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Biffen's Three Curved Screens
It's Biffen, and it's Curved - 70mm is planned for all screens
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The 70mm Newsletter
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Written
by: Thomas Hauerslev |
Date:
05.10.2009 |
Entrance
to Biffen. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
Maybe the readers of in70mm.com are familiar with the "Biffen" cinema in
Denmark. Originally opened 1. April 1992, the independent cinema was
very popular among it's audience.
Biffen closed in May 2009, but only a few weeks until the grand
reopening of a new "Biffen" in the old powerplant "Nordkraft" by the
harbour in Aalborg, Denmark.
70mm with magnetic sound and DTS sound, will be installed in screen A
later in 2009, and maybe in all three screens in 2010. "Why not?" says
Orla. "I have DP70's and curved screens everywhere anyway, so why not
use them for 70mm?".
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More
in 70mm reading:
"The Master" goes to
Copenhagen for ONE 70mm Screening
The Biggest format
in the Smallest Cinema
The movie miracle in
Aalborg
Internet link:
Biffen
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Cinema
A. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
The new Biffen is expanded to three screens.
The cinema opened 6. June 2009, and the audience was please to see the big
curved screen.
The sound is coming from QSC amplifiers and ElectroVoice speakers. "We can
play DTS and Dolby Digital", says Orla.
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Screen
A. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
Just as the original Biffen's screen was curved, all three new screens
are also curved, as Orla Nielsen likes this shape of the screen.
"It's actually more curved than the original Biffen. I have taken Richard
Vetter's advice, and used a simple radius of two thirds from the screen.
This way projector's light is reflected straight back to where most of the
audience sits. They have a VERY bright and VERY sharp image to look at. It's
really impressive. Our audience like it a lot. It has a WOW! effect on the
audience. Film become more intense on a curve, which is something they
cannot get in any other cinema in Aalborg. Or most of Denmark for that
matter."
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Orla
Nielsen and the DP70. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
Projection room is large enough to house two DP70s. The second machine will
be added towards the end of 2009. And later on, a 2K digital projector is on
Orla's wish list.
Screens B and C, are also equipped with DP70 machines.
All three screens have Kinoton non-rewind systems. In screen A, its a ST270
for 70mm films.
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Layout
of three cinemas. Image by Thomas Hauerslev
Screen A have around 100 seats, screen B and VC, both have around 50
seats.
All three screens are connected with LAN, for future digital projection,
or any applications with network possibilities .
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Image
by Thomas Hauerslev
Screen B, still without screen in June 2009. Cinema opened in August 2009.
Orla has built everything himself since April 2009 (planning started years
ago).
"It's not unusual for me to work 14 hours every day. I have practically
lived here since April. My wife, Karin and our 12 year old son Anders, have
been here every day to help out. We know all the take-aways in the area",
Orla say's with a smile.
"Many friends have helped us to move from the old location to the new place.
They have helped us a lot with everything. Painting, electricity, install
seats, screen, lamps, projectors, etc., etc. - the list is long. We could
not have done it without their assistance."
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Image
by Thomas Hauerslev
Screen C, still without screen in June 2009. Cinema opened in August 2009.
"We have a new web page design coming up very soon. I look forward to launch
it.", says Orla.
"Most of the staff working in Biffen are volunteers. I work here every day,
and have given up my TV work [Orla is a cinematographer, ed], to spend all
my time running Biffen. And now with three screens, and Symfonien next door,
there is a lot of work to attend to. It's a life style which I enjoy, but it
is also very hard work".
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Image
by Thomas Hauerslev
The big projection windows assures a good view of the curved screen.
"Thanks to all the digital intermediates which are now used today, almost
all our prints look stunning. Just a few years ago, many 35mm prints didn't
look good as they all came from inter negatives several generations away
from the original camera negative".
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Image
by Thomas Hauerslev
Last performance, time to go home.
Biffen is renting the space from Nordkraft, the new cultural centre of
Aalborg until 2019.
Biffen was among the very first tenants to move in.
It will be exciting to follow Biffen in the coming years - not least the
first 70mm premiere.
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