I just ran across this and want to let you guys know aboiut it, this one is with silent film Guru Ben Model, working with UCLA archives to bring back from the dead a film thought lost for decades. There is still time to be a part of it, if this is something you think is wporth while...
This Kickstarter project will fund the production of a Blu-ray/DVD release of Roland West's "THE BAT" (1926). The film stars Jack Pickford and Jewel Carmen and features an ensemble cast of Louise Fazenda, Arthur Housman, Tullio Carminati, George Beranger, Eddie Gribbon, Emily Fitzroy, and Sôjin Kamiyama. William Cameron Menzies’ production design could be also be considered a supporting player.
After being considered a lost film for decades, in the late 1980s "THE BAT" was discovered, preserved and (photochemically) restored in 35mm from a nitrate print by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Although a big hit in its original release, the film is relatively unfamiliar to silent film and to horror/suspense film fans today. Despite its being available for screenings, UCLA's 35mm show print has only been booked around a dozen times.
Bob Kane, credited with creating Batman, has said that "THE BAT" and "THE BAT WHISPERS" (West's 1930 talkie remake) were an inspiration for the idea of Bruce Wayne's have a bat identity and bat costume.
This project will bring Roland West's "THE BAT" back to fans' awareness and will get it added to the playlist of silent films shown every October.
Our timeline will aim to have this finished and ready in time for Halloween in 2024.
This Kickstarter project will fund the production of a Blu-ray/DVD release of Roland West's "THE BAT" (1926). The film stars Jack Pickford and Jewel Carmen and features an ensemble cast of Louise Fazenda, Arthur Housman, Tullio Carminati, George Beranger, Eddie Gribbon, Emily Fitzroy, and Sôjin Kamiyama. William Cameron Menzies’ production design could be also be considered a supporting player.
After being considered a lost film for decades, in the late 1980s "THE BAT" was discovered, preserved and (photochemically) restored in 35mm from a nitrate print by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Although a big hit in its original release, the film is relatively unfamiliar to silent film and to horror/suspense film fans today. Despite its being available for screenings, UCLA's 35mm show print has only been booked around a dozen times.
Bob Kane, credited with creating Batman, has said that "THE BAT" and "THE BAT WHISPERS" (West's 1930 talkie remake) were an inspiration for the idea of Bruce Wayne's have a bat identity and bat costume.
This project will bring Roland West's "THE BAT" back to fans' awareness and will get it added to the playlist of silent films shown every October.
Project credits
- a new 2K scan of the 35mm preservation negative will be made by UCLA Film & TV. I have recently worked out a co-branding arrangement with UCLA, similar to the one I've had with the Library of Congress over the last several years.
- digital stabilization and restoration will be done by Thad Komorowski, of Cineaste Restoration
- grading (shot-by-shot exposure correction) will be done by Chris Crouse, who has done this work for Undercrank Productions on our releases of Zander The Great and the Raymond Griffith project.
- graphic design for the Blu-ray and DVD cases will be done by Marlene Weisman, who's done the design for all of the Undercrank Productions releases.
- Crystal Kui will serve as Associate Producer on the project, and will produce a video essay about The Bat that will be written and narrated by Scott MacQueen, Head of Film Preservation Emeritus, UCLA Film and Television Archive.
- I will create a new musical score for the film
Our timeline will aim to have this finished and ready in time for Halloween in 2024.
