Jim Mendrala is currently involved with digital cinema. Jim began his digital cinema career with Sonex International Corp. in 1973 and for over 25 years has performed experiments, filed and has received patents on and has directed and guided the development of digital cinema. In 1999, Jim was VP of Technology for Real Image Technology. In 1995, he served as a Sr. Scientist at Hughes Communications and Space on their Digital Cinema project. In 1988, he was employed as a Systems Engineer and engineered for NBC-TV the M.A.G.I.C. Room (Multiple Access Graphics Imaging Center}. This was the first use of component video at NBC-TV. In 1984, as a TV Systems Engineer, Jim designed the broadcast facilities for ABC-TV’s Unilateral Broadcast Center to cover the XXIII Summer Olympics for which he received an Emmy for outstanding achievement. This was the first time the opening ceremonies were televised with stereo audio. Jim was Engineering Supervisor at Vidtronics, division of Technicolor and prior to that he was a Field Engineer for RCA Broadcast Systems and Cohu Electronics. In 1961 Jim was a Calibration Engineer at the Autonetics, division of North American Aviation during the Apollo program. 

Jim has authored numerous papers and articles on television, HDTV and digital cinema. Jim is a member of the IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers), SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), IS&T (Society for Imaging Science and Technology) and the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). In 1990, Jim was President of the STE (Society of Television Engineers). Jim graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1957 and then attended the Radio Electronic Television School (R.E.T.S.) in Detroit, Michigan where he earned a BA degree in Practical Communications and Electronic Engineering.