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FOPP RETURNS TO NOTTINGHAM
GARFIELD GETS THE MOMENTS WORTH PAYING FOR TREATMENT
FACT GIVEN KING’S AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE
STUDIOCANAL STARTS THE CONVERSATION…
COMMENT AS COPPOLA CLASSIC RETURNS
ROOM FOR MORE POWELL AND PRESSBURGER
AS STUDIOCANAL BRINGS MORE TO 4K
BRUISING MONTH FOR POWERHOUSE
RADIANCE UNVEILS AUGUST TITLES…
…AS CRITERION DOES THE BUSINESS
KICKSTARTER FOR PHYSICAL LEE RELEASE
RECORD STORE DAY SHATTERS RECORDS
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
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It was a good week for… hmv's fopp opens its first new store for years…
It was a bad week for… Paramount staff worldwide, facing uncertainty as rumours swirl around and Sony puts in a bid for the rival studio…
We have been watching… Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, which stormed to the top of the UK and global box office, with an estimated £3.8m here from a $129m worldwide haul. And at the opposite end of the scale, the excellent indie doc Much Ado About Dying…
Good news from hmv, for the retailer has this week announced the first new fopp store opening for some years. The brand, which hmv took over in the late 2000s, will be throwing open the doors in Nottingham, said md Phil Halliday. The brand disappeared from the East Midlands city after shuttering its store 2020. Halliday praised those involved for their dedication in helping with the first new fopp store for years, and said he hoped there would be more fopp openings on the way. hmv has returned to store openings, with a flagship new outlet coming back to the West End of London last year as it returned to its landmark Oxford Street site. Halliday said: “After some tlc over the past few years and some incredible grit and determination from those close to the brand, we are in a position to open the first new Fopp store for a number of years, in Nottingham in June. With its own incredible legacy, it offers something different to our hmv estate and represents something very special to many of us in and around the Sunrise Records HQ. The first of many more, we hope.” hmv has also opened a second new European store, this time in Belgian capital Brussels. The retailer had opened in another Belgian city, Antwerp, towards the end of 2023.
After returning in 2024 with a bang and a new message featuring the latest in the Mad Max saga Furiosa, the Industry Trust and its ongoing Moments Worth Paying For… campaign are back again with a new missive highlighting the importance of copyright and seeing films legitimately and on the big screen. And the organisation has teamed up with Sony Pictures for another big May 24 release to get its message across, albeit one as far removed from Furiosa as you could get. For Garfield and its voiceover star Chris Pratt are banging the drum for IP awareness and seeing films at local cinemas in the newly-released trailer. BASE chief executive Liz Bales said: “It is great to welcome back Hollywood actor Chris Pratt to deliver our Moments Worth Paying For message, promoting the big screen as the best place to watch films first and driving engagement for local cinemas across the UK and Ireland. With the next Moments trailer a family feature, this campaign highlights the role of cinema as a first touchpoint for entertainment, introducing a younger audience to the big-screen experience, and building a love of cinema from a young age. My thanks go to Sony for creating this Moments campaign and to the continued support of DCM, Pearl & Dean, Clear Channel, and members of the UK Cinema Association.” Sony Pictures Entertainment md Ian George added: “Sony's latest title The Garfield Movie is a fun-filled, hilarious adventure brought to life by the magic of cinema. Every line, every joke, and every meow are best enjoyed through the shared experience of the big screen. We are delighted to be working with The Industry Trust again to highlight the importance and value of enjoying a movie at the cinema, encouraging families and those of all ages to join in the shared laughs and experience of Garfield, together, on the big screen.” You can see it here…
More from the world of copyright and IP and FACT, once known as the Federation Against Copyright Theft, one of longest-running campaigners against piracy in all its forms, has been given a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. The organisation, which began life fighting VHS piracy during the video boom, has pivoted and broadened its scope in recent years and now advises on all forms of copyright theft, notably in broadcast and sporting areas. The award recognises its “outstanding growth in providing due diligence and investigation services worldwide” and follows a in increase in international trade of more than 300 per cent over the past three years. FACT ceo Kieron Sharp, who will collect the award from King Charles III in July said: “Winning the King’s Award for Enterprise is a notable milestone for FACT. This remarkable achievement recognises our unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of our business and is a testament to the outstanding dedication and hard work of every member of the FACT team.” The King’s Awards celebrate the success of dynamic and innovative companies which are leading the way in the field of business. We are proud to be a recipient of this award. To win the King’s Award strengthens our reputation as a leader in this field and we look forward to an exciting future. FACT continues to grow, serving new global markets with innovation which best serves our clients.”
There’s a busy few months ahead for Studiocanal, not just with new releases but also on the classic side, as it brings more and more restored goodies to the market. Just announced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic conspiracy thriller The Conversation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The film has been restored, with Coppola himself involved and artwork created by his preferred designer Laurent Durieux. It will land in cinemas on first, on July 5, while it’s also due on a two-disc 4K UHD on July 15, alongside a digital release. The package includes a booklet, posters and a cassette tape featuring the score, while on disc extras include a raft of additional material, including commentaries from Coppola and his editor Walter Murch. On the restoration, the announcement noted: “For the 2024 restoration of The Conversation, the original negative was accessed for the first time and scanned in 4k. An approved reference print was used for the colour grading and the 5.1 soundtrack was created in 2000 by Walter Murch. The home entertainment release will include the original 1974 Mono track. The restoration was fully approved by Francis Ford Coppola.” The director himself said: “As you will notice, I have never offered a new version of The Conversation, which is a film I have always been proud of, I've never felt the need to improve. It also features my wonderful collaboration with its editor (along with Richard Chew) and sound designer, Walter Murch which reinforces my belief that cinema is a collaborative effort. I am gratified to have made a film that has lived for 50 years.”
Further comment came from Studiocanal’s Alison Arber, who noted: “We were thrilled to launch a brand-new trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 masterpiece The Conversation, last week showcasing a fantastic new 4K restoration in celebration of the films 50th anniversary. In addition, we launched the stunning new poster designed by acclaimed artist (and Coppola’s favourite) Laurent Durieux. We will be releasing in cinemas on July 5th and on 4K UHD collector’s edition with a collectable cassette tape of David Shire’s original soundtrack on July 15.” You can see the trailer here…
There’s plenty of activity going on around giants of British filmmaking Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger – isn’t there always, what with last year’s season at the BFI and The Red Shoes and Peeping Tom releases? Not that we’re complaining. Much of it comes on the back of the theatrical release of documentary Made In England – The Films Of Powell and Pressburger from Altitude. And Studiocanal is joining in the fray with a first ever Blu-ray release for a restored work from the duo, The Small Back Room. The film is marking its 75th anniversary this year, and has been given the full 4k treatment for its restoration, with, as is often the case, Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker overseeing the project. It also comes with new additional materials adding to a commentary and more. It arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and digital on June 3, on Studiocanal’s Vintage Classics label, following a premiere screening at the BFI on May 28. Comment came from Studiocanal’s Alison Arber, who said: “Following on from our release of Peeping Tom in January this year, we are once again thrilled to be working with The Film Foundation, this time for the release of a spectacular 4K restoration of Powell and Pressburger’s compelling psychological drama The Small Back Room, starring David Farrar. The new restoration premiered at the BFI Southbank on May 28, and we will be releasing it on Blu-ray and DVD on June 3 as part of our Vintage Classics range. Based on the 1943 novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin, The Small Back Room has a grittier and darker tone than many of Powell and Pressburger’s films – a British noir with dramatic camerawork from Christopher Challis (Arabesque, The Deep), heightening the claustrophobia and psychological tension of the narrative with the use of close-ups.”
Studiocanal has also added a few titles to its forthcoming slate of home entertainment releases, with a clutch of titles landing on 4K Ultra HD for the first time. First up on May 20 is the smart action thriller directed by Duncan Jones, Source Code. The Jake Gyllenhaal starrer is a cut above the average actioner and lands on the 4K format with a raft of extras. It’s followed a week later by separate releases for the excellent South Korean zombie horror Train To Busan and its sequel, Train To Busan Peninsula. These too come with Making Of extras and more, with all the releases being just the kind of fare that will win over fans of the ultra high definition format. The company’s Thom Leaman said: “Source Code, Train To Busan and Peninsula are all modern cult classics. Now given the full 4K restoration treatment and part of Studiocanal's ever-growing UHD catalogue, they deserve to take pride of place in any discerning genre fan's collection.”
There have been plenty of further announcements in the past week or so, with a clutch of boutique labels announcing their summer titles. Chief among them was Powerhouse, adding a brace of titles to its range, with each of them coming from hugely respected directors and both never having made an appearance on Blu-ray in the UK. The company’s Sam Dunn outlined its slate, saying: "George A Romero and Barbet Shroeder are both directors whose track records clearly speak for themselves, so we're absolutely thrilled to be announcing these brilliant, shocking films. Incredibly, this will be the UK Blu-ray premiere of Single White Female, one of the most iconic Hollywood films of the early 1990s. Similarly, Romero's Bruiser has never had a UK Blu-ray, either, so it's especially pleasing to not only be rectifying that, but to also be announcing the world premiere 4K UHD edition. Both titles promise shocks and derangement aplenty, and - if viewers can recover their wits after viewing - the discs also include fascinating and enlightening interviews and commentaries with cast and crew, including their respective directors."
As reported here recently, The Raygun’s Tim Murray interviewed director Peter Strickland about his new Curzon boxset featuring his entire filmography last week for a feature in Film Stories magazine and he mentioned a bunch of labels currently excelling in the physical media space. One of those he singled out was relative newcomer Radiance and the company has just announced its next raft of titles due and given its wide-reaching and eclectic nature we’re sure the director would be impressed. Radiance’s Fran Simeoni talked us through the slate, saying: “We are delighted with the reaction to our August slate which includes the world English-subtitle premiere of Fernando Arrabal's cult shocker Viva la muerte. As co-founder of the Panic Movement with Alejandro Jodorowsky and Roland Topor we think fans of their work will naturally beeline to this film along with our marketing efforts invoking popular surrealist and controversial directors like Luis Bunuel and Walerian Borowczyk. We also announced our fourth Tai Kato film with his period crime film Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza. Full of sword fighting with flashes of humour and affecting humanism, this run of Kato films has caught the imagination of buyers and the steady stream has meant that people have continually been buying into the series at various stages with many announcing the filmmaker a new favourite. Our final Radiance release is our second volume in our World Noir series. Like the first collection this once again takes noir infused films from around the globe and adds a healthy dose of extras including an 80-page book. Cover star Joe Shishido of Branded to Kill fame and French character actors like Charles Vanel and Jean Rochefort have attracted fans to this set with equal fervour to the first, which is on the cusp of selling out. We also announced Fernando Di Leo's brilliant - and Pulp Fiction-inspiring - Italian crime masterwork The Italian Connection as part of our partnership with Raro Video. This UK debut release features a new 4K restoration and new extras and booklet.”
The Criterion imprint is still going strong under Spirit’s watchful eye and guidance here in the UK, and it has just announced a trio of varied titles due on July. The month kicks off for Criterion on July 15 with Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le Samourai in a 4K restoration on 4K UHD and Blu-ray, with the US noir meets French new wave flick starring Alain Delon never looking as sharp. It’s followed a week later by a classic Brian de Palma conspiracy thriller in the shape of the post-Grease and Saturday Night Fever vehicle for John Travolta. This is also on 4K UHD and Blu-ray. The month is rounded off with a July 29 bow for pop classic Risky Business starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca de Mornay. Comment came from Spirit’s Tracy Niland who said: “Another month and another round of Criterion releases to get excited about. On July 15, Jean-Pierre Melville’s Le samouraï gets the well-deserved 4k treatment making it look and feel even cooler than ever (if that’s possible) and with an uncompressed monoaural soundtrack – although sound is few and far between, the echoes of footsteps seem even crisper than before. The following week, on 22nd, we have John Travolta directed by Brian De Palma in Blow Out with a new 4k restoration alongside a host of extras including interviews and a brand new essay. And then to finish the month on a high, Risky Business is coming out on 4k and Blu-Ray on 29th. The film that made Tom Cruise a movie star the moment he slid onto the screen and danced round his house in his pink shirt and tighty-whities (Saltburn eat your heart out!) With a brand new, director approved 4k restoration, the film looks and sounds more vibrant than ever and together with a bundle of brand new features, this looks like a lovely addition the to collection.”
We’ve written about Jon Spira before, who started in the industry at the Videosyncratic rental store in Oxford (his tome Videosyncratic, subtitled “a book about life in video shops” is essential reading) has become an accomplished filmmaker and boasts a filmography that includes Star Wars doc Elstree 1976, Hollywood Bulldogs, about stunt men, and the series Reel Britannia, which chars the history of British cinema. Now the UK video industry’s answer to Quentin Tarantino has completed a new doc looking at the life and times of Christopher Lee. The film blends traditional documentary filmmaking with a more fantasy element, including a marionette version of the legendary horror actor introducing and narrating (it’s voiced by Peter Serafinowicz. As the announcement of the film this week noted: “This is a campaign to fund the production and manufacture of the factory-pressed, Region-Free Special Edition Blu-Ray, Limited/Numbered Collectors Deluxe Coffin Box Set and Download-To-Own Digital versions of the brand new feature-length documentary The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee. It has sold to distributors all over the world and will be released on streaming platforms this year. As huge film fans and collectors, we decided to handle the physical release ourselves and make it really special. This is not available anywhere else in the world, it's a Kickstarter exclusive.” It’s available in digital download versions and actual physical copies, with a lavish box set including a Christopher Lee death mask. Spira said: “I've spent the last 18 months with producer Hank Starrs making a wild, beautiful, definitive exploration and tribute to an iconic film star. The film is finished and we want to share it with you by producing a top quality Blu-Ray with great extra features and a really amazing LIMITED/NUMBERED EDITION COFFIN-SHAPED BOX SET, full of goodies, which will look killer on the shelf of any discerning cineaste. The jewel in the crown of this box-set will be a 3D 'death mask' of Christopher Lee designed and produced by Arch Model Studio exclusively for this set. We also want to host some screenings - both online and in real cinemas - so we can all experience it together and you can get to meet some of the people behind it.” Spira himself told The Raygun: “As readers of The Raygun will know, it’s getting increasingly difficult to find distribution for indie docs. So, this time we decided to hold in to the physical rights and do it ourselves in a way which would really celebrate Christopher Lee and his fans. We anticipate a very short run of the numbered box sets, probably no more than 500 so when we say ‘collector’s edition’ we really mean it.” You can see more here…
We neglected to report on our Record Store Day activity this year, popping in to the West End of London and trawling around its vinyl emporiums, and also chatting to a few retailers outside of the capital too (and yes, we got that Two Lone Swordsmen album we were after). And it’s interesting to note in entertainment retail trade body ERA’s post-RSD analysis just how big the 2024 event was. For after 16 years, the day is still showing growth and the RSD factor, coupled with a new Taylor Swift album, “show 269,134 vinyl albums and 37,656 vinyl singles were sold in chart week 17, making a total of 306,791”. ERA’s statement continued: “This is higher than in any week since week five 1994 when current statistics began. Sales of vinyl copies of [Swift’s]The Tortured Poets Department – many of them sold through independent record stores – accounted for just under a quarter (24.7 per cent) of the week’s vinyl album sales. Meanwhile sales of vinyl albums exclusive to independent record shops as part of Record Store Day accounted for an estimated 37.2 per cent of the vinyl albums market.” ERA’s Kim Bayley added: “Indie record shops were first to realise that the growth of streaming would paradoxically provide an opportunity for the most physical of physical formats and vinyl has sat at the heart of Record Store Day’s celebration of indie record shop culture since 2008. Taylor Swift has long been a supporter of indie record stores and served as Record Store Day’s global ambassador in 2022,” she said. “Her support has undoubtedly helped drive even more younger fans to indie record shops, helping sustain the stores which are one of the most vibrant elements of the music ecosystem.” With more than 66,000 copies shifted in its first week, Swift’s album enjoyed the biggest week on LP vinyl sales for 30 years.
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
This looks Fancy…
This week’s Signature trailer…
Here’s Blur…
I can’t do it without you…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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