Project Gallery
The Art of 70mm & VistaVision Film Projection & Special Event Presentations
Go behind the scenes of our landmark 70mm & VistaVision film projects—where precision, collaboration, and a love of cinema come together on screen.
The Odyssey & Oppenheimer 70mm Releases
Summary
Universal Pictures Taps Boston Light & Sound for Christopher Nolan's 70mm Releases
Boston Light & Sound continued its longstanding collaboration with Universal Pictures on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026), following its extensive work on the acclaimed 70mm release of Oppenheimer (2023). Building on earlier projects including Dunkirk and The Hateful Eight, BL&S once again brought its specialized expertise in large-format film projection, theater installations, and technical support to a major theatrical release.
For both films, BL&S played a key role in the nationwide 70mm theatrical rollouts, supplying and installing specialized projection equipment, coordinating trained projectionists, and providing around-the-clock technical support. The release of The Odyssey also featured BL&S's new TS-1 Film Sound Player, an innovative audio system designed to bring modern digital sound capabilities to traditional film projection.
Specialized Projection Systems for Oppenheimer
BL&S's involvement with Oppenheimer began during production, when the company designed a custom dual-projector dailies system that enabled filmmakers to review 70mm and 35mm footage on location, including in remote environments.
During post-production, BL&S installed a specially configured 70mm Kinoton electronic studio projector at a Hollywood multiplex, integrating it with a ProTools sound station for synchronized audio playback while maintaining compatibility with the theater's existing Dolby Digital system.
Nationwide 70mm Theatrical Rollouts
For Oppenheimer, BL&S commissioned and distributed specialized projection equipment to 71 locations across North America and coordinated trained projectionists throughout the engagement. Originally scheduled for two weeks, the film's extraordinary success extended the run to 13 weeks, requiring extensive staffing coordination and ongoing technical support.
Three years later, BL&S returned for The Odyssey, supporting 64 theaters with specialized 70mm projection equipment, installation services, projectionist staffing, and 24/7 technical support. Drawing on its experience with previous large-format releases, BL&S coordinated the complex logistics required to deliver consistent, high-quality film presentations across the nationwide theatrical rollout and was able to keep The Odyssey on more screens for longer than any release in over a decade.
When it was decided to temporarily reopen the Directors Village Theatre in Los Angeles, CA to run The Odyssey, Universal Studios and The American Cinematheque again tapped BL&S to provide one-of-a-kind projection parts and expertise. BL&S and its partner D-Mation completely overhauled and restored the historic Norelco projectors at the venue in time for the opening of The Odyssey.
Introducing the TS-1 Film Sound Player
A significant advancement for The Odyssey was the installation of Boston Light & Sound's newly developed TS-1 Film Sound Player in the projection systems. Engineered for both 35mm and 70mm film formats, the TS-1 provides digital timecode-based audio synchronization, bridging traditional film projection with modern, 16-channel lossless sound. Designed to accommodate both legacy soundtracks and encrypted digital audio files, the system delivers reliable, high-quality audio playback in a rugged, rack-ready configuration.
The introduction of the TS-1 represents BL&S's continued investment in developing innovative solutions that preserve the traditional film experience while incorporating modern cinema technology.
Custom Audio Solutions and Technical Expertise
For Oppenheimer, BL&S supplied specialty projection lenses, refurbished DTS audio systems, and engineered a custom circuit board to integrate film-based DTS playback with modern Dolby Atmos installations. This solution allowed theaters to switch between digital cinema and 70mm film presentations while maintaining audio system compatibility.
BL&S also assisted with 70mm print assembly and makeup for Oppenheimer, preparing prints supplied by FotoKem for theatrical exhibition.
For both releases, BL&S provided ongoing technical support and coordinated experienced projectionists to ensure reliable film presentations throughout the theatrical engagements.
Continuing a Tradition of Large-Format Cinema
From Oppenheimer to The Odyssey, Boston Light & Sound's work reflects its longstanding commitment to preserving and advancing the art of theatrical film presentation. Combining decades of large-format projection expertise with innovations such as the TS-1 Film Sound Player, BL&S continues to help studios and exhibitors deliver exceptional cinematic experiences to audiences across North America.
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One Battle After Another & Digger in VistaVision
Summary
Warner Bros. Partners with Boston Light & Sound for Rare VistaVision Presentations
Boston Light & Sound partnered with Warner Bros. to bring the rare VistaVision film format to Boston's Coolidge Corner Theatre for special presentations of One Battle After Another and more recently Digger. The two releases, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmakers Paul Thomas Anderson and Alejandro G. Iñárritu, respectively, offered audiences an opportunity to experience motion pictures in one of cinema's most distinctive large-format processes.
Originally developed by Paramount Pictures in the 1950s, VistaVision runs 35mm film horizontally, producing an image nearly twice the size of a conventional 35mm frame and delivering exceptional picture quality. For One Battle After Another, Boston was one of only four cities worldwide equipped to screen the film in true VistaVision, alongside New York, Los Angeles, and London.
Restoring Historic VistaVision Projection Equipment
The historic 1953 VistaVision projectors, on loan from the George Eastman Museum, had previously been refurbished by Boston Light & Sound for the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival.
For One Battle After Another, BL&S installed the restored equipment at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, upgrading the projectors with DTS audio synchronization and custom-built platters designed to accommodate the film's full two-hour-and-40-minute runtime on a single reel. The presentation utilized two reel-to-reel projectors, with projectionists receiving specialized training to operate the rare equipment.
Bringing VistaVision Back for Digger
Following the success of One Battle After Another, Warner Bros. once again turned to Boston Light & Sound for the VistaVision presentation of Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Tom Cruise.
BL&S returned to the Coolidge Corner Theatre to reinstall the same historic projection equipment, drawing on its specialized expertise to prepare the theater for another major VistaVision release.
Preserving a Rare Cinematic Experience
The presentation of One Battle After Another was particularly significant because audiences were able to view prints struck directly from the original VistaVision camera negative. According to the production team, it marked the first newly released feature film projected in true VistaVision since One-Eyed Jacks in 1961.
With very few theaters worldwide equipped to present films in this format, the screenings of One Battle After Another and Digger demonstrate Boston Light & Sound's continued commitment to preserving historic film projection technology and bringing exceptional theatrical experiences to modern audiences.
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The Hateful Eight
Summary
Boston Light & Sound® Brings Tarantino’s New Western to Theatres in Glorious Ultra Panavision 70mm
When producer Shannon Macintosh approached Boston Light & Sound® (BL&S) to support dailies for The Hateful Eight, the request quickly evolved into something far greater: preparing 70mm film projection systems for 100+ theaters across North America—a scale not seen in decades.
A Reason to Return to the Theatre
Director Quentin Tarantino chose to shoot the film in Ultra Panavision 70, a wide-format process last used in the 1960s. To bring this artistic vision to audiences, BL&S was tasked with locating and restoring more than 120 projection systems—many of which had been out of production for over 15 years. The project required custom-built parts, anamorphic lenses, and system modifications to handle the film’s ultra-wide format.
A Movie Release on a Grand Scale
BL&S drew on decades of experience to design, remanufacture, or adapt more than 125 individual components—including gears, platters, and timecode readers. The team also sourced DTS systems, created water chillers, and built new transport cases to accommodate 3-hour film prints.
Preparing the Stage
The installation brought its own challenges. Many theaters needed power upgrades, new exhaust systems, or architectural changes just to accommodate the equipment. BL&S coordinated electricians, contractors, and venue staff to make it happen, sometimes with just days to spare. In the final stretch, they recruited and trained projectionists, developed custom documentation, and deployed 18 support technicians across the country.
Solving Movie Distribution Challenges
To manage film distribution, BL&S opened a facility in Valencia, CA, to assemble 20-reel prints into seamless platters, eliminating the need for mid-show reel changes. We also provided 24/7 technical support throughout the project.
Celebrating a Successful Show!
By Christmas Eve, The Hateful Eight was presented in stunning 70mm in over 100 theaters, earning praise from audiences, filmmakers, and projectionists alike. For co-founder Chapin Cutler, it was a full-circle moment, returning to a craft he first embraced decades earlier.
“This project is a culmination of my 50-year career, bringing it together into one massive project,” Cutler said. “We’ve come full circle. My first job was at a movie theatre in 1964 where I ran My Fair Lady as a 70mm roadshow engagement. The Hateful Eight has allowed us to go back and in some ways reinvent the craft that we were trained into early in our careers. We are very proud and blessed for this experience and the hundreds of people who supported us in this endeavor.”
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