Related: At Griffith Observatory event, IMERSA, PGA and TEA introduce the production community to fulldome digital video
IMERSA, the international, nonprofit trade group founded in 2008 to promote immersive and fulldome digital media for education and out-of-home entertainment, recently welcomed Paul Fraser, president of Blaze Digital Cinema Works to its board of directors. Fraser is serving alongside IMERSA founders Dan Neafus (Gates Planetarium, Denver Museum of Nature & Science), Ed Lantz (Harmony Channel) and Ryan Wyatt (Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences).
Fraser, a consultant who specializes in business development for content and venue clients across a variety of digital cinema plat
forms, was an innovator in the global giant-screen cinema industry, including leadership positions with Imax Corp. and Ogden Corp. In the early 2000's, he led a New York-based, new media studio that pioneered non-fiction, interactive content and applications for web and wireless distribution. His 25-year career shows a penchant for embracing and positioning new technologies and launching new business and product initiatives, grounded by strategic branding. For the past two years, he has focused on the promising, fast-growing field of digital dome cinema ("fulldome") for planetariums, museums and entertainment venues, for such clients as National Geographic Entertainment.
"We are excited to have Paul Fraser join us on the IMERSA board," says Ed Lantz. "He is already helping us build connections with the giant-screen cinema community, thanks to his comprehensive background in that area, his recent work in digital dome program distribution and his familiarity with the institutional and commercial cinema markets. Paul will be an invaluable member of the IMERSA board especially at this early stage in the organization's growth."
About IMERSA
IMERSA (Immersive Education, Research, Science & Arts) is an international non-profit professional organization that celebrates and promotes immersive and fulldome media for education and entertainment in planetariums, schools, museums, cinemas, events and attractions. The 501c3 association was officially inaugurated in July 2008 at the International Planetarium Association conference at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. Its goal is to help promote the adoption of immersive media, particularly fulldome media, not only in the planetarium community where it had its genesis but also to reach out to other special venue markets. IMERSA Board members are Dan Neafus (Gates Planetarium), Ed Lantz (Harmony Channel), Ryan Wyatt (Morrison Planetarium) and Paul Fraser (Blaze Digital Cinema Works). Communications director is Judith Rubin. IMERSA publishes a quarterly digital newsletter. Visit www.imersa.org.
About Blaze Digital Cinema Works
Based in Westport, Connecticut, Blaze Digital Cinema Works LLC, founded by Paul Fraser, is a consulting and project-management firm that helps clients create and activate new revenue streams from digital cinema technologies and content. Blaze Digital Cinema Works specializes in business development for d-cinema, in practically all the forms it takes, whether flat screen or digital domes, 2D or 3D, for commercial & institutional sectors, and for all functions - content development, distribution & exhibition. Fraser's leadership of new business initiatives has spanned: Film & theaters (commercial digital theaters, digital film distribution, giant-screen films & theaters, digital fulldome, 2D/3D/4D), Leisure attractions (technology-driven marketing services) and Interactive media (Web & wireless, content & applications). Visit www.blazedigitalcinema.com.