Arrow Video Launching in the US (1 Viewer)

[EddieLarkin]

I should have been clearer. I am a huge fan of Synapse for instance and know all about the efforts they have put into titles. I only made gushing posts about them a few weeks ago:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topic/334002-a-few-words-about%E2%84%A2-prom-night-in-blu-ray/

I should have said that the only other label that has a releasing strategy similar to what Arrow are aiming for with this move is Criterion. That being 5-6 Blu-ray titles per month, many (most?) of them with new transfers they've carried out themselves.

 

[walter o]

Yeah, granted there are a few others. Some of those labels are so indie they're releasing a tiny number of titles a year (Synapse usually do about 5?). VS is in a particularly unique situation since they have their own scanning facility (I think that's how they started out?), though most of their transfers end up on DVD.Arrow are looking to take the 50-60 Blu-rays they do each year (most of them off the shelf masters) and start to do many more of their own transfers. That and to stop having to drop titles from their schedule when they see how poor the licensors master is.

Tiny numbers? I released about 37 titles this year alone. Thats your definition of TINY?

 

[EddieLarkin]

Well I was specifically referring to Synapse and Vinegar Syndrome (the latter release a ton of titles but only a few are Blu-ray). I'm not sure which indie label you run but I guess it's Scorpion? I like your work though I had no idea you had released anything like 37 titles a year (or that many of them were new transfers done for the Blu-ray). I need to take a closer look at your catalog...

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Some business model, asking fans to fund the company's expansion - I guess that's where we are in 2014. Maybe I'll do the same.

Looks a good deal to me. Arrow are making a determined effort to give us the very best transfers available but still being a small independent this is very expensive to produce....................but what do we do accept an inferior product that has been taken as is with little or no work done on it, or look forward to owning a pristine copy of a cult classic.

The Kickstarter campaign for The Camera Obscurer set was a runaway success and in return look what fans got, probably one of the finest looking sets ever committed to Blu Ray.

 

[cineMANIAC]

I love how Arrow took the initiative with a film like The 'Burbs and insisted on working on the transfer themselves. Of course, it took a studio willing to cooperate, but this is the kind of thing I want to see more of from all the indie labels. Universal's source materials are often dated and mediocre and the studio would just as well churn out crappy Blu-rays as much as they seemingly dismiss the format as just another product, hence the lousy PQ. Someone like Arrow coming in and "rescuing" films could only be a good thing. Thankfully, the label has expanded beyond cult titles so we can expect to see more films like Cinema Paradiso treated properly. The icing on the cake is that all of this extends to presentation/packaging - original artwork, extras beyond standard talking-head featurettes, booklets and cool packaging will enhance the end product to a point where it will once again be fun to collect. I, for one, am excited by this.

 

[Kyrsten Brad]

Brad here. While horror is not my genre in general, I do like a few titles. (Such as TT's "The Blob 88" ). Not only is Arrow's U.S. entry good news for the Horror genre , maybe they now could help get some more titles from other genres released with new transfers either by releasing such titles themselves (THE BURBS) or competitive pressure on other labels. I for one would like a new 4K transfer Blu of ALOHA BOBBY & ROSE to replace the current crappy DVD release. Maybe Arrow could do it or pressure Shout (Timeless ) into doing it. Here's Hopin.

 

[dana martin]

first off I am not going to bash any of the independents, they are the ones who are out there releasing titles that the studios seem to have forgotten, and they all seem to care about putting out the best releases that they can,

Also from some of the comments back and forth in this thread, looks like we have a lot more "Insiders" than just the ones at the top tab, that's a great thing, because it gives us better informed feedback. Not everyone wants to do facebook, I my self prefer this style of open discussion.

This is a golden opportunity, for any of the independents' that do frequent this forum to step up, start a thread, discuss your releases, your prospects, and see what good things are said about you.

the best case that can come out of this, is that maybe Studio X doesn't want to deal with a certain company so that would mean no release at all, but they are willing to deal with Arrow, so who benefits, we do!


like I said, Vyn Syn, Grindhouse, Synapse, Scorpion, Code Red, Blue Underground, Raro; if you are on here let us know, god knows I have all kinds of questions, and love for the works that all of you have done.

 

[EddieLarkin]

Brad here. While horror is not my genre in general, I do like a few titles. (Such as TT's "The Blob 88" ).Not only is Arrow's U.S. entry good news for the Horror genre , maybe they now could help get some more titles from other genres released with new transfers either by releasing such titles themselves (THE BURBS) or competitive pressure on other labels.I for one would like a new 4K transfer Blu of ALOHA BOBBY & ROSE to replace the current crappy DVD release. Maybe Arrow could do it or pressure Shout (Timeless ) into doing it.Here's Hopin.

Arrow Video really specialises in cult rather than horror, but many of their titles are horror for obvious reasons. But there's plenty of titles that aren't remotely horror: Withnail and I, Immoral Tales, Day of Anger, Time Bandits, Remo Williams, The Delta Force, Runaway Train, Stray Cat Rock, Pit Stop. So really there should be something for everyone in the new American releases.

 

[FoxyMulder]

Some business model, asking fans to fund the company's expansion - I guess that's where we are in 2014. Maybe I'll do the same.

If the studio's would just splash out for new scans of some of their catalog titles we wouldn't be in this situation, even letting some of their films rot too, take The Alamo situation as a case in point, how many others are suffering that fate, i think as long as those fans are getting something out of it then more power to these small labels, i'd rather see a quality catalog release than what we get with most of the Olive or Shout titles, those are just two small labels that could do better that i can mention.

I'd rather the large studio's invested more in new scans but it seems only Sony/Columbia are doing this on a regular basis.

 

[David Weicker]

The first Arrow film I ever read about is definitely not a Cult or Horror film - Sullivan'sTravels (currently ordered, not yet delivered).So this is good news to me. Especially as they hinted they may be doing more Preston Sturges titles (one of my top five directors)

 

[Brian Kidd]

I'm excited, but I think we all need to remember that just because Arrow has the rights to release a film in the UK, another company may own the rights in the US. Unless they switch to a model where they only do releases where they can secure the rights in both territories, there are still going to be films that will only be available from Arrow in the UK. I'm glad that I'll finally be able to see what they can do, but I'm realistic that their US output may be limited at first. Frankly, any company that deals in releasing less-than-mainstream films on physical media these days deserves a pat on the back. The glory days of physical media are behind us, sadly.

 

[EddieLarkin]

They've said they are switching to a model where they'll only licence titles where they can get them for both territories, barring some special exemptions. They have a back log of UK licences through to May 2015, but once they're out they'll be releasing the majority of everything in both countries. If the campaign is a success, we're talking 5 to 6 titles a month.

 

[haineshisway]

If the studio's would just splash out for new scans of some of their catalog titles we wouldn't be in this situation, even letting some of their films rot too, take The Alamo situation as a case in point, how many others are suffering that fate, i think as long as those fans are getting something out of it then more power to these small labels, i'd rather see a quality catalog release than what we get with most of the Olive or Shout titles, those are just two small labels that could do better that i can mention.

I'd rather the large studio's invested more in new scans but it seems only Sony/Columbia are doing this on a regular basis.

I have no problem with what they may or may not do in the future, here or elsewhere. My problem is with the fact that they are asking fans to fund their operation, and on top of that to purchase the discs. That seems weird to me, but I understand we live in a peculiar world.

 

[FoxyMulder]

My problem is with the fact that they are asking fans to fund their operation, and on top of that to purchase the discs.

They help with the funding they get the discs for free.

 

[EddieLarkin]

Bruce, the discs available through the campaign page are pledge options, i.e. you're buying a disc early and in return you help make the campaign a success. They're not expecting people to pledge some money and then buy the discs as well. Essentially, if you pledge $25 you get a free title, $65 3 free titles, $100 5 free titles and so on. So if people want these discs anyway the only downside is having to front the cash a bit earlier than usual.

For the record, the campaign isn't to fund the move itself:

"The goal doesn't scratch the surface of the real funding needed. The goal we've set would barely fund the releases we've already planned. The point of it isn't simply the funding itself but also for people to show they're behind the idea, to help spread the word. See the 'Why the need for Indiegogo' section on the page and this will show why we're doing the funding."

 

[haineshisway]

Bruce, the discs available through the campaign page are pledge options, i.e. you're buying a disc early and in return you help make the campaign a success. They're not expecting people to pledge some money and then buy the discs as well. Essentially, if you pledge $25 you get a free title, $65 3 free titles, $100 5 free titles and so on. So if people want these discs anyway the only downside is having to front the cash a bit earlier than usual.

For the record, the campaign isn't to fund the move itself:

Well, good luck administering those perks. The campaign is a success no matter what on indiegogo because they don't have to reach their goal to get the dough as on Kickstarter.

 

[EddieLarkin]

Not in this case. They've opted to keep it similar to Kickstarter and only keep the money if they reach $100,000.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

Well, good luck administering those perks. The campaign is a success no matter what on indiegogo because they don't have to reach their goal to get the dough as on Kickstarter.

Seems like you are none to keen on this news from Arrow?

 

[FoxyMulder]

It's stiff competition for other small labels who don't currently invest in new film scans, i wish Arrow had the rights to films like Zulu, The Quiet Man and High Noon, i believe they would have spent the money to have gorgeous looking blu ray versions.

 

[haineshisway]

Seems like you are none to keen on this news from Arrow?

I don't really care one way or the other - I've bought a few of their discs, been happy with a few and not so happy with a few. I don't know why you would go to that land (that I'm not keen on this news) since my post is specifically about the business model they're using to fund the move.