Based in the former Marin County, Ca. home of George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, The Kerner Group was acquired last year by British entrepreneur Eric Edmeades, who is now CEO and majority owner. Edmeades co-founded Bristol, England-based mobile computing and wireless networking firm The ITR Group, where he was Managing Director for nine years before the company was sold to private buyers in 2006.

Since 2006, the Kerner team has been developing camera, camera rig, and optical technologies for 3D technologies, such as Kernercam 3D capture systems, beam-splitter rigs of varying sizes, available for broadcast or cinematic applications. The Kernercam 3D system was used in the production of actor David Arquette’s short 3D film, “The Butler’s In Love,” which will open the 6th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival, August 5, at the Director’s Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles.
Japan’s NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc., is using Kernercam 3D systems for sports and entertainment programming, and one is being used by the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, based in Vancouver, CN.

The restructured company in San Rafael, Ca. now offers special effects, emerging 3D technologies and production services, model creation, and a variety of problem solving, applied research and prototyping services.

To oversee the restructured company, Edmeades first hired former 20-year Dolby Laboratories executive Tim Partridge, who led the development of Dolby 3D and for 10 years worked as a Dolby surround sound consultant on more than 100 films, including “Goldeneye,” “Willow,” and “The Fisher King.” Among the many positioned he held at Dolby was Executive Vice President of Products and Technologies.
Other Kerner staff includes:
* Brian Gernand, Senior Creative Director; oversees the newly formed KernerFX unit. Gernand began working for ILM in 1986 as a model-maker and his many awards and nominations for his film and TV work include VES, Saturn, and Satellite Awards.

* Greg Beaumont, Engineer, Kerner 3D Technologies unit. 25 years in ILM’s camera engineering department; co-designer of the new Kernercam 3D System.

* Geoff Heron: Practical Effects Supervisor. 20-year leading practical effects supervisor and special effects technician with credits that include “Avatar,” “Transformers,” all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, “Star Wars: Phantom Menace,” and “Men in Black.”

* Rose Duignan, Executive Producer; contact person for all productions that come into The Kerner Group. 20-years at ILM as Production Supervisor and Director of Marketing. Former executive producer of ABC animated TV series; Director of Marketing for Tippett Studio and Rhythm and Hues; Development Director for both TV and film at The Osmond Company.

Regarding The Kerner Group’s restructuring, Mr. Edmeades said, “There are very few companies, if any, that can offer their clients the same level of creativity in the areas of production, 3D technologies, realistic visual effects, and model design that The Kerner Group can provide. Our team has a 30-year history of producing the highest quality content and technology possible for the entertainment industry. We are now leveraging that expertise and success to further expand The Kerner Group…”

Among the services at the new Kerner:

* KernerFX (previously ILM’s “Model Shop”): Physical effects for film, TV, and commercial production industries. Credits include “Terminator Salvation” (Visual Effects Society Award nomination) and the 2009 “Star Trek.” Kerner’s action miniatures are often more than 2,500 square feet in size, and have included the 35-foot long model of the “Black Pearl” pirate ship for all three “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

* Kerner 3D Technologies: ILM’s engineers designed and built the “Empire Camera” (for “The Empire Strikes Back”) — a super high speed camera that uses the Vistavision format. This camera is available only through The Kerner Group.

* Kerner Studios: Several fully equipped (indoor and outdoor) stages, camera (2D and 3D) equipment. State-of-the-art production space, equipment, personnel skills, and decades of experience.

MasterImage 3D announced today that CJ CGV is converting all the rest of its 160 3D theaters to its digital 3D cinema systems and that MasterImage 3D has also installed four systems in Korea’s Lotte Cinema in Suncheon.

These installations, combined with existing systems at Primus Cinema, Ya Woo Ri Cinemas and more theatres across Korea, bring MasterImage’s total to 175 of the country’s estimated 250 digital 3D screens, more than 70% of Korea’s total 3D exhibition market share.

CGV Manager Sung woo Kang said, “MasterImage 3D’s system offers an outstanding value compared to other products on the market, and it is simple to install.”

CJ CGV recently opened a 3D screen in L.A. for advancing into the U.S. market.

MasterImage 3D, which also recently entered the New Zealand exhibition market with the sale of its first digital 3D cinema system to the nation’s largest multiplex franchise, Palmerston North-based Downtown Cinemas, says it has nearly doubled its worldwide installation in the past eighteen months and has installed more than 1,800 systems in 40 countries worldwide — approximately 400 in the US, 770 in Europe and 700 in Asia and the rest of the world.

“Exhibitors are recognizing that our ownership-based model and passive-glasses approach offers them a different, and often more attractive business proposition than competitive systems,” said Younghoon Lee, founder, chairman and CEO of MasterImage 3D. “From our US headquarters and offices in Asia and Europe we are aggressively converting theatre markets all over the world.”

CJ CGV was established as a joint venture of CJ Group of Korea, Golden Harvest of Hong Kong and Village Roadshow of Australia, and is now independently managed by CJ Group.

– By Scott Hettrick

The stock, which opened at $16 on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RLD, closed Friday at $19.51, up nearly 22%. TThe price spiked as high as $21 when trading began and sold 12.5 million shares, 1.75 million more than expected, at a price above the range of $13 to $15 it had set.

The seven-year-old RealD is the dominant player in theatrical 3D systems, especially in the U.S., and is licensing its technology for 3D in the home as well as military and academic applications.

The company has yet to turn a profit and had an operating loss of $39.7 million on net revenue of $150 million in the year ended March 26.

– By Scott Hettrick

The home entertainment industry promotional group will present four “Home 3D: Solutions and Strategies” panels on the second day two of the Summit, which is co-produced by The Bob Dowling Group and Unicomm, LLC, and presented in association with Variety.the 3D Entertainment Summit.

A screening of several minutes of footage from the Aug. 20 “Piranha 3D,” including the objectionable scene, will be held from 10 p.m. — 11 p.m. Thursday at the UA Regal Horton Plaza theater (475 Horton Plaza) near the San Diego Convention Center.

A Q&A panel will follow with Aja (”The Hills Have Eyes”) and other cast members as well.

– By Scott Hettrick

Anthony Hopkins of Marvel's "Thor" in 3D May 6, 2011

Marvel Studios has the honored spot as final presenting studio in the most prestigious Hall H at Comic-Con on the Saturday night (July 24) before theshow closes Sunday and will use the opportunity to talk about its first 3D movies coming in 2011, “Thor” (May 6) and “Captain America: The First Avenger” (July 22).

“Thor” director Kenneth Branagh will be on a panel with as yet unannounced cast members to discuss the movie along with “Captain America” director Joe Johnston.

Only the visual effects for both films are being created in 3D, with the 2D live-action scenes being converted in post-production.

– By Scott Hettrick‬‪

Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in the Final on ABC was the most-watched Men’s World Cup game ever with an 8.1 household rating and 15,545,000 viewers for the two-hour game window (2:30-5 p.m. ET). The U.S.-Ghana match on June 26 that eliminated the U.S. drew the most households all-time with 9,455,000, and second most viewers with 14,863,000.

In 64 matches, the ESPN networks (ESPN/ESPN2/ABC) averaged a 2.1 U.S. household rating (up 31% from 2006), and 3,261,000 viewers (up 41%).

Through the semifinals last week (62 matches), an estimated 105 million people tuned into ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 during the 2010 World Cup, a 17% increase from the 90 million people who tuned into the World Cup on the three networks through the same point in 2006.

Figures for the ESPN 3D broadcast are not available.

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup was an overwhelming success for ESPN,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. “We experienced record viewership across multiple platforms, including television, broadband, online and ESPN Audio…”

Meanwhile, Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. carried the Final to select Cinedigm Certified theatres around the United States and Canada for the first-ever cinematic live 3D broadcast of the world’s most popular sporting event final. Close to 50& of locations sold out multiple screens and all saw per-customer grosses, according to the distributor.

Sensio Technologies Inc.’s 3D technology enabled soccer fans all over the world to view 25 FIFA World Cup matches live, in 3D at more than 4,500 theatrical screenings in 475 cinemas in 33 countries during the 30 days of the championship.

“The global delivery aspect of this worldwide event from South Africa is unlike anything else in its scope,” said Sensio president and CEO Nicholas Routhier. “It’s testimony to the great working relationship we have with our partners, IDC, Cinedigm and Eutelsat…”

“The success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup proves that live 3D events constitute a worthwhile market and, through the (new Sensio 3D Live Global Network web)site, event-producers and their distribution networks can reach audiences on a global scale,” said Richard LaBerge, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.”

– By Scott Hettrick

First, Marchon purchased San Diego-based MicroVision Optical 3D — the 3D assets of MicroVision Optical. Marchon is using those assets to launch a new company called Marchon3D. Finally, Marchon announced a deal today with Beverly Hills, Ca.-based 3D systems and technology provider RealD Inc. to use the RealD brand on its new passive polarized 3D glasses.

Marchon 3D glasses

Marchon3D eyewear features a portfolio of patent-pending circular polarized 3D lens technologies featuring unique, curved lens design.

RealD’s passive glasses system is the most widespread in U.S. theaters. Most home systems use an active-shutter system for 3DTV, Blu-ray players, and computers using the Nvidia 3D Vision software.

David Johnson will serve as President of Marchon 3D, which will distribute its RealD-compatible 3D glasses in cinemas, retail locations, e-commerce sites and through electronic equipment manufacturers worldwide. It will also market designer 3D eyewear and a prescription 3D lens directly to eyecare professionals.

Parent Marchon Eyewear, with regional headquarters in New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Hong Kong, distributes its products in over 100 countries.

“Marchon3D has brought a new level of fashion to RealD-branded 3D glasses,” said Joseph Peixoto, President of Worldwide Cinema at RealD.

“Marchon3D has the ability to design and produce advanced eyewear with significant fashion enhancements that together produce the highest quality 3D viewing experience,” said Al Berg,
Founder of Marchon Eyewear.

Claudio Gottardi, President of Marchon Eyewear, adds, “Marchon3D will focus on specific market
segments while Marchon Eyewear will directly market the 3D technology to eyecare professionals
around the world.”

– By Scott Hettrick

Warner is also expected to showcase the November theatrical release of part one of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in 3D, but no details have been revealed as yet.

On the Blu-ray front, Sony has a title tailor-made for Comic-Con with its Oct. 5th release of “30 Days of Night: Dark Days,” based on the second book of the vampire graphic novel series by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith. The studio plans a sneak peek, a one-hour panel (7:30 p.m. Friday night, July 23) and press interviews with Niles, co-writer of the film; director and co-screenwriter Ben Ketai (”Dusk to Dusk”); and stars Keile Sanchez (”Lost”), Diora Baird (”TCM: The Beginning”), Rhys Coiro (”Entourage,” upcoming “Straw Dogs”), and J.R. Young, producer at Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures,k which produced “Dark Days” along with Stage 6 Films.

Disney has booked multiple Tron media and/or attendee events each day of the first two days of the show — they are dubbing it “ComiTron” — with a 90-minute cast and crew panel in the famed Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, July 22, as the main event. Director Joe Kosinski and producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger (of the original 1980 “Tron”) as well as cast members Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen and Bruce Boxleitner, and other “surprise guests” are all scheduled to sit in on the discussion moderated by Patton Oswalt and featuring film clips from the December 17 Disney Digital 3D and IMAX 3Drelease.

The studio also plans an interactive Tron booth on the convention floor (aisle #3712) providing a preview of movie-related merchandise launching this fall, including content for mobile electronic devices, as well as the “TRON: Evolution” video game from Disney Interactive Studios.

Nicolas Cage will appear on a Hall H half-hour panel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 23, to promote Summit’s February 2011 release of “Drive Angry 3D.” Joining Cage and in addition to the debut of film clips from the film depicting a gory road trip of a vengeful father who has escaped from hell to hunt down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby, will be director Patrick Lussier (”My Bloody Valentine 3D”) and co-stars Amber Heard and William Fichtner. Summit is also setting up multiple media opportunities with them.

– By Scott Hettrick

That will also be your first chance to see eight minutes of additional footage featuring new creatures and action scenes, all in 3D, bringing the already lengthy movie even closer to a full three-hours at about 170 -minutes.

The theatrical re-release strategy had been revealed earlier this year but specific dates and confirmation of the extended edition have just been officially announced today by IMAX Corp. and 20th Century Fox.

The earliest that a 3D version would be available for the home will be later this fall. We reported here earlier this year that a 3D Blu-ray version of “Avatar” from Fox and Panasonic was being planned for release in November but only with the purchase of Panasonic 3D equipment. There has been no official confirmation of that plan but “Avatar” producer John Landau did announce an “ultimate edition” of “Avatar” to be released on Blu-ray in November lots of bonus features, presumably also including the extra eight minutes of footage. A general retail release of “Avatar” in 3D Blu-ray was not expected until 2011, but that could change given the backlash surrounding the original report of the strategy.

The two-week theatrical re-release will serve as a nice teaser for whatever Blu-ray ultimate edition is to come in November, but it will also surely add significantly — probably tens of milions of dollars — to the record grosses the movie has already achieved with $749.6 million in domestic ticket sales and $2.7 billion worldwide. The 2D version released on Blu-ray with no bonus features quickly became the all-time top-selling Blu-ray disc title.

“Avatar” is also the top-grossing IMAX release of all-time, having generated $235 million in the large format theaters.

Many industry observers felt “Avatar” may have generated significantly more than it did if had not been bumped from 3D theaters of all types to make room for Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland,” which also became a blockbuster.

– By Scott Hettrick