3D Summit: Bob Dowling On Change in The 3D Business

8:40 AM PDT, Universal City, CA - Bob Dowling is a kind of grandfatherly seer, and a legend in the Hollywood media business. Long associated with the growth of The Hollywood Reporter, he saw the possibilities with 3D and jumped in early.

Now, he says that the only way for the industry to grow is to convince the consumer. Which is an interesting point, because at Comic Con 2010 there was a kind of backlash against 3D.

Dowling says the summit will identify the drivers in the industry - that's a systems thinking term.

He now introduces Charlotte Jones, Senior Analyst, Film and Cinema.    Some notes:

- In 2010 - 60 cinema releases and $5.5 bil in revenues.

- 3d cinema screen base increased 40 percent from 15,000 to 22,000 in one year, from 2009 to 2010.

- 20 percent of all screens are now converted to 3D.  North America screen developments are rising, but internationally, it's leveling off.
- Avatar caused a three-fold increase in 3D screens, and now it's five-fold in growth over the last two years.