Patent Publication Number: US-2013242263-A1

Title: Cinema structure and a method for facilitating projecting and viewing a motion picture

Description:
The present invention relates to a cinema structure, and the invention also relates to a method for facilitating projecting and viewing a motion picture. 
     Cinemas and cinema structures comprising an auditorium within which motion pictures are projected by a projector onto a screen for viewing by patrons in the auditorium are well known. In general, a screen is located adjacent the front of the auditorium, and images of the motion picture are projected from a projector adjacent the rear of the auditorium onto the screen. Seating in the auditorium typically is tiered, and inclined in a generally upwardly direction from the screen. However, in general, patrons sitting in seats in the auditorium of cinemas known heretofore when viewing images of the motion picture on a screen do not obtain a particularly intimate experience, in that in general they do not feel part of the action of the motion picture. This is largely due to the construction of such cinemas. 
     There is therefore a need for a cinema structure which provides patrons in the auditorium with a more intimate experience than that which in general is provided by cinemas and cinema structures known heretofore. There is also a need for a method of projecting and viewing a motion picture which likewise provides patrons in an auditorium of a cinema structure with a more intimate experience than can be obtained in general in cinemas and cinema structures known heretofore. 
     The present invention is directed towards providing such a cinema structure and a method. 
     According to the invention there is provided a cinema structure comprising a front end wall and a rear end wall spaced apart from the front end wall and defining with the front end wall an auditorium, a screen being located adjacent the front end wall, the screen extending from a lower edge to a spaced apart upper edge and from one of a pair of spaced apart side edges to the other side edge, an image projecting means located spaced apart from the screen adapted for projecting a motion picture onto the screen, and tiered seating located in the auditorium, the tiered seating defining tiering angle of the seating in the range of 20° to 40° rising in a general direction from the front end wall to the rear end wall. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the tiering angle of the seating lies in the range of 22° to 30°. Preferably, the tiering angle of the seating is approximately 25°. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the seating comprises a plurality of seats configured in rows. Preferably, the rows of seats extend substantially transversely of the tiering. In another embodiment of the invention the rows of the seats are spaced apart at a horizontal pitch in the range of 1,000 mm to 1,500 mm. Preferably, the rows of the seats are spaced apart at a horizontal pitch of approximately 1,300 mm. 
     Preferably, the rows of the seats are arcuately configured when viewed in plan. Advantageously, the rows of the seats when viewed from the screen are configured to be concave. 
     In one embodiment of the invention a centre one of the seats in a row of the seats immediately behind a front row of the seats is spaced apart a perpendicular distance from the screen in the range of 4 metres to 8.5 metres. Preferably, the centre one of the seats in the row of the seats immediately behind the front row of the seats is spaced apart a perpendicular distance from the screen of approximately 7.3 metres. 
     In another embodiment of the invention a centre one of the seats in a back row of the seats is spaced apart from the screen a perpendicular distance in the range of 12 metres to 30 metres. Preferably, the centre one of the seats of the back row of the seats is spaced apart a perpendicular distance from the screen of approximately 14 metres. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the front row of seats comprises a left-hand part and a right-hand part spaced apart from each other and defining a central gap therebetween which is free of seats. Preferably, the central gap defined between the left-hand and right-hand parts of the front row is of length corresponding to the space which would be occupied by a number of the seats arranged side by side, the said number of seats lying in the range of three seats to nine seats. Advantageously, the said number of seats is approximately seven seats. 
     Preferably, the number of seats in the left-hand part of the front row of seats is similar to the number of seats in the right-hand part thereof. Advantageously, the number of seats in each of the left-hand and right-hand parts of the front row lies in the range of five seats to twenty seats. Ideally, the number of seats in each of the left and right-hand parts of the front row is nine seats. 
     Preferably, the left and right parts of the front row are equi-spaced on opposite sides of a vertical plane bisecting the screen between the respective side edges thereof and extending perpendicularly from the screen. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the rows of the seats are supported on respective plinths. Preferably, the vertical rise between adjacent plinths lies in the range of 400 mm to 800 mm. Advantageously, the vertical rise between adjacent plinths is approximately 600 mm. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the plinth on which the front row of the seats is supported is at a vertical level above the lower edge of the screen in the range of 1,000 mm to 1,400 m. Preferably, the plinth on which the front row of the seats is supported is at a vertical level above the lower edge of the screen of approximately 1,200 mm. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the plinth on which the front row of seats is supported comprises a left-hand part and a right-hand part spaced apart from each other, and defining a central gap therebetween, the seats of the left and right-hand parts of the front row being supported on the left and right-hand parts, respectfully, of the front plinth. Preferably, the length of the central gap defined by the left and right-hand parts of the front plinth is substantially similar to the length of the central gap defined by the left and right-hand parts of the front row of seats. Advantageously, the left and right-hand parts of the plinth are equi-spaced on opposite sides of the vertical plane bisecting the screen between the respective side edges thereof and extending perpendicularly from the screen. 
     In another embodiment of the invention a first lower row of seats is located in front of the front row of seats, the said first lower row of seats being supported at a level substantially similar to the level of the lower edge of the screen. Preferably, the first lower row of seats comprises a left-hand part and a right-hand part, the left and right-hand parts thereof being equi-spaced on opposite sides of the vertical plane bisecting the screen between the respective side edges thereof and extending perpendicularly from the screen. 
     In another embodiment of the invention a second lower row of one or both of seats and wheelchair spaces is located in the central gap defined by the front plinth at a level substantially similar to the level of the lower edge of the screen. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention a first upper row of seats is located behind the back row of seats. Preferably, the first upper row of seats comprises a left-hand part and a right-hand part equi-spaced on opposite sides of the vertical plane bisecting the screen between the respective side edges thereof and extending perpendicularly from the screen. Advantageously, the left and right-hand parts of the first upper row of seats are located on opposite sides of a projection room. 
     Advantageously, the first upper row of seats is supported on a rear plinth, and the vertical rise between the rear plinth supporting the first upper row of seats and the plinth supporting the back row of seats lies in the range of 400 mm to 800 mm. Preferably, the vertical rise between the rear plinth supporting the first upper row of seats and the plinth supporting the back row of seats is approximately 600 mm. 
     Preferably, the horizontal pitch between the back row of seats and the first upper row of seats lies in the range of 1,000 mm to 1,500 mm. Advantageously, the horizontal pitch between the back row of seats and the first upper row of seats is approximately 1,300 mm. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the aspect ratio of the screen is in the range of 1.85:1 to 2.35:1. Preferably, the aspect ratio of the screen is approximately 1.95:1. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the screen is of overall width from one side edge to the other in the range of 10 metres to 24 metres. Preferably, the screen is of overall width from one side edge to the other of approximately 16 metres. Advantageously, the height of the screen from the lower edge to the upper edge thereof lies in the range of 5 metres to 12 metres. Preferably, the height of the screen from the lower edge to the upper edge thereof is approximately 8 metres. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the screen extends substantially from the floor of the auditorium to the ceiling thereof. Advantageously, the screen extends from one side wall of the cinema structure to another side wall thereof, the side walls of the cinema structure being spaced apart from each other and extending from the front end wall to the rear end wall to define with the front and rear end walls the auditorium. 
     Preferably, the screen comprises a flat screen. Advantageously, the screen comprises a planar screen. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the image projecting means comprises a projection lens, and the image projecting means is located so that a central axis of the projection lens is located at a vertical height above a horizontal plane which bisects the screen between the lower edge and the upper edge thereof and extends perpendicularly therefrom, the vertical height of the central axis of the projection lens above the horizontal bisecting plane being in the range of one-eighth and one-third of the height of the screen from the lower edge to the upper edge thereof. Preferably, the vertical height of the central axis of the projection lens above the horizontal bisecting plane is approximately one-quarter of the height of the screen from the lower edge to the upper edge thereof. 
     Preferably, the central axis of the projection lens of the image projecting means lies in the vertical plane bisecting the screen between the side edges thereof and extending perpendicularly from the screen. 
     In another embodiment of the invention the projection lens of the image projecting means is spaced apart from the screen a perpendicular distance of up to 30 metres. Preferably, the projection lens of the image projecting means is spaced apart from the screen a perpendicular distance of up to 26 metres. Advantageously, the projection lens of the image projecting means is spaced apart from the screen a perpendicular distance in the order of 13 metres to 16 metres. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention the projection lens of the image projecting means comprises a Fresnel lens having a focal length in the range of 0.7 to 13. 
     Preferably, the image projecting means comprises a video projector. 
     The invention also provides a method for facilitating projecting and viewing a motion picture, the method comprising providing a cinema structure comprising a front end wall and a rear end wall spaced apart from the front end wall and defining with the front end wall an auditorium, locating a screen adjacent the front end wall, locating an image projecting means spaced apart from the screen adapted to project a motion picture onto the screen, providing tiered seating in the auditorium at a tiering angle in the range of 20° to 40° rising in a general direction from the front end wall to the rear end wall, and projecting images of the motion picture from the image projecting means onto the screen. 
     The advantages of the invention are many. A particularly important advantage of the invention is that patrons in the auditorium of the cinema structure according to the invention are provided with quite an intimate experience, in that the patrons seated in the auditorium virtually become a part of the action of the motion picture, to the extent that such patrons are provided with an experience of participating in the action of the motion picture. It has been found that this intimate experience which is provided to patrons seated in the auditorium is highly impressive, and furthermore, by virtue of the tiering of the seating and the location of the seating relative to the screen, as well as being provided with an intimate experience, patrons seated in the auditorium are provided with a clear and uninterrupted view of the entire screen. Additionally, the provision of the central gap between the left and right-hand parts of the front row and the central gap between the left and right-hand parts of the front plinth, allow the beam of images of the motion picture projected by the image projecting means uninterrupted onto the screen. 
    
    
     
       The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a cinema structure according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the cinema structure of  FIG. 1  on the line II-II of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  is a front end elevational view of a screen of the cinema structure of  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged side elevational view of a detail of the cinema structure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a cinema structure according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral  1 , within which a motion picture is projected for viewing. The cinema  1  comprises an auditorium  3  defined between a front end wall  4  and a spaced apart rear end wall  5  and spaced apart parallel side walls  6  extending between the front and rear end walls  4  and  5 . The front and rear end walls  4  and  5  and the side walls  6  extend upwardly from a floor  8  of the auditorium  3  to a ceiling  9  of the auditorium  3 . 
     A vertically disposed flat planar screen  10  is located within the auditorium  3  adjacent to and mounted on the front end wall  4 , and an image projecting means, namely, a projector  12  described briefly below projects images of the motion picture onto the screen  10 . The projector  12  is located in a projection room  7  which extends from the rear end wall  5  into the auditorium  3 . Front and side walls  35  and  36 , respectively, partition the projection room  7  from the auditorium  3 . The side walls  36  of the projection room  7  extend from the rear end wall  5  to the front wall  35  of the projection room  7 . Doors  37  in the side walls  36  provide access to the projection room  7  from the auditorium  3 . 
     The screen  10  defines spaced apart lower and upper edges  38  and  39 , respectively, and spaced apart opposite side edges  40 , and extends from the lower edge  38  to the upper edge  39  and from one side edge  40  to the other side edge  40 . Additionally, the height H of the screen  10  is such that the screen  10  extends substantially the height of the front end wall  4  from the floor  8  to the ceiling  9  of the auditorium  3 . The width W of the screen  10  between the side edges  40  is such that the screen  10  extends substantially the width of the front end wall  4  between the side walls  6  of the auditorium  3 . In this embodiment of the invention the width W of the screen  10  is approximately 16 metres, and the height H of the screen  10  is approximately 8 metres, and thus has an aspect ratio of width W to height H of 1.95:1. However, it is envisaged that the width of the screen may be in the range of 10 metres to 24 metres, but preferably, would be in the range of 13 metres to 17 metres, and the height H of the screen may be in the range of 5 metres to 12 metres, but preferably, would be in the range of 6 metres to 9 metres. However, the dimensions of the screen  10  will largely be depending on the dimensions of the front end wall  4 , since in general it is desirable that the area of the screen  10  should be substantially similar to the area of the front end wall  4 . 
     Tiered seating  14  is provided in the auditorium  3 , and the tiering angle α of the seating  14  in this embodiment of the invention is approximately 25° with reference to the floor  8  of the auditorium  3 . The seating  14  is arranged in rows  15  of seats  16  from a front row  15   a  to a back row  15   b . Each row  15  of seats  16  with the exception of the front row  15   a  comprises twenty-five seats  16 . Each row  15  of seats  16  is supported on a corresponding plinth  18 . The rows  15  of seats  16  extend in a general direction from one side wall  6  to the other side wall  6  of the auditorium  3 , and transversely of the direction of tiering. The rows  15  of seats  16  are configured to form an arc when viewed in plan. Each arcuate row  15  is concave when viewed from the screen  10 . 
     The centre seat  16   a  of the second row  15   c , which is the row  15  immediately behind the front row  15   a , is spaced apart a perpendicular distance from the screen  10  of approximately 7.3 metres. The centre seat  16   b  of the back row  15   b  is spaced apart a perpendicular distance from the screen  10  of approximately 14 metres. The rows  15  of seats  16  are spaced apart from each other with a horizontal pitch P 1  of approximately 1,300 mm. The vertical height h 1  of each plinth  18  above the adjacent forward plinth  18  is approximately 600 mm, thus producing the tiering angle α of approximately 25°. The plinth  18  on which the front row  15   a  of seats  16  is supported is at a vertical height h 2  of approximately 1,200 mm above the floor  8  of the auditorium  3 , and in turn is at a vertical height also of approximately 1,200 mm above the lower edge  38  of the screen  10 . 
     The front plinth  18   a  on which the front row  15   a  of seats  16  is supported is formed in two parts, namely, a left-hand part  42   a  and a right-hand part  42   b . A central portion of the front plinth  18   a  is omitted between the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b , so that the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a  define a central gap  43  therebetween. The front row  15   a  of seats  16  is similarly formed in two parts, namely, a left-hand part  44   a  and a right-hand part  44   b . The left-hand part  44   a  of the front row  15   a  of seats  16  is supported on the left-hand part  42   a  of the front plinth  18   a , while the right-hand part  44   b  of the front row  15   a  of seats  16  is supported on the right-hand part  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a . Thus, the left and right-hand parts  44   a  and  44   b  of the front row  15   a  define a central gap  45  above the central gap  43  defined by the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a . The central gaps  43  and  45  in the front plinth  18   a  and the front row  15   a  uninterruptedly accommodate a lower central portion of the projected beam of images of the motion picture from the projector  12  to the screen  10 . 
     The left and right-hand parts  44   a  and  44   b  of the front row  15   a  and the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a  are equi-spaced on opposite sides of a vertical plane  24  which bisects the screen  10  between the side edges  40  thereof and extends perpendicularly from the screen  10 . The left and right-hand parts  44   a  and  44   b  each contain nine seats. The lengths of the central gaps  43  and  45  defined between the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  and  44   a  and  44   b  of the front plinth  18   a  and the front row  15   a , respectively, are substantially similar to each other, and are substantially similar to the space which would be occupied by seven seats arranged side by side relative to each other. 
     Side aisles  27  located on each side of the auditorium  3  between the ends of the rows  15  of seats  16  and the adjacent one of the side walls  6  provide access to the rows  15  of seats  16 . Steps  25  are provided in the side aisles  27  between adjacent plinths  18 , and due to the tiering angle of the rows  15  of seats  16 , and the vertical height h 1  between adjacent plinths  18 , three steps  25  of similar height are provided from one plinth  18  to the next adjacent plinth  18  in each side aisle  27 . Seven steps  26  are provided in each side aisle  27  between the floor  8  of the auditorium  3  and the front plinth  18   a.    
     A first lower row  28  of seats  29  is provided on the floor  8  of the auditorium  3  in two parts, namely, a left-hand part  47   a  and a right-hand part  47   b . The first lower row  28  of seats  29  is located in front of and adjacent the front plinth  18   a , and is arcuate when viewed in plan and concave when viewed from the screen  10 . The left and right-hand parts  47   a  and  47   b  of the first lower row  28  of seats  29  each comprise six seats, and define a central gap  48  which is of greater length than the length of the central gaps  43  and  45  to uninterruptedly accommodate the lower central portion of the projected beam of images of the motion picture from the projector  12  to the screen  10 . The left and right-hand parts  47   a  and  47   b  of the first lower row  28  are equi-spaced on opposite sides of the vertical bisecting plane  24 , which extends perpendicularly from the screen  10 . 
     A second lower row  50  of two seats  51  and two adjacent wheelchair spaces  52  are centrally located on the floor  8  of the auditorium  3  in the central gap  43  defined between the left-hand and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a . The location of the second lower row  50  of the seats  51  and wheelchair spaces  52  on the floor  8  and in the central gap  43  is such that neither the seats  51  nor wheelchairs in the wheelchair spaces  52  nor patrons occupying the two seats  51  and wheelchair spaces  52  interrupt the projected beam of images of the motion picture from the projector  12  to the screen  10 . 
     A first upper row  54  of seats  55  is located behind the back row  15   b  of seats  16  on a rear plinth  56 . The seats  55  of the first upper row  58  are similar to the seats  16  of the rows  15 . The first upper row  54  of seats  55  is arcuate when viewed in plan, and is concave when viewed from the screen  10 . The rear plinth  56  is formed in two parts, namely, a left-hand part  57   a  and a right-hand part  57   b , which extend respectively from the projection room  7  on opposite sides thereof to the corresponding side wall  6  of the auditorium  3 . Similarly, the first upper row  54  of seats  55  is formed in two parts, namely, a left-hand part  58   a  and a right-hand part  58   b , and the seats  55  of the left and right-hand parts  58   a  and  58   b  are supported on the left-hand and right-hand parts  57   a  and  57   b , respectively, of the rear plinth  56 . The left and right-hand parts of the first upper row  54  each comprise ten seats  55 . 
     The vertical height h 3  of the rear plinth  56  above the plinth  18  on which the back row  15   b  of seats  16  is supported is approximately 600 mm. The horizontal pitch P 2  between the back row  15   b  of seats  16  and the first upper row  54  of seats  55  is approximately 1,300 mm. The first four seats  55  adjacent each outer end of the first upper row  54  are spaced back from seats  16  of the back row  15   b  a distance greater than the spacing between the remaining seats  55  of the first upper row  54  and the seats  16  of the back row  15   b  in order to provide more legroom and additional comfort for patrons. 
     The configuration of the rows  15  of seats  16  is such that a patron sitting in the central seat  16   b  of the back row  15   b  of seats  16  has a horizontal viewing angle β 1  of approximately 65° of the screen  10  from one side edge  40  of the screen  10  to the other side edge  40  thereof. The patron sitting in the central seat  16   b  of the back row  15   a  has a vertical viewing angle Δ 1  of approximately 35° of the screen  10  from the lower edge  38  to the upper edge  39  of the screen  10 . A patron sitting in one of the two innermost seats  16   c  in the front row  15   a  has a horizontal viewing angle β 2  of the screen  10  of approximately 100° between the side edges  40  of the screen  10 . The patron sitting in one of the two innermost seats  16   c  of the front row  15   a  is provided with a vertical viewing angle Δ 2  of approximately 60°. 
     Turning now to the projector  12 , an opening  62  in the front wall  35  of the projection room  7  accommodates the beam of images of the motion picture from the projector  12  to the screen  10 . The projector  12  is a DCI compliant digital projector, and comprises a projection lens  22 , which in this embodiment of the invention is a Fresnel lens with a focal length in the range of 0.7 to 1.3. The projector  12  is located in the projection room  7  and supported on a support  60  so that a central axis of the projection lens  22  is contained in the vertical plane  24  which bisects the screen  10  between the side edges  40  thereof and extends perpendicularly from the screen  10 . The projector  12  is supported on the support  60  within the projection room  7  at a level such that the central axis of the projection lens  22  of the projector  12  is at a height h 4  above a horizontal plane  61  which bisects the screen  10  between the lower edge  38  and the upper edge  39  thereof and extends perpendicularly from the screen  10 . The height h 4  in this embodiment of the invention is approximately one quarter of the height H of the screen  10 , see  FIG. 2 . The projector  12  is mounted on the support  60  so that the projection lens  22  of the projector  12  is located at a perpendicular distance d from the screen  20  of between 13 metres and 14 metres. This, thus, provides a horizontal projection angle θ of approximately 60° from the projection lens  22  of the projector  12  to the respective opposite side edges  40  of the screen  10 , and a vertical projection angle γ of approximately 35° from the projection lens  22  of the projector  12  to the lower and upper edges  38  and  39  of the screen  10 . 
     In use, images of the motion picture are projected by the projector  12  onto the screen  10  so that the images of the motion picture fill the entire screen  10  across its full width W from one side edge  40  to the other side edge  40 , and the full height H of the screen  10  from the lower edge  38  to the upper edge  39 . Since the screen  10  extends substantially the full width of the front wall  4  of the auditorium  3  between the side walls  6 , and since the screen  10  extends substantially the full height of the front wall  4  from the floor  8  to the ceiling  9  of the auditorium, and since the tiering angle of the seating  14  is approximately 25°, a patron sitting in any of the seats  16 ,  28 ,  51 ,  55  or in the wheelchair spaces  52  is provided with a particularly intimate experience, whereby such a patron is provided with the impression of virtually becoming a part of the action of the motion picture to the extent that such a patron is provided with the experience of participating in the action of the motion picture. 
     Additionally, the relatively steep tiering of the angle α of the rows  15  of seats  16  and the first upper row  54  of seats  55  provides every patron in the auditorium, including those in the first and second lower rows  28  and  50  with a full and uninterrupted view of the screen  10 . This uninterrupted view of each patron in the auditorium  3  of the screen  10  is further enhanced by the horizontal pitching P 1  of the rows  15  of the seats  16  and the first upper row  54  of seats  55  which also provide legroom and comfort to persons sitting therein, and in particular by the height h 1  and h 3  of the plinths  18  and  56  above the adjacent plinths  18 . 
     The provision of the central gap  43  between the left and right-hand parts  42   a  and  42   b  of the front plinth  18   a  and the central gap  45  between the left and right-hand parts  44   a  and  44   b  of the front row  15   a  of seats  16  ensures that the beam of the images of the motion picture projected by the projector  12  onto the screen  10  is uninterrupted. 
     While the cinema structure has been described as comprising a first lower row  28  of seats  29  and a second lower row  50  of seats  51  and wheelchair spaces  52 , while this is desirable, it is not essential. It is also envisaged that the first upper row  54  of seats  55  may be omitted, and in which case, the back row  15   b  of seats  16  would be the last row of seats in the auditorium. 
     While the vertical height between adjacent plinths has been described as being 600 mm, it is envisaged that the vertical height between adjacent plinths may be in the range of 400 mm to 800 mm. It is also envisaged that the horizontal pitch between the plinths  18  and between the rear plinth  56  and the plinth  18  supporting the back row  15   b  of seats  16  may be greater or less than 1,300 metres, and may in fact lie in the range of 1,000 mm to 1,500 mm. It is also envisaged that the tiering angle α of the seating may be of any angular value between 20° and 40°. 
     While the screen has been described as comprising an aspect ratio of 1.95:1, it is envisaged that the aspect ratio of the screen may be in the range of 1.85:1 to 2.35:1. 
     While the screen has been described as being of width 16 metres, it is envisaged that the screen may be of width in the range of 10 metres to 24 metres, but would preferably be of width in the range of 13 metres to 17 metres. Additionally, while the screen has been described as being of height of 8 metres, it is envisaged that the height of the screen may be of any suitable height in the range of 5 metres to 12 metres, but would preferably be of height in the range of 6 metres to 9 metres. However, in general, the height and width of the screen will be dictated by the area of the front end wall, since it is desirable that the screen should be of substantially similar width and height to the width and height, respectively, of the front end wall. 
     While the rows  15  have been described as each comprising twenty-five seats with the exception of the front row  15   a , it will be appreciated that the number of seats in each row will largely be dictated by the width of the auditorium between the side walls  6 . Additionally, while the left and right-hand parts of the front row  15   a  have been described as each comprising nine seats, it will be appreciated that the number of seats in each left and right-hand part of the front row will also be determined largely by the width of the auditorium between the side walls  6 . Needless to say, it is envisaged that the central gaps  43  and  45  between the left and right-hand parts of the front plinth  18   a  and the front row  15   a  may be of any desired length, other than a length corresponding to the space occupied by seven seats arranged side by side relative to each other. Indeed, the length of the central gaps  43  and  45  will largely be selected to ensure that the beam of images of the motion picture which is projected from the projector onto the screen is projected without interruptions which could otherwise be caused by obstacles, such as seats or heads of patrons sitting on such seats which would otherwise be included in the front row. 
     The spacing of the central seat of the row of seats immediately behind the front row of seats from the screen  10 , and the spacing of the centre seat in the back row of seats from the screen  10  may be other than those described, and will largely be dictated by the size of the auditorium between the front end wall and the rear end wall. 
     While the projector has been described as being a video projector, any suitable projector may be used, and where the projector is a video projector, it is envisaged that the projector may be a digital video projector. 
     It will also be appreciated that the height of the central axis of the projection lens above the horizontal bisecting plane  61  may be any suitable height, and typically, will be a height within the range of one-eighth of the height of the screen to one-third of the height of the screen.