[Press Release]

The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2011 Supported by Novae TX: Sky 3D and Sky Arts 1 on Christmas Day at 9pm.

Sky 3D & Sky Arts will broadcast the live recording of this year’s Prince’s Trust Rock Gala, supported by Novae. Boy George, The Feeling and Pete Townshend are among the artists on board to rock the Royal Albert Hall on 23 November. The concert is one of the most important fundraisers in The Prince’s Trust calendar and will premiere on Sky Arts 1 and Sky 3D on Christmas Day at 9pm.

Joining presenters Edith Bowman and Patrick Kielty are a long list of Prince’s Trust supporters who are set to collaborate at the gala including singer songwriters Chris de Burgh, Julian Lennon, Alison Moyet, rock legends Kenney Jones, Mark King and Midge Ure, urban saxophonist YolanDa Brown and classical music star Charlie Siem. There will also be a special appearance from comedian and musician Tim Minchin.

Launching in 1982 and continuing until 1990, the gala has attracted the support of iconic well-wishers such as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Elton John and Tina Turner. The historic fundraiser re-launched in 2010 and continues to raise vital funds for the charity’s work with disadvantaged young people.

This is the tenth Rock Gala Concert in The Trust’s history and marks the second year the concert will be recorded for Sky Arts and Sky 3D. Last year’s Prince’s Trust Rock Gala was one of the inaugural music events to be broadcast in stunning 3D on the Sky platform and will once again take pride of place in Sky’s Christmas schedule.

“The Rock Gala is a celebration of the good work of The Prince’s Trust so it is easy to see why it was one of the most popular music programmes on Sky Arts and Sky 3D last year,” comments John Cassy, Director of Sky 3D. “It is an honour to be able to support the work of The Trust again this year using Sky’s innovative 3D technology to broadcast the Rock Gala’s sensational performers to wider audiences.”

The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2011 will be broadcast at 9pm on Christmas Day, Sky 3D and Sky Arts 1. For tickets to The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala supported by Novae on the 23rd November, call 020 7589 8212 or visit royalalberthall.com.

(Tickets are priced from GBP 30 to GBP 80 with box hospitality and VIP & fine dining packages available.)

Notes To Editors

The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2011 was acquired for Sky 3D and Sky Arts from the 3DD Group.

See the original press release here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/boy-george-the-feeling-and-pete-townshend-to-rock-sky-3d-and-sky-arts-in-the-uk-premiere-of-the-princes-trust-rock-gala-2011-2011-11-03

[Digital Cinema Report]

Last month AMC Theatres in partnership with Sony hosted an Uncharted 3: Play it First in 3D event, that showcased the as of then yet-to-be-released multiplayer PlayStation videogame Uncharted 3 at five participating theatres across the United States. Participating theatres offered an inside look from the development team at Naughty Dog, a multiplayer tournament shown on the big screen in 3D, and raffles, prizes, and giveaways. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to attend the event that was held at the AMC Theatre in New York City’s Lincoln Center district. What I saw that night was a firsthand look at what was a proof of concept for another kind of alternative content event and although this does represent uncharted territory it is an event that could easily be duplicated in select theatres around the world.  …

What even those Insiders could not get at home that they got at the theatre that night, however, was the chance to be in the same room and compete against other teams of players in a game that took place on a forty-foot 3D screen in 4K Sony projection and Real D 3D. Executives from Naughty Dog introduced the game, showed a variety of trailers from the game, some behind-the-scens making of the game movies and then organized the audience into 24 teams of five players each. Sony PlayStation units were set up at the front of the auditorium and the results of the contest were projected on the big screen. Asked for a show of hands it was clear that the majority of the audience had already played the beat version of the game and it was just as clear that they all loved it.

AMC, citing company policy would not comment on how many people attended or confirm other reports that all five theatres sold out, but Ryan Noonan, AMC’s director of public relations did say, “We’re very pleased with the results.” Noonan could not say whether AMC would do a similar event again. “This was the first time we’ve done something like this,” he said, adding, “It was such a novel concept.”  Noonan said Hollywood movies remain the centerpiece of AMC offerings but he said the exhibitor always responds to positive feedback from its guests. Based on what I experienced at the Uncharted 3 event, the audience will ask for more.

Read the full story here: http://www.digitalcinemareport.com/node/2833