ISCO Enters OEM Partnership with Wolf Cinema

ISCO Enters OEM Partnership with Wolf Cinema

Industry Design First Lets Movie Buffs Watch All Films in Original Aspect Ratio

ATLANTA, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- ISCO USA Inc., distributor of ISCO's superior quality optical lenses and anamorphic attachments used in digital, traditional cinema and home theater projection, today announced it has entered into an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partnership with Wolf Cinema LLC, a custom video projector manufacturer for high-end cinema projection. Their joint equipment design, combined products and technologies have led to an exclusive industry first: the ability of Wolf Cinema projectors to show every single movie in its original aspect ratio, from 1.33:1 to 2.67:1.

In the partnership, ISCO anamorphic lenses will be a core component of and fully integrated into all Wolf Cinema's projector systems: the Reference Digital digital-cinema-grade projector (retailing at $180,000); the DCX 3-chip DLP technology projector (retailing at $60,000 to $117,000); and the Reference Analog 35mm film projector (retailing at $55,000); as well as the Wolf Cinema complete Reference System comprising a digital-cinema projector, two 35mm film projectors and a Dolby Digital Cinema processor (retailing at $300,000).

The commercial movie theater industry is accelerating conversion from film to digital projection systems, in anticipation of even more higher-grossing, three dimensional (3-D) movies hitting the market in 2009. In October 2008 The Blackstone Group and JPMorgan Chase announced a deal to raise $1 billion to convert 20,000 screens in the U.S. and Canada to digital technology, on behalf of a consortium of the three largest U.S. cinemas, starting early 2009. Hollywood studios such as DreamWorks Animation SKG and Walt Disney's Pixar are already producing more 3-D films and have pledged to make 3-D versions of every film as from 2009.

"ISCO can add yet another successful OEM partnership to its list. With Wolf Cinema we've been able to solve a unique front-projection challenge: produce a true fidelity image regardless of room size or distance to the screen," said Brian Ludvigsen, president, ISCO USA Inc.

"This industry first is a result of ISCO's devotion to working closely with video projector manufacturers to meet the continued demand for high-end, high performance systems. Now custom integrators, installers, dealers and movie fans can finally get the real deal -- a true fidelity studio experience with the movie in its original aspect ratio -- whether they're watching The Phantom of the Opera on Blu-Ray disc or Ben Hur on 35mm film," he continued.

Founded in 2007, Wolf Cinema started shipping its first reference film and video projectors nationwide, the DCX series 500, 1000 and 1500, on October 1, 2008, including to overseas markets such as Hong Kong and Europe. Wolf Cinema invented the VariScope 2.35+ constant-height projection system which accommodates every motion picture aspect ratio by optically manipulating the image and using an ISCO anamorphic lens to aid in projector placement flexibility, create a brighter image, and allow Wolf Cinema to obtain aspect ratios over 2.35:1 all the way to 2.67:1.

"ISCO is the leading lens brand in quality, precision and dependability in the high end theater market. Quite honestly ISCO is the only anamorphic lens choice large enough to do what we need to do. There's no other partner combination out there that can show all films in their original aspect and we expect the products to generate a lot of interest," said Jim Burns, principal, Wolf Cinema. Burns is a 20-year veteran of the audio and video industry who formerly served as a design engineer and industry consultant.

About Wolf Cinema

Serving the custom installation market, Wolf Cinema is a high-performance front video projector company which provides true high fidelity, studio quality reference flat panel displays and professional grade projectors that can reproduce images as the cinematographer intended. Wolf's distinctive VariScope 2.35+ system provides unique features such as theater grade xenon- lamped light engines which effortlessly adapt to every aspect ratio offered, while producing maximum image quality on screen. Wolf Cinema projectors are distributed worldwide by Sumiko which also represents premier luxury audio equipment brands Pro-Ject, REL, SME, Sonus Faber, and Vienna Acoustics. For more information visit http://www.wolfcinema.com/ .

About ISCO

Founded in 1936, privately-held ISCO / B+W Filterfabrik GmbH & Co KG is a manufacturer of superior quality optical products such as digital, traditional cinema and home theater projection lenses and anamorphic attachments; photo- taking lenses for 35mm film cameras; viewfinders for professional film, TV and video production; and custom design industrial optical products such as machine vision, measurement, laser and medical device components. For over 70 years the ISCO brand has stood for the highest quality in cinema lens technology. The company holds several international patents, has pioneered many industry firsts and been recognized with three Technical Achievement Awards by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1978, 1989 and 2001 respectively, for its cinema projection lenses. ISCO's commercial and residential products are available worldwide from leading manufacturers including Christie Digital, Bang & Olufsen, Barco, NEC, Strong International, Marantz, Digital Projection, Planar Systems and SIM2; through a distributor network in more than 50 countries across five continents; and via direct sales through the company's factory in Gottingen, Germany and though ISCO USA Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. ISCO / B+W Filterfabrik GmbH & Co KG is owned by The Schneider Group. For more information visit http://www.isco-usa.us/ .

Source: ISCO USA Inc.

CONTACT: Brian Ludvigsen of ISCO USA Inc., +1-678-420-3473,
info@isco-usa.us; Jim Burns of Wolf Cinema, +1-510-843-4500,
jim@wolfcinema.com; or Helga Ojinmah of Helios Communications Inc.,
+1-770-444-3969, helga@helioscomm.com

Web site: http://www.isco-usa.us/
http://www.wolfcinema.com/

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