Cinemas Guzzo Choose Christie for Digital Cinema Projectors

Nov. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- Les Cinémas Guzzo (“Guzzo”), one of Canada’s leading independent chains and the largest privately owned cinema chain in Quebec, is going 100 percent digital with its recent purchase of projectors, support and services from Christie®. The contract includes the Christie CP2000ZX, Christie CP2000-SB, Christie CP2210, Christie CP2200, and Christie CP2300 projectors. It also includes the upgrading of 27 screens to the Christie CP4220 and Christie CP4230 4K projectors.

With installation managed in-house – supported by Christie – the conversion of all 142 Guzzo screens is planned for completion by April 2012.

“In addition to the terrific image quality offered by digital projection, the conversion will give us more flexibility in the types of presentation we can offer, such as 3D and 2D, and more personalized pre-show and alternative content,” says Vincenzo Guzzo, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Cinémas Guzzo. “It will also help us decrease booth labor cost.

“With Christie, we get first-class service and great after-sale support. It’s also a bonus that their manufacturing is centered in Canada, since that means few border-crossing issues. We’ve been with Christie from our first installs in 2008, so we know they’re the most reliable choice for this project.”

Dave Muscat, senior director of sales, Christie Canada, said, “Christie is honored to help Cinémas Guzzo make this pivotal transition to digital, with best-in-class product and flexible, customized service. Christie is committed to meeting the needs of all exhibitors, including independents. We have earned more than 85 percent of Canada's digital cinema exhibition market through our commitment to long-term partnership with our customers.”  

Services as Well as Projectors Included
Guzzo has committed to working with Christie Managed Services in support of sourcing, integrating and validating hardware that enables Managed Services to remotely monitor and manage Guzzo’s digital cinema projection environments. Included with the hardware will be Library Management Servers that hold the feature films, advertisements, trailers and other digital content for playing on multiple screens.

In addition, Cinémas Guzzo will use Christie ACT™, a theater automation controller to automate presentations in some of its theaters. Christie ACT translates cues from connected devices to control most theater equipment including lighting, curtains, sound, masking and projectors. Christie ACT is accessible on any networked computer, laptop or handheld device using any web browser.

About Les Cinémas Guzzo
Part of the Quebec cinema scene since 1974, the family-owned Cinémas Guzzo was founded by Angelo Guzzo, who for many years led the struggle for independent movie theatre owners to obtain the right to project first-run movies, thus opening the way for others. Angelo Guzzo and son Vincenzo continue to work as a team to bring moviegoers the best that cinema has to offer.  The company has more than 140 screens, mainly in the Montreal area, and supports environmental cancer research through the Guzzo family Foundation. For more information, visit www.cinemasguzzo.com.

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Christie Digital Systems Canada 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.