Christie E3LH Dolby Vision Cinema Projection System Earns Prestigious Academy Award for Mike Perkins
CYPRESS, Calif – (January 11, 2024) – Christie®, a global leader in audio and visual display technologies, proudly announces that its Principal Product Developer, Mike Perkins, has been honored with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award in Scientific and Engineering for his pivotal role in designing and developing the Christie E3LH projection system. Perkins, a veteran with over 25 years at Christie, led a team of engineers specializing in projection systems, light sources, and chip sets, working in collaboration with the team at Brass Roots Technologies, which Christie acquired in 2022.
The Christie E3LH Dolby Vision Cinema Projection System, recognized for its groundbreaking contributions to the entertainment industry, is the first projector to seamlessly integrate high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG) technologies. This innovative system, developed in partnership with Dolby Laboratories, has been installed in over 300 commercial and non-commercial cinema screens across 15 countries. Notably, it can function as a single projector head or in a dual projector head configuration, offering 3D stereoscopic presentations with full brightness and simultaneous imaging to both eyes, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
Beyond its technological advancements, the Christie E3LH has played a crucial role in reshaping the moviegoing experience. Its RGB pure laser illumination expands the color gamut beyond the standard DCI color space, while on-screen black levels have seen a significant improvement, jumping from the typical 2000:1 to an impressive 1,000,000:1. This has resulted in true black portions of a scene, providing audiences with a more immersive cinematic experience.
Mike Perkins, recognized for his innovative work, has been instrumental in leading the engineering team at Christie. His vision and expertise, coupled with the collaboration with Brass Roots Technologies, have paved the way for the development of technology that redefines the moviegoing experience.
This award marks the third Academy Award® for Christie, having previously received two awards for technical achievements. In 1983, Christie and LaVezzi Machine Works received the award for the development of the first completely sealed, maintenance-free 35mm projector intermittent film transport device, branded the Christie Ultramittent®. In 1998, Christie won its second Academy Award for the development of the ELF 1-C Endless Loop Film Transport and Storage System.
“This coveted award is a testament to the skilled engineering team at Christie. I’m extremely proud of everyone’s dedication to this important project and thank them for developing this award-winning innovative cinema projection system,” says Koji Naito, chief executive officer, Christie.
“We’re thrilled that Mike has been recognized for his innovative work that has – and will – continue to shape the cinema industry. With over 25 years at Christie, Mike’s vision and expertise, in collaboration with the cinema team, have led to the development of technology that has truly redefined the moviegoing experience,” says Brian Claypool, executive vice president, Cinema, Christie.
Perkins will officially receive the award during the ceremony on February 23 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California. This accolade marks the third Academy Award for Christie, solidifying its legacy of technical achievements in the cinema industry.
For more information about Christie and its revolutionary visual and audio technologies, please visit www.christiedigital.com.
About Christie®
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP: 6925). Christie revolutionized the movie industry with the launch of digital cinema projection, and since 1929 has embraced innovation and broken many technology barriers. Our technology, paired with the support of professional services to design, deploy and maintain installations, inspires exceptional experiences. Christie solutions are used around the world, from the largest mega-events to the smallest boardrooms, and include advanced RGB pure laser projection, SDVoE technology, content management, image processing, LED and LCD displays.