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Local Company's 3-Screen Movie Experience Could Be Hottest New Feature In Cinema

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - You've heard of 3-D films, but what about the three-screen experience?

It's innovative technology that's only available in 30 theaters in the country - and it's coming to the Palladio 16 cinemas in Folsom with the opening of the new Star Trek movie.

"What we've done is provided the largest canvas Hollywood directors have ever had - and we've given them new paint brushes," said Barco Escape CEO Todd Hoddick.

Global technology company Barco Escape is based in Sacramento. Hoddick says it's a new theater experience believed to be the future of cinema. Three screens, panoramic views, a 270° experience creates a movie going atmosphere unlike any other.

There's no need for 3-D glasses or shaking of the seats - and unlike IMAX theaters, with Barco Escape's setup the screens wrap around the audience making it that much more immersive.

"Your peripheral vision is fully filled with this story, so can you imagine a horror movie when you catch something coming up on your left or your right," Hoddick said. "That's the way it is in real life, that brings you into the story."

The film's director ultimately decides how much of the three screens they want to use. In Star Trek Beyond, the film uses a little more than 20 minutes of this format for special sequences where they especially want to draw the audience in.

"Whether that's a battle scene in space, or a chase scene with the actors or characters, there are certain moments that they thought this format was gonna be absolutely spectacular," Hoddick said.

Barco Escape has been showcased in two other films but never a film of this magnitude.

The technology is being debuted with Star Trek Beyond on Friday at Palladio 16 Cinemas in Folsom.

Hoddick says the goal is to create 100 theaters by the end of the year and 1000 theaters around the world in three to five years.

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