New Zealand-based Park Road Post Production and Weta Digital have signed a technology co-production agreement with Christie to work together on digital cinema production and projection advancement, especially high frame rates (HFR).

Christie will supply a combination of ‘direct to engineering’ technical support, Christie Solaria projectors and early access to prototype projection technologies, including laser projectors, that the company is developing.

As Park Road and Weta will upgrade their current facilities with Christie projectors and provide Christie with review, testing and feedback on new hardware and software developments related to high-bandwidth interfaces and HFR technology, as well as sample movie content (consistent with the content owner’s permission) for Christie to use in testing.

“The team at Park Road has a strong and long-standing relationship with Christie and we are delighted that this will continue into the future.” said Cameron Harland [pictured], General Manager, Park Road. “We hope that our joint research and knowledge exchange on high frame rates in particular will benefit filmmakers, studios, exhibitors and most importantly the movie-going audience.”

Kathy Gruzas, Chief Information Officer, Weta Digital, said “Christie shares a common vision with our facility and Park Road – that is, to be on the leading-edge of world-class developments in digital cinema – and we look forward to combining the sum total of our collective experience and knowledge to thrill cinema audiences in the upcoming, new world of 3D and HFR.”

“We are delighted to be teaming up with these two legends in the post production and visual effects world,” added Don Shaw, senior director, Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, “and look forward to pushing the envelope with Park Road and Weta on this exciting endeavour.”