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BASE AWARDS NEARS
CHRISTMAS PARTY TIME
ANNE MILES: A CELEBRATION
BBC’S GALAXY BUILDERS
TWO MINUTES TO GO
PRISONERS RELEASED
BLACK MONDAY
BRITANNIA RULES FOR A THIRD TIME
TIMELY PLANET
RE-AWAKENING FROM SLUMBER
DODGY DEVICE SELLER JAILED
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
After staying at home last year for a lockdown-inspired digital awards ceremony, the home entertainment industry’s annual awards bash, the BASE Awards, is finally due to take place in person next Thursday, November 18. The event, at the new venue of the Roundhouse, is the first opportunity the business has had to get together since the pandemic struck and represents the first actual awards ceremony for two years. Hundreds of people from across the industry will be donning their gladrags – everyone is encouraged to dress up – and celebrate together. Looking forward to the event, Vicki Geddes, Commercial Manager of BASE said “I’m delighted to think that in less than a week we’ll be commencing the 41st BASE Awards at London’s fabulous Camden Roundhouse! We look forward to reuniting colleagues from across the industry to celebrate the huge achievements from distribution, retail, creative and media, all forged under the unexpected pressures of 2020. With a dress code that asks for creative & celebratory outfits (or black tie if guests prefer), complete with The Mash Report’s Rachel Parris hosting, plus some surprise entertainment - it’ll be a night truly to remember! I’d like to thank all of our members and sponsors for helping this come together and I look forward to raising a glass with each and every one of them next week.”
Talking of parties and events, as outlined on last week’s newsletter, rather than bemoaning that things aren’t as good as they used to be and whatever happened to all the industry Christmas parties, we’re looking at hosting a Christmas party ourselves for industry types past and present. We're currently gauging interest and provisionally looking at Thursday December 16 at a secret location in London, but we need some numbers before we proceed. We will be looking at a 6pm kick-off going on until you decide to stagger off into the wintry night, but the venue does have a late license. Meanwhile, you’ll have to put your hand in your pockets for a drink or two, although we are looking to source some booze sponsors for freebies. Those who attended the timecode 25th anniversary reunion event will have a good idea of the venue – it’s owned by an old industry mainstay – but suffice to say, it’s just had a complete refurb, with a new soundsystem. It’s open to everyone, people in and around the industry past and present, all we need is some idea of names and numbers so we can give it the nod. Please email Tim Murray at the usual address (tim@theraygun.co.uk) to register your interest and – hopefully – see you any the bar on December 16.
On a more sombre note, many in the business gathering together for a slightly more sombre celebration as we went to the Church of the Immaculate Conception tucked away in the heart of Mayfair where a raft of industry people past and present were among those gathered to pay their respects and remember Anne Miles, the co-founder of children’s VHS and then DVD specialist Abbey, a fiercely independent British distributor that helped define the market over the years. Abbey was founded by Anne and her husband Ian, who died a few years previously, while she passed during the lockdown last year. The delayed memorial service at last gave those in the business (and former long-time staffers) to pay tribute to Anne’s work, which included raising great swathes of cash for Action For Children through charity compilation releases. Among those remembering Anne were former Abbey staffers Emma Evans, Dan Harriss and Lloyd Lapierre. Evans said: “Anne would have been thrilled to see all her long-time associates gathered from her Music Industry Days and her long term partners from Abbey in attendance at her Thanksgiving Memorial Service. Anne and her husband Ian, have mentored so many of us over the years. They helped and supported so many independent producers, writers, musicians and designers during this time and her Thanksgiving Memorial Service gave everyone a chance to honour her memory and give her a final send off that she so richly deserved. There will never be another Anne Miles.”
BBC Studios continues to mine its library and to look for more opportunities within the world (or worlds) of Doctor Who and its latest release to replace lost episodes arrives in stores on Monday November 15 with the release of Galaxy 4. It’s the first story presented in the third series of the first Timelord’s adventures, originally aired in 1965. Most of the four episodes that make up the story are long lost, although the audio remains. So, in keeping with its recent strategy, the BBC has put together animation to go with the audio, weaving it in with the remaining original footage (part of the first episode and all of the third one). Commenting on the release, Gary Russell, Executive Producer from Big Finish Creative of the 2021 production said “After a gap of many years, it is very exciting to bring the era of the First Doctor back into the animation world. Galaxy 4 is one of the most traditional adventures of 1960s Doctor Who and it’s been a real honour to work on this alternative version which hopefully reflects those technicolour thrills that sci-fi moves of the '60s had but which Doctor Who’s monochrome TV limitations couldn’t yet achieve.” The four episodes have already screened at the BFI Southbank highlighting the release to devoted Whovians.
Independent imprint Third Window Films, and its founder Adam Torel, straddles the worlds of UK distribution and Asian cinema with consummate ease, and has made a name for itself for spotting upfront talent and potential hits ridiculously early – the huge success of One Cut Of The Dead, the no-budget zombie flick is testament for that. And Torel thinks he’s landed another future hit that will replicate its success in the shape of Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes, due in stores on Monday November 15. He said: “As the person who discovered and brought 'One Cut of the Dead' to the world, I can definitely say Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is this year's One Cut. A film which took an almost identical route as One Cut, being an incredibly original and super low-budget genre film done on one-take, which went on to become a massive hit in Japan before traveling worldwide. Winner of more than a dozen awards at film festivals (including Sitges, Fantasia, BIFFF, Bifan) it's riding high on a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 3.9 on Letterboxd, so expect word of mouth to really catapult it into the same conversation as One Cut!
Over on the television front, there’s a brace of titles from Acorn, not least with powerful drama Angela Black arriving on DVD on Monday following its successful transmission on TV. Commenting on the release, the company’s Helen Squire said: “Following in the footsteps of dramas like Liar, the strong cast led by Joanne Froggatt, bring this dramatic story with unsettling themes to life and will have you second-guessing the outcome till the end. Releasing on DVD on Monday.”
It’s joined on Monday by a second Acorn release, the third series of early Britons swords and sandals series Britannia, with the over-the-top fantasy series continuing to provide a new alternative for fans of the now defunct Game Of Thrones. Commenting on the release again, the company’s Helen Squire said: “Escape from reality with another bonkers helping of this fantasy drama. The Series 3 DVD will be released on Monday alongside a Series 1-3 complete boxset.”
Also in stores on Monday November 15, arriving at last after a lockdown delayed, staggered release, is a feature length outing from certified national treasure, environmentalist and naturalist David Attenborough, who’s been in the headlines again over the past week or two thanks to his presence and work at the Cop26 climate conference. That event gives an added timely boost to A Life On Our Planet, due form Altitude. As the company’s head of home entertainment Adam Eldrett explained: “We are excited to be releasing David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet on Monday, we have had a long history with the film working previously with both Netflix and WWF to launch the globally. We now have the title out in time for Christmas gifting and we will see it across brick-and-mortar retailers in the run up to Xmas.”
Looking ahead to December and into January, and we haven’t featured Lightbulb Film Distribution for some tine here on The Raygun, but the independent is set to return to the fray with a remake of a slasher classic from the VHS era with the release of Slumber Party Massacre. The new take on the Roger Corman classic puts a feminist spin on the original and arrives on digital download on December 13, following on DVD on January 10 next year. Commenting on the release, Peter Thompson, sales and acquisitions director at Lightbulb Film Distribution, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing this iconic slasher remake to audiences in the UK and Ireland. Esterhazy manages to bring a fresh perspective to this horror sub-genre, whilst capturing the essence of the much-loved original. She is an exceptional filmmaker. Gore, jumps and laughs – Slumber Party Massacre has it all.”
To the courts, where the federation Against Copyright Theft has been working closely with other agencies again in a bid to thwart illegal streaming and download activity and copyright-dodgers. Its latest court victory saw a man sentenced to two years in jail, suspended forF two years, Fuaad Al-Saegh, a Westminster resident, had admitted four fraud offences in a previous hearing at Southwark magistrates’ court. He was nabbed after Westminster council and FACT collaborated to investigate the sale of IPTV devices enabling consumers to watch sports and films without paying copyright holders. A raid revealed he had sold more than 600 of the devices via eBay from his home, earning ore than £82,000 in the process. Councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Communities, said: “This investigation into illegal IPTV devices was a first for our Trading Standards service and demonstrates the expertise of our officers. The proceeds of crimes such as this are often used by organised crime groups to fund more serious criminal activity, so I am pleased that our investigation, with assistance from FACT, resulted in a successful prosecution.” FACT CEO Kieron Sharp added: "This is an important conviction for Westminster City Council’s Trading Standards team who took on this prosecution against an individual who defrauded the broadcast and film industries for his own gain. FACT will continue to monitor platforms used to advertise, market, sell and distribute apps, devices and streams, to take action against suppliers, operators and consumers."
AT THE MOVIES
It’s been airing recently on our favourite TV channel Talking Pictures and now relatively obscure 1960s ITC series The Champions is set to finally make it to the big screen. We say relatively obscure, but the series, which charts the adventures of a trio who are blessed with special powers after their plane crashed in the Himalayas, is much loved by those in the know, although it sometimes pales next to the higher profile outings. But after Guillermo del Toro toyed with an adaptation more than 10 years ago, but it’s now returned, with Ben Stiller at the helm as well as starring, and Cate Blanchett also on board. She said: "Champions is a long-forgotten gem that will excite a new generation in the same strange and magnificent way that the original series spoke to us. I’ve long wanted to work with Ben — the director and the actor. He is one of the most engaged and versatile directors working today. Anyone who can make both Zoolander and Escape At Dannemora is a creative force to be reckoned with," Blanchett tells Deadline.Stiller quips, "I’m a huge fan of Cate’s for a very long time. I’m hoping this project will help people to finally take her seriously as an actress.”
Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins’ big blockbuster outing for the Star Wars world, Rogue Squadron, has been put on hold. Rumours have been swirling around Star Wars all week, with the delay being put to scheduling difficulties with the ever-busy Jenkins, whose diary includes a second Wonder Woman sequel. The film was slated for a release at Christmas 2023, whether the delay affects that yet is unclear…
If you asked us what our favourite religious cult was, it’d have to be Jim Jones, who founded the People’s Temple and, after falling increasingly foul of the US authorities by the 1970s, he led his people to the middle of nowhere in Guyana, where he built a town for them before leading them in a mass suicide as US government officials closed in. Fictionalised versions of his people drinking the poisoned Kool-Aid have appeared, but now Leonardo DiCaprio is attached to appear on a new version of this still-shocking tale. A script has been penned by Scott Rosenberg, whose credits include Venom, while MGM is on board to produce.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Seasonal offering from Altitude…;
Not the Maradona one…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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