Empire Cinema in Ipswich has unveiled the world’s first full-seater D-Box screen – a film experience where the moviegoer’s reclining seat reacts to the action on screen.
Empire Cinema in Ipswich has unveiled the world’s first full-seater D-Box screen – a film experience where the moviegoer’s reclining seat reacts to the action on screen.
Two 14-seater screens will be open to the public on Friday at the cinema in the Buttermarket in Ipswich.
Each movie is painstakingly translated into movement by a team of skilled musicians to compliment the action, each movie taking up to 300 hours of work to complete.
Although the D-Box seating can be experienced in a number of cinemas across the globe, this is the very first time a dedicated screen had been opened, let alone two. The screens also work with 3D, enhancing the experience by a further dimension.
Film fans in Ipswich have been spoiled for choice recently.
Cineworld in Cardinal Park opened its 136-seater 4DX screen in June last year, combining motion seats with special effects like wind, fog, lightning and even different scents.
Jean-Francois Gagnon, Regional Director of Canadian firm D-Box, described the process of translating film into motion as ‘an art form’.
“You feel like you are really there,” he said.
“Anything with gravity or space, the D-Box just brings a whole other dimension.
“It is all done manually, it is an art form. They sit in the studio, look at the screen and create motion for each movie.
“It will never be something that will be automated.”
He added: “The motion goes with the story so there is not motion all the time.
“In a two hour movie you will have 30 to 40 minutes of motion.
“It is really integrated intro the movie. It is about storytelling.”
On Friday the public will get to try out the screens for themselves with the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
Tickets are £5 more than a regular ticket and extra for 3D.
Jon Nutton, marketing director at Empire Cinemas, said: “50% of our audiences in Ipswich are opting to upgrade their ticket already. They are choosing the extra experience. This brings another dimension to that.
“Ipswich was always a first in terms of our offers.
“It was the first time we have brought a range of seats to the market. People can upgrade to a recliner, to sofas - this is the next step.”
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