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SINGAPORE: Hold on to your seats! More 3D movies are coming to Singapore theatres.
With movie tickets snapped up at the recent 3DX Festival where a dozen 3D movies were screen, the Media Development Authority (MDA) and movie-houses are moving quickly to meet the unprecedented buzz and excitement over 3D.
Opening this week at the major movie-houses Cathy Cineplexes, Eng Wah Cinemas, Golden Village Multiplex and Shaw Organization which have geared up their theatres for 3D films, will be Disney animated feature Bolt in 3D.
Singapore will be the first territory in the world to have a national theatrical roll-out of a digital 3D film.
“Movie-going has long been considered as an ‘escape from reality’. 3D technology takes this one step further, allowing the audience to totally immerse themselves in an experience where it comes alive. Movie-going becomes brand new again, updated and refreshed,” says Mr. Suhaimi Rafdi, CEO of Cathay Organisation Holdings Limited.
With each of the four major cinema chains now able to screen 2D and 3D digital cinematic content, movie-goers can look forward to a wider variety of shows in the future.
According to the Managing Director of EW Private Limited, Goh Min Yen, the exclusive screening of Bolt in November during the 3DX Festival saw Eng Wah being inundated with calls at the Box Office and Corporate office.
"With the third dimension, movie-going is more than a visual treat" said Ms Goh who is planning to meet demand for 3D head on.
"We are well-positioned to take on any new changes in the arena of digital cinema, and we are able to effectively convert all our twenty 2K Digital halls into 3D ones, if there is a strong and sustainable demand from our customers."
With 3D theatres in place, what can audiences expect?
"We have plans to screen a plethora of 3D movies in the coming months and 2009; perhaps Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, Avatar, Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, Jonas Brothers Concert, Toy Story and Monsters and Aliens to name a few” said the Eng Wah chief.
Also in the pipeline are made in Singapore 3D films.
"The Singapore Film Commission will be co-producing Singapore’s first slate of six 3D films which is slated for pre-sales by end 2009 and in production by end March 2010" said Dr. Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer of MDA.
Driving this along will be the S$10 million 3D development fund set up to help Singapore companies develop 3D capabilities and build a community of 3D practitioners by supporting projects, production and postproduction facilities and training initiatives.
-CNA/jk/sf
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