting - BOE (bring your own exhibitor)

AK thanked everyone for attending & closed the meeting at 15:30

JG

13/7/06