Industry journalists reported from the front lines of Moody Gardens last month as Barco unveiled a series of digital cinema industry firsts.

On Monday, while most of us are focused on announcements of the newest gadgets in the run-up to the Consumer Electronics Show, technologists gathered in Galveston, Texas, for the Moody Gardens Digital Cinema Symposium will see a major public demonstration of a laser-driven movie projector.

Industry journalists reported from the front lines of Moody Gardens last month as Barco unveiled a series of digital cinema industry firsts

The 2nd Annual Moody Gardens Digital Cinema Symposium took place Monday-Tuesday at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. Barco, teaming with museum cinema integration company D3D Cinema, was the event’s host, and Barco–as much of the electronics industry played with gadgets at CES in Vegas– unveiled some impressive large-screen milestones in Galveston, during the two-day event. The event also included presentations by Doremi, Qube, and other providers.

“What our customers want now more than anything is brightness. That’s what improves the user experience right now in 3D,” said Todd Hoddick, VP Entertainment for Barco North America. “The key is to drive the combination of brightness and light levels up, while driving total cost of ownership down."

At the second annual Moody Gardens Digital Cinema Symposium, Premiere Cinemas VP of Cinema Operations Joel Davis attended the first demonstration of Barco’s revolutionary laser projector on a giant screen, remarking “the contrast ratio on the screen and full brightness are unbelievable.”

There’s bright, then there’s record-breaking bright. Barco already owns the world record for brightest projector, setting that mark at 43,000 ANSI lumens in 2010. With its newest prototype, it could blow that mark away with 55,000 ANSI lumens.

Cinergy Cinemas CEO Jeff Benson recently attended the Moody Gardens Digital Cinemas Symposium, and after experiencing Barco’s laser projector technology showcase, he commented, “This was the brightest image I’ve ever seen on a screen that size – Really impressive!”