theibcdaily executive summary 37 Advances in D-Cinema
4K: Slow down, let’s get it right Glenn Kennel
President and CEO, ARRI Region: Global
Interview by Carolyn Giardina L
et’s not compromise in the rush to go to high resolution, urged Glenn Kennel, president of one of the leading digital
cine camera makers, Arri. “We’re seeing the overwhelming push to promote 4K TVs at the expense of good contrast and colour fidelity.” Kennel believes the industry
is pushing 4K TV too hard, too soon. “I would not buy one of the early 4K displays,” he admited, adding that while they have the resolution, they compromise other characteristics of the image. “I think the displays will get better, but I think it is very premature to be promoting it so heavily. I realise manufacturers have to sometimes build the demand and awareness, and there’s a lot of advertising going into 4K TV right now – but it is well ahead of the technology and certainly ahead of content availability.” He similarly feels that
professional cameras, like 4K displays, should not compromise on quality in areas such as dynamic range or colour fidelity, in order to up the resolution. Arri’s Alexa doesn’t offer 4K
capabilities, but it has been embraced by leading cinematographers. The Alexa was used on the last two Oscar
winners in cinematography – Hugo, lensed by Robert Richardson, ASC; and Life of Pi, lensed by Claudio Miranda, ASC – as well as cinematography Oscar nominee Skyfall, photographed by Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC; and the anticipated Gravity, from DoP Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC. Arri is working on a 4K
capable camera, but Kennel says that development is further out. “We have been working on a 4K sensor for a while... That is the most difficult piece,” he said. “But we are not ready to compromise. We do not intend to release something that would be a step backwards in dynamic range or colour fidelity or sensitivity.” For the home market to have
a future, Kennel pointed out that there’s also a need for standards. “There needs to be an infrastructure in place not only to support production but to support post and delivery. The distribution model is changing. There will be more over the top and internet delivery, but at the same time, very few people have enough bandwidth to the home to support 4K, even with the H.265 codec.” Kennel joined ARRI as CTO
in 2009, and was named president and CEO in 2010. His career also included more than two decades with Kodak.
“We are not ready to compromise”
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