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TIM BEDDOWS RIP
COLLEAGUES, ASSOCIATES FRIENDS SHOCKED…
… INDUSTRY PAYS TRIBUTE TO NETWORK FOUNDER
ALTITUDE UP FOR THE CUP…
…MARKS LIONESSES’ WIN
DESIGNATED DRIVER POLISH UP WITH WAJDA
WHEN I’M CLEANING WENDERS
A DAZZLER CHRISTMAS
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
It’s been a while, apologies for our absence; pressures of deadlines on other projects and more have meant a minor disappearance. Rest assured, we’ll have one more issue before Christmas, then we’ll be back in January with a renewed focus and verve… Thanks for the nice emails, thanks for your patience and support and everything else…
The news that has shocked many in the industry in recent weeks has been the sudden passing of Network Distributing founder and manging director Tim Beddows, who was at the helm of the company he created for a quarter of a century. A passionate believer in the business and the kind of entrepreneurial spirit on which our industry has thrived for years, Beddows’ vision of a distributor releasing classic homegrown fare, ranging from television to film, became a reality and then some. A film collector himself, his knowledge of British obscurities was immense and his aim to preserve and protect British film and television-making legacy was hugely admirable. As the announcement of the tragic news noted: “His output deal with ITV has seen countless series lovingly re-issued to audiences, and without Beddows’ dedication to The British Film range and his bankrolling of new transfers, consumers would have lost access to hundreds of British films.” Much of the product for The British Film collection came from a deal with Studiocanal and recent activity has seen Network working with Rapido and its library and with classic British banner Hammer. The announcement also noted that the company is planning to continue his vision: “Beddows’ passing was a terrible shock to everyone who knew him both personally and professionally. The Network team is devastated but committed to continuing his legacy and building upon Network’s position of strength as a leader in the UK home entertainment market.” Often outspoken, honest and forthright, Beddows will be sorely missed in the business and The Raygun sends condolences to family and friends.
Comment on 59-year-old Beddows’ passing came from around the industry. At the company he founded, Jonathan Lack, director at Network said: “For the past four years, I've had the honour of running the company alongside Tim, as we positioned Network as the strong market leader it is today. We are all devastated by his passing but the whole Network team understood Tim's dreams for the future of the business and we are committed to delivering that dream, and building upon his legacy for our stakeholders and customers.” Steve Rogers, head of product development and research at Network said: “His legacy is huge and this work will continue. Always forward thinking, Tim had started to plan for the next five to ten years, so he will remain a very real presence at Network in both its outlook and content output. Together we will take the company forward with his vision, and he’ll be with us on the continuing journey.”
Elsewhere, Fremantle’s Pete Kalhan had worked with Beddows for many yeawrs and remembered the launch of Network. He told The Raygun: “ To say I was shocked when I received a call from Jonathan Lack to tell me that Tim had passed away, would be an understatement. Only two weeks previously I had met up with Tim and he was in great form, looked well and was so excited about the remastered version of The Sweeney they were working on, you could see the joy on his face as he shared clips with us. It was also the first title that he had licensed from us all those years back. I have known Tim for almost 25 years. When we first met in the late 90s he shared his vision of creating a company that would distribute classic TV and British films. We immediately clicked. I loved that stuff. But it was his incredible knowledge that struck me most. I learnt a lot from Tim over the years that were to follow! He sent over a copy of Charley Says, one of his first video releases and a CD of the Robinson Crusoe soundtrack, two of the programmes we had reminisced about in our meeting. I still have both to this day. His work lives on! Tim’s knowledge was exceptional. It stemmed from his love of TV. As kids growing up in the 60/70s most of us would be recording the Top 20 off the radio on a Sunday night, with a small cassette player. Not Tim. He would be recording the audio of TV programmes with a small microphone, whilst holding it next to the TV. He would become President of the Prisoner Appreciation Society for a while – always heavily involved in his love of classic TV series! Tim worked tirelessly to realise his dream – Network. His knowledge, passion and desire to acquire as much classic content, enabled him to create the company as we know it today. In recent years he also bought other companies and invested in his own remastering studio to further underpin the business, ensuring that it had value. Always the visionary. Tim’s untimely passing has left a huge gap in my life, in the industry’s and at Network. He was one of a kind. I’m still coming to terms with the fact that I’ll never see him again. That beaming smile and hug was his trademark greeting. But Network, his legacy will be with us, so we won’t forget you Tim. May your soul Rest in Peace my very good friend, as you watch your colleagues and loved ones from above, continue the legacy you created at Network. Gone, but never forgotten!”
Further comment came from long-standing Network business partners such as ITV’s Kevin Morgan, who said: “Tim's passing is so sad and such a shock, I send my sincere condolences to Juan and all at Network. Tim was one of a kind with an encyclopaedic knowledge of and passion for TV and film. The business he created and grew was built on this passion and his insistence on curating content to the highest quality. Network will stand as an ongoing tribute to Tim. I, like so many, will miss him very much both as a great industry colleague and as a good friend.” Studiocanal’s John Rodden said: “All at Studiocanal who worked with Tim are deeply saddened and shocked to learn of his passing. We are proud to have worked with Tim and Network over many years on hundreds of releases from the Studiocanal catalogue. Tim’s contribution to the preservation and celebration of British Film and TV Culture was truly heroic and his legacy will live long. Tim was a wonderful person and I’m glad to have known him for so long. Our thoughts are with Tim’s family and friends and everyone at Network.”
Spirit looked after Network’s sales and distribution and the company’s Rob Callow told The Raygun: “Tim was a true industry pioneer going back to the good old days. His child like excitement and passion for film and TV held no bounds and he loved nothing more than uncovering a long-lost gem and polishing it on his new bit of restoration kit to create glorious HD versions of classic film and TV greats with as many extra’s as his tremendous knowledge and imagination could produce. Forever innovating, he was so excited to have closed the Hammer Films deal and was really looking forward to bringing the catalogue back to life, something that I am sure his colleagues will still embrace in fine style in his memory. Tim’s warmth, humour and passion for this industry will be very sadly missed by us all. Our thoughts are very much with Tim’s nearest, dearest and all at his beloved Network family.” We’ll leave final word to industry stalwart Nick Gibbs McNeil, a long-time friend of Tim Beddows who said: “My friendship with Tim Beddows started the day he said ‘Nick, you are a C@&t!’. Long story, but from that day onwards we were always close. He was one of the most brilliant people of the film and TV industry – a genuinely unique talent. Everything he produced came with a love and excitement like nobody I’ve ever known within this industry. At heart, he was a fanboy child who got to live his dream life as an adult. He was also a very good friend; because of him I got to hang out with Roger Moore, The Goodies, Gerry Anderson and many other iconic stars. And he was a very, very generous person. Many times he took me out for meals and breakfast and would never let me pay. I think only once over the 20 years of knowing him did I actually pay. And I had to force and argue it. I’m so sad – I loved that man so much. He’s a big loss to our film and TV family.”
England may have been knocked out of the World Cup last week, falling, as ever, as soon as they came up against a half-decent team, but Altitude has been celebrating a real homegrown football success story this week, reliving the Lionesses’ triumph in winning the women’s Euro tournament in the summer and giving a massive boost to the women’s game n this country. For the company has worked with Ad Hoc Films on a feature length outing Lionesses: How Football Came Home. The film premiered this week as part of a one night only theatrical campaign, before heading to DVD and digital on December 19. Poppy de Villeneuve, director of LIONESSES commented; “It was a huge honour making this film alongside Ad Hoc Films and Altitude. I have been so inspired and touched by the Lionessess, past and present, by what they have achieved for women in sports and the bright light they have shone on female leadership. Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses remind us of the heights you can reach when you accept and embrace your full self and what it takes to create a team environment where all can thrive, raising the bar for us all. This is just the beginning.”Andy Mayson, Producer and Co-CEO of Altitude commented; “Like so many others this past summer, we were captivated and inspired by England’s performance at the Women’s EUROS. We wanted to help celebrate their success but also find out more about what drove such a talented and united team so set out to produce the definitive story of this incredible success. We’re very proud to be releasing LIONESSES this December and supporting the legacy of the women’s game that this fantastic group of players has created for the next generation.” Dan Glynn, producer and Co-Founder of Ad Hoc Films commented; "2022 will go down in the history books as the year football finally came home and we’re delighted to be working with Poppy and alongside Altitude again, bringing this incredible story and legacy film to life. Not only is LIONESSESS a celebration of a monumental achievement, it’s also an opportunity to reflect upon the chronicles of the women’s game and explore, through the eyes of past and present Lionesses, the pathway to this moment. We’re honoured to be documenting the personal stories of the players and their entertaining journey though the tournament.”
Following Monday’s event, Altitude’s Adam Eldrett said: “We gave Lionesses: How Football Came Home its world premiere in London, director Poppy De Villeneuve was on hand to do a post screening Q&A. The film has been turned around in an incredibly short timeframe over the last few months but we are excited to be releasing it just in time for Christmas, our physical pre-orders have been building through the Autumn. We have also released the trailer and are seeing another huge wave of interest around the film, featuring exclusive interviews with many of the stars from the team it's so much more than a highlights reel of the tournament and you will get to know these girls and the challenges they faced to even play football.”
Out on December 5 and currently proving to be something of a winner is the latest from Studiocanal’s vaults as the company has brought a classic slice of 70s style crime action in neo-noir thriller The Driver, from one of the finest directors of that, or any other era, Walter Hill. Comment on the title came from Studiocanal’s Alison Arber, who said: “Following its’ limited cinema release, Walter Hill’s gritty 70s drama The Driver starring Ryan O’Neal and Isabelle Adjani arrives on home Entertainment on Monday, just in time for Christmas gifting. Fully restored with new extras and packaged in slick new artwork, the release is supported with online media and a full publicity campaign, and has been championed by superfan Edgar Wright.”
Meanwhile, also just released is the latest from thriving independent Second Run, whose latest release is a box set pulling together a trio of titles from Andrzej Wajda. The company’s Chris Barwick said: “The War Trilogy: Three films by Andrzej Wajda is our biggest release of the year. Not only are these films monumental works and landmarks of international cinema in their own right, they are also significant as one of the most startling triptychs of ‘first films’, announcing Andrzej Wajda as a major talent and one of the most vital and important of all post-war filmmakers. We’re thrilled that A Generation, Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds are now part of the Second Run catalogue – and also marks what will be the first of a number of classics of Polish cinema that we’ll be releasing through 2023 and 2024.”
This week’s big box set release is a lavish package from Curzon collecting 22 films, a bunch of shorts and a raft of extras following the half-century career of Wim Wenders. The set includes a comprehensive booklet, posters and more, while the discos include his films from early works such as The Goalkeeper’s Fear Of The Penalty through to more recent outings such as Every Thing Will Be Fine by way of classics such as Paris. Texas and Wings Of Desire. Wenders himself has unboxed the set and you can see it here https://youtu.be/2FLoiz0avrw. The company’s Damian Spandley said: “The Curzon Film team are so proud to present our beautifully designed Wim Wenders Blu-Ray disc collection, which celebrates the superlative career of the German filmmaker, and includes 22 feature films, an illustrated booklet, film posters, Polaroids shot by the man himself and more. A year in the making, we could not be happier with the final product, which we've released alongside a 4K UHD restoration SteelBook of Wings of Desire.”
A missive reaches us from Dazzler’s Paul Holland outlining some of the company’s seasonal biggies, He said: “I wish it could be a Dazzler Christmas ever day! The bells will be ringing and the mince pies on tap at Dazzler towers this December with some blockbusters TV releases. Paul Holland, Industry veteran exclusively reveals to Raygun that since his first VHS Christmas in 1986 he has never be fortunate enough to enjoy the gift of such a wonderful array of December new releases. Starting the menu of delights with ITV's Sunday night smash 'The Larkins series 2', this is followed by a serving of BBC2's epic and critically acclaimed 'The English', for a main course there's the 'off the scale' Sky Atlantic drama 'Gangs of London Series 2', which goes to places no TV drama has gone before and for dessert the No.1 ratings drama'SAS Rogue Warriors', the BBC's most expensive drama, stacked high with five stars reviews and amazing action. The very best of BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Sky Atlantic all on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Download from Santa's favourite label.. Dazzler!”
AT THE MOVIES
Superman is dead. Long live Superman. As James Gunn and Peter Sfran take over the reins at DC, the former is revealing snippets and titbits on Twitter about plans for Warner’s comic book and superhero films going forward. His latest is a bombshell as Gunn announced that Henry Cavill is exiting as Superman, although he may return on other projects going forward, he’s no longer a priority for the Man of Steel’s adventures on film. Gunn wrote: “Peter and I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year. Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.” Cavill himself said: “I just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran, and it’s sad news, everyone. I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes."
Meanwhile, awards season is upon us, and, despite facing ire and plenty more in recent years, the Golden Globes, chosen for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, is aiming to restore credibility, and its nominations for next year’s gongs have been handed out. You can see the full gong here…
Any retirement when someone is at the height of their powers is always fraught with a potential comeback – we’ve still got mates fuming at LCD Soundsystem’s decision to get back together after their final shows – and so Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki, the king of Japanese anime is returning to directing. Long runmoured, the studio this week announced that How Do You Live will see the helmer returning to the fray. It’s out next year…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Not giving one…
Camming soon
Galaxy builders…
Ryan on and on and on
Otto on the way…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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