A Few of Our Accomplishments

MKPE has been a driver for digital cinema since the 90's. During this time, we have consulted the best in the industry to establish and guide world class operations. We have also been instrumental in driving standardization by organizing and leading cutting-edge collaborative efforts. Below we list some of our significant accomplishments.

Rey del Poso, CEO Array's Technology, Quezon City, Philippines:
"We couldn’t have realized our dream to make Digital Cinema a reality in the Philippines without Michael. We are very thankful to have worked with him in closing the VPF deals with the studios. He's hardworking, focused, committed and walked us through every step of the process."

• First VPF Agreements for Independent Cinemas in South America
  Six studios signed for five countries in South America for DGT Cinema of Brazil, providing virtual print fee (VPF) subsidies towards US$150M in digital projection equipment. DGT, in partnership with Cinedigm, is targeting the independently-owned digital cinema screens throughout South America. We guided DGT in the operation of the deployment entity, led negotiations with the major studios, and formulated agreements with exhibitors.

• High Frame Rates (HFR)
  The press is full of stories about high frame rate movies. Michael Karagosian co-chairs the Higher Frame Rate Study Group in SMPTE, along with visual effect and cinematography experts David Stump ASC and Kommer Kleijn SBC, for the purpose of establishing minimum technology performance standards. This work will insure a solid technology base in exhibition for future high quality HFR productions.

• First VPF Agreements for the Philippines
  DCinema Alliance Corp., a division of Array's Technology, engaged with the 6 major studios for virtual print fee subsidies towards US$35M in digital projection equipment. We guided DCA through its business model development, educated it in the operation of the deployment entity, led negotiations with the major studios, and supported the launch. Thanks to DCA's work, the Philippines ranked in Screen Digest as one of the top 3 countries in percentage growth of digital cinema in 2012.

• First VPF Agreements for Ireland
  Digital Finance Limited engaged in virtual print fee deals for up to US$100M in digital projection equipment. We assisted DFL in developing its business model, led the negotiations with the major studios, and formulated its agreements with exhibitors.

• PirateEye®
  PirateEye is a camcorder detection technology first developed by defense contractor Apogen, now owned by Qinetiq. Evaluated the business plan and brokered the sale of the technology, leading to the company known today as FPSI, Inc.

• First Public Demonstration in 2005 of Digital 3-D Projection

  Inspired by Peter Jackson's vision, driven by MKPE. A collaborative effort of Texas Instruments, NuVision, and In-Three, the demonstration led to the 3-D release of Disney's Chicken Little in late 2005. This was the dawn of digital 3-D projection.

• Sprint
  Business planning, technology review, and partnership negotiations for a planned $100M rollout of terrestrial distribution infrastructure for the distribution of digital motion pictures.

• Deluxe Laboratories

  We worked closely with Deluxe management, providing strategy guidance and market analysis in the foundation and operation of its digital cinema division.

• Elevation Partners
  We evaluated the technology of a major cinema firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange for potential purchase.

• UK Film Council's Digital Screen Network

  DCN was the first government-funded effort to install digital projectors in cinemas, initiated in 2004. Our guidance and assistance helped to make it a success.

• Cinema's first Standards for Accessibility for the Disabled

  Michael Karagosian organized and led the standards effort in SMPTE for the purpose of establishing booth-level interoperability of 3rd party accessiblity systems. We succeeded in opening the market to 3rd party manufacturers, thus driving down prices and driving up adoption. This work was supported by the National Association of Theatre Owners.

• "The Chasm"

  By studying the factors driving early sales of digital cinema technology, Michael Karagosian was first to predict that sales of digital cinema products would come to a halt in 2007, independent of the economy, and against the grain of the press.

• Security Key Management

  Conceived and drove standardization of the Facility List Message in 2005, an important step toward managing the delivery of security keys to cinemas.

• The DCP (Digital Cinema Package)

  Organized and led the collaborative effort of Avica, EVS, and Grass Valley to define the Digital Cinema Package (DCP) in 2001. Proposed and chaired SMPTE's digital cinema packaging effort, leading to the distribution format now used in tens of thousands of cinemas around the world. Michael Karagosian gave the first industry presentation on digital cinema packaging at the SMPTE/NAB Digital Cinema Summit in 2002.

• NATO's Digital Cinema System Requirements

  Conceived and led the collaboration of US exbibitors in the development of this important document. It remains the only openly published set of requirements for digital cinema written from the operator's point-of-view, and is available at the NATO web site.