MUMBAI: GDC servers have been deployed in the screen restoration program for London’s Hammersmith Apollo. London-based Future Projections was tasked to carry out the project work in which GDC servers (SA-2100A and SA-2100T) and Barco DP2000 projectors were deployed.

Curzon Cinemas, who will be operating the Hammersmith Apollo venue technically, picks GDC servers as they are the only one that can meet the storage requirement at Hammersmith Apollo. “The limited storage per screen offered by alternative options means that we’d be loading and reloading DCPs often but there is no such problem with GDC servers which offer 2TB drive capacity per screen and 8TB show library,” said Curzon technical manager Mick Steven.“GDC also wins our vote for the ease of use, competitive pricing and excellent technical support that come with its servers.”

With the completion of its restoration this year, Hammersmith Apollo now boasts the largest screen in central London, the largest capacity (5000) of any cinema in the UK, and complements the theatre’s wide variety of music, theatre and comedy offerings with the potential for movie premieres, screenings and corporate events. “The Hammersmith Apollo project presents a unique technical challenge to us with a multitude of special requirements,” said Future Projections’ Peter Hall. “The major ones include providing a premier standard digital cinema solution that allows film premieres bigger and better than anything in the West End, usage flexibility for both corporate and theatre productions, and future 3D support. Besides, any work that may interfere with the venue’s predominant rock-n-roll use or alter the building (currently carries a Grade 2 Star listing from English Heritage) is also strongly prohibited. GDC’s digital cinema solution has all the answers for this project and we are very happy with the results.”

“It is indeed an esteemed honor for GDC to be associated with Hammersmith Apollo, a legendary entertainment icon of London,” said GDC Technology founder and CEO  Dr. Man-Nang Chong. “This is our fifth installation project in the UK and we are glad to see GDC steadily making inroads into the European market. We are delighted to be working with such high profile clients as the Apollo, Working Title Films and Curzon Cinemas. Working with a trusted partner like Future Projections gives us the confidence to achieve wider market acceptance of GDC servers in Europe in tandem with the rise of digital conversion there.”