There are 70,000 digital screens worldwide, 40,000 of which are ready for 3D,. All show films at the current rate of 24 FPS but exactly zero are capable of showing High Frame Rate (HFR) movies. Two interesting articles explaining the problems in converting to HFR can be found here and here .
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If cinemas worldwide can screen a movie in both 3D and 2D then I am sure that the production crew of The Hobbit have also catered for those screens that are not capable of HFR. It could possibly be released in both 24 and 48 FFP.
If the High Frame Rate is required then the cinemas will have to find the funds to upgrade which mean higher ticket prices.
The Hobbit films are likely to be the first of many films released at 48 FPS and theaters will have to upgrade just to prepare for the future.
I wonder how long it will take before 60 or 66 FPS supplants 48 FPS and theaters are once again forced to upgrade. Could 48 FPS just be a stopgap measure so that the change to a HFR of 60 or 66 FPS is a gradual move and the cost can be spread out over a few years
I just hope that he financial costs of upgrading are not so harsh as to close theaters in minor markets.
belldoras, Peter Jackson stated on his Facebook page (way back a year ago) reassuring people that they will be delivering prints of the film at 24fps as well as 48fps.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150235459531558
Potbelly, apparently, James Cameron has already set the bar by stating that his next installments, Avatar 2 and 3 will be shot at 60fps.
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/21836/-avatar-goes-60-fps-gets-theme-park
The ‘experience’ with 3D hasn’t been all that thrilling. Since the Hobbit is being filmed in 48FPS will it go the same way as 3D now that James Cameron has upped the level to 60FPS.