PROJECTORS BY DIGITAL PROJECTION TAKE FLIGHT AT THE 2004 GRAMMY® AWARDS
Customized Multi-Screen "Wings" Highlights the One-of-a-Kind Event

KENNESAW, GA, (February 23, 2004) - Digital Projection International (DPI), an Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high-performance projection systems, announced 32 of its LIGHTNING 3-chip DLP™ projectors were utilized by American Hi Definition, Inc. (AHD), a leader in premier entertainment staging, during the 46th Annual Grammy® Awards on February 8th at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and broadcasted in high definition by CBS, the 2004 Grammy® program featured a fleet of DPI's LIGHTNING 15sx and 28sx projectors to display a wide array of screen effects through a mix of standard and high-definition serial digital video and graphics imagery.

The marquee set element was two 100-foot customized, multi-screen "bat wings" that used a total of 24 LIGHTNING projectors to display dynamic content as a backdrop to the performing artists. For AHD's on-site projection team, a challenge with these wings was carefully and precisely placing the LIGHTNING projectors on platforms in the high seating area of the STAPLES center.

However, the wings' imposing physical challenge was hardest to overcome, said Ady Gil, co-owner of AHD and chief projection designer of the Awards show set. The team had to carry each LIGHTNING projector up many stairs, separate them into groups, then stack and tilt them using pieces of 2"x 4" wood.

"Projection was a major aspect of the set design, and we required the lightest projectors that also provided the power and performance capabilities to meet our exacting standards," said Gil. "The LIGHTNING projectors were the lightest, and they performed very well overall during the production. We're very happy with the results."

In addition to the wings backdrop, AHD utilized an additional six LIGHTNING systems on four HDTV screens, including two 13.5 x 24-foot screens that were hoisted up and down from well above the stage. Two LIGHTNING projectors were also used on a 12 x 16-foot screen for the non-televised portion of the Awards show.

"We're very impressed with what American Hi Definition, the set designers and show producers created with the precise imaging power of our LIGHTNING projectors at the 2004 Grammy® Awards," said Mike Levi, president of Digital Projection, Inc. "What is most apparent and pleasing to us is to see premier event stagers push our large-venue projection technology to new creative thresholds."

DPI's high-performance LIGHTNING, THUNDER and HIGHlite displays have been used for every major televised broadcast Awards program, including the Emmy's®, Oscar's®, Blockbuster© Music Awards and the American Music Awards. Projectors by DPI can be found in Hollywood studios, screening rooms, Fortune 5000, worship venues, broadcast sets, command & control facilities, scientific research and visualization applications, retail outlets and prestigious home theaters.
 

™Digital Light Processing and DLP are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments.
Emmyâis a registered trademark of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Grammyâis a registered trademark of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Oscar® is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

 About Digital Projection International

Founded in 1989, Digital Projection International (DPI) has been instrumental in the development and application of Digital Light Processing™ technology by Texas Instruments for projection systems. DPI introduced the world’s first 3-chip DLP™ projector in 1997, and has since delivered expert system engineering and world-class customer services, thus maintaining its position as a digital imaging pioneer.

DPI’s groundbreaking projection research and development has garnered the admiration of industry professionals around the world. This has included many awards, including two Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. DPI remains the first and only projector manufacturer to win the coveted award.

Today, DPI manufactures and distributes an extensive line of ultra high-performance 3-chip and single-chip DLP™ projection systems. These projectors are the reference standard for demanding applications such as large-venue, live-event staging, Fortune 5000, Homeland Security, education, medical and scientific research, command and control, digital cinema, commercial entertainment, religious venues and elite home cinema. DPI history (.pdf)