Hollywood
Dolby Vision to debut on Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’ and ‘Inside Out’
MUMBAI: Disney’s Tomorrowland, which releases in theatres on 22 May, 2015, and Disney Pixar’s Inside Out, which releases on 19 June, 2015, will be the first Dolby Vision titles to be shown at Dolby Cinema locations around the globe.
In addition, Disney’s The Jungle Book, due on 15 April, 2016, will also be presented in Dolby Vision, with more titles to be announced.
Dolby Cinema, featuring Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, is a premium cinema offering for exhibitors and moviegoers that combines spectacular image and sound technologies with inspired design to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event.
“Dolby is thrilled to collaborate with Disney and Pixar to push the cinematic boundaries through the powerful combination of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Cinema delivers an unforgettable cinema experience that transports moviegoers into the heart of the action,” said Dolby Laboratories president and CEO Kevin Yeaman.
Dolby Cinema begins with the filmmaker’s vision—using the full storytelling capabilities that Dolby offers in image and sound production to transform the way movies are made. Combined with state-of-the-art image, sound, and acoustic capabilities, the movie comes alive to deliver cinema in its purest form.
“The Dolby Cinema experience is a very exciting prospect for both filmmakers and film fans. Dolby has been so vital to the advancement of cinema sound, it makes complete sense for them to turn their attention to enhancing and improving the quality of motion picture images as well. Our team was delighted to collaborate with Dolby, and we are proud thatTomorrowland is the first film to be presented in their stellar new Dolby Vision process. The brightness and clarity of the images, yet with richness and detail in the blacks—WOW. The picture quality, especially in 4K laser projection, is nothing short of stunning,” said Tomorrowland director Brad Bird.
Dolby Cinema features the Dolby Vision projection system, which uses state-of-the-art optics and image processing, to deliver high dynamic range with enhanced color technology and a contrast ratio that far exceeds that of any other image technology on the market today. The result is a richer, more detailed viewing experience that delivers strikingly vivid and realistic images that make viewers feel like they are in the movie’s world. Dolby Cinema also includes the award-winning Dolby sound technology, Dolby Atmos, which moves audio around the theatre, even overhead, with amazing richness and depth. Dolby Atmos debuted in 2012 on Disney Pixar’s Brave.
“Our studio and our filmmakers put so much into creating high-quality, immersive experiences for audiences, and that includes using the latest, cutting-edge technology to enhance the stories we tell. Disney has been a longtime collaborator of Dolby, and we’re excited for the continued storytelling possibilities that technologies like Dolby Cinema deliver,” said The Walt Disney Studios EVP – theatrical distribution Dave Hollis.
Hollywood
WBD sets April 23 vote on $110bn Paramount Skydance merger
Investor approval key step, but regulators loom over mega media deal
NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery has set April 23 as the date for shareholders to vote on its proposed $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, marking a crucial step in one of the biggest media deals in recent years.
The all-cash transaction offers WBD shareholders $31 per share, a hefty 147 per cent premium to its unaffected stock price, signalling strong intent to push the deal across the finish line. The company’s board has unanimously backed the merger and is urging investors to vote in favour.
Even if shareholders give the green light, the deal is far from done. Regulators in the United States and Europe are expected to scrutinise the merger closely, weighing concerns around competition and potential price impacts for consumers.
To keep investors on side, WBD has built in a safety net. If the deal is not completed by September 30, shareholders will receive a quarterly “ticking fee” of $0.25 per share until closure.
The proposed merger would significantly reshape the media landscape, combining the assets of Warner Bros. Discovery with those linked to Paramount Global and Skydance Media. It would also cement the growing influence of David Ellison, who has been steering Skydance’s aggressive expansion strategy.
“The WBD Board has been guided by the singular principle of securing a transaction that maximises the value of our iconic assets and delivers as much certainty as possible to our shareholders,” said Warner Bros. Discovery board chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr.. “This historic transaction will expand consumer choice and create new opportunities for creative talent.”
Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer David Zaslav added that the company is working closely with its counterpart to close the deal and unlock value for stakeholders.
With investor backing likely but regulatory hurdles ahead, the proposed merger is shaping up to be a defining moment for the global entertainment industry, where scale, content and competition are increasingly intertwined.
