Christie Donates Technology and Services to USC School of Cinematic Arts

New York, NY, September 12, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Christie®, a global leader in advanced cinema technologies and visual display solutions, continued its technology partnership recently with the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts (USC SCA) by launching a state-of-the-art cinema experience at USC’s showcase theater, the Eileen Norris Theatre. Christie, through a generous donation of equipment and installation services, will be the sole provider of all cinematic and audio equipment within the Eileen Norris Theatre, and will be working together with USC SCA in enhancing visual technologies, specifically cinematic ones.

The Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre is a 341-seat motion picture theater set within the campus of USC and adjacent to the Cinematic Arts Complex. It is home to some of the School of Cinematic Arts’ largest classes and is the primary theater often used for large guest movie premieres and screenings of major Hollywood and International films at USC.

The Norris Theatre has undergone a total renovation of its projection and audio equipment, and with the help of Christie’s Professional Services team, will now showcase movies with the most immersive projection and audio system available. Highlighting the theater will be the Christie Solaria Series DLP® CP4230 4K projector. This 4K series projector is prepared for the next generation of digital cinema, giving audiences the best visual experience possible. The theater is now also outfitted with a complete Christie Vive Audio system, utilizing over 40 different speakers, sub-woofers, and amps. The Vive S218 and S215 subwoofer, LA3 and LAC3 line array speakers, as well as the LA45 and LA4C speakers are all installed and complement the theater’s Dolby Atmos® installation.

Christie Vive is specially configured to meet Dolby Atmos® sound technology requirements. Filmmakers use Dolby Atmos to place and move sounds anywhere in the movie theater, including overhead, to make film audiences feel as if they are inside the movie and not merely watching. Altogether, Christie has delivered to USC a solution to drive a captivating and unique experience that will give theatrical viewers a unique and truly immersive movie experience.

Commenting on the Eileen Norris Theatre installation, Eric Furie, Senior Technologist, USC CSA, said, “Christie and our staff are to be congratulated on their support, input, and hard work in making the Norris Theatre into such an extraordinary space. The theater and the content displayed in it have never looked or sounded better; it’s truly impressive!”

Christie’s CEO Jack Kline had a vision to partner with the prestigious cinema school, located in Los Angeles, near Christie’s headquarters, and cultivate a relationship through generous giving. Always wanting to give back, Mr. Kline believes that USC is the perfect educational environment in which to do that. The students in the School of Cinematic Arts are using cutting-edge technology in the creation of current content, film and visual experiences, and Christie’s equipment will be the foundation for that.  

“Christie’s innovative culture, manifested through the cinema services, audio and visual technologies donated to USC, will complement the already vast knowledge and experience of the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ educators,” said Christie CEO Jack Kline. “Combined, the tools and expertise will inspire and equip future film makers to recreate humanity’s stories in the most lifelike and engaging ways possible.

"The USC School of Cinematic Arts is one of the top-ranked film schools in the world so it's only fitting they have selected Dolby Atmos for the Eileen Norris Theatre," said Doug Darrow, Senior Vice President, Dolby Laboratories. "Now the entire USC community including student and Hollywood filmmakers, many of which have embraced Dolby Atmos, will benefit from the premium quality Dolby delivers."

Christie has been working with USC SCA in a philanthropic effort to provide not only current cinematic projection equipment, but also cutting-edge technological visual solutions for the school’s recently constructed Interactive Media Building. Through the working relationship with the university, Christie plans to further its donation efforts and become the primary technology provider for the school.

About The USC School of Cinematic Arts

The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts is one of the leading film schools in the world. Founded in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929 over 85 years ago, the USC School of Cinematic Arts has fueled and mirrored the growth of entertainment as an industry and an art form. The School offers comprehensive programs in directing, producing, writing, critical studies, animation and digital arts, production, interactive media and games, all backed by a broad liberal arts education and taught by leading practitioners in each field. Its more than 11,000 alumni are among the world’s most distinguished animators, scholars, teachers, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, sound experts and industry executives. Since 1973 not a year has passed without an alumnus or alumna being nominated for an Academy Award. https://cinema.usc.edu/

About Christie®

Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual technologies company and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio, Inc., Japan, (JP:6925). Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the world’s most advanced projectors and complete system displays, Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world. From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images. Visit www.christiedigital.com.