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GRAHAM DAWKINS RIP
DISNEY+ DECLARES DAY TO REMEMBER
STUDIOCANAL LAUNCHES STREAMING SERVICE
…VAST LIBRARY AVAILABLE THROUGH APPLE APP
4K TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
LOVE LETTER IN STORES
OUTSIDERS, INSIDE
BUS HEADS INTO RETAIL
BFI HAS A PROPOSITION FOR YOU…
…AND HEADS SOUTH
ALTITUDE UPS DEVLIN…
…AS MOSELEY HEADS TO NETFLIX
CHRISTMAS PARTY NEWS: YOU UP FOR IT?
AT THE MOVIES
TWEET OF THE WEEK
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Once again, apologies for the late running. This is due to personal/health issues.
Over the past year or two, we’ve had an immeasurable amount of tragic news to announce here on The Raygun, and it is with a heavy heart that we report on another sad loss, as former S Gold and Sons national account manager Graham Dawkins has passed away. His old boss at Golds, Lasgo md Garry Elwood, has paid tribute to his old colleague. Elwood said: “Very saddened to hear that my former Golds national account manager Graham Dawkins passed away yesterday, he was 51 years old. Graham joined Golds as a rep for the West Country and, through his amazing determination and efforts soon rose up the ranks to get to the national account manager role. He had some great successes for Golds, the most significant was probably discovering Play.com. At that time Golds was the only entertainment company that supplied Play and Graham built that business to an incredible level with Golds. Graham will be remembered by his studio industry colleagues as the man that made all of the tech work seamlessly at our ‘legendary’ overseas conferences. His skills certainly contributed to the reasons they became so infamous and I could not have staged them without him! My thoughts go to Jenny and his family.”
This week sees Disney pushing the boat out for its Disney+ subscription video on demand service, putting its full weight behind the platform by declaring Friday November 12 Disney+ Day. This includes premiering one of its most recent Marvel feature outings, Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, on the service. There are a whole host of other premieres, including Dopesick, Jungle Cruise, Home Sweet Home Alone, Olaf Presents, Ciao Alberto, The Simpsons in Plusaversary, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett, Marvel Studios' 2021 Disney+ Day Special, and Entrelazados. There are also a whole raft of other exclusives, sneak peeks, trailers and more, with offers from other arms of the Disney empire too. And new and returning subscribers are also being wooed, with a £1.99 introductory trial offer as well. The day marks the second anniversary of the launch of the service. “Since launching two years ago, Disney+ has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences around the world with its best-in-class originals and robust library of beloved films and series,” said Kareem Daniel, Chairman, Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. “With Disney+ Day, we are creating an unparalleled experience for our subscribers as only The Walt Disney Company can.”
Every studio and distributor worth its weight now has its own complementary streaming service, or is in the throes of preparing one, and the latest to unveil its offering is Studiocanal. Studiocanal Presents is its name, with the streaming channel available exclusively through the Apple TV app. It’s live now, with a free seven day trail and a subscription fee of £4.99 a month. It offers up great swathes of titles from the company’s vast catalogue, including, at launch, as its statement announced: “Legend starring Tom Hardy, The Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, Amazing Grace, digitally restored The Third Man, Apocalypse Now: Final Cut in 4K, timeless classic Whisky Galore, Lynne Ramsay’s thriller You Were Never Really Here and Céline Sciamma’s acclaimed Girlhood. Also available are Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth, recent American award-winners Manchester by the Sea and Room, seminal titles Belle de Jour and Breathless and modern British classics Submarine, Four Lions and Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.” There are also TV series such as the excellent Hannibal and, for the first time on streaming, Spiral. It’s offering matches that of other svod services, with downloads available, family sharing and the likes. New titles will be added on a monthly basis, with exclusive offerings further down the line. Studiocanal ceo Alex Hamilton said: “We are thrilled to be taking this new step into the streaming market, opening up our wide-ranging and hugely diverse film and TV library to audiences through the Apple TV app. Month on month, we’ll be continuing to add both contemporary and classic titles for subscribers to discover, delivering on the range and quality that audiences associate with Studiocanal.”
Further comment came from Studiocanal’s head of home entertainment and library John Rodden, who said: “In launching Studiocanal Presents our goal is to take audiences on a journey through our wonderful library of cinema and TV. The platform allows us to expand on the multiple ways audiences already access our catalogue, and to showcase a wider range of content including hidden gems of the deep library and some of the most exciting new European TV series."
Sticking with Studiocanal and there’s been another another big catalogue announcement this week and next big title to celebrate an anniversary is spy classic Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 10 years old and counting, with the acclaimed title getting a welcome new version in December to tie in with the anniversary. The December 6 release of the Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch starrer release features a new 4K UHD version, complete with a raft of new extras, and new packaging. Commenting on the news, Studiocanal’s Tara Hutton said: “We are very excited to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of one of the greatest espionage thrillers of all time. Beautiful new artwork has been designed by Matt Taylor who also created the le Carré Penguin book covers which will be on the UHD release this December along with limited poster. We have also created new bonus features including a conversation with Mark Kermode and Tomas Alfredson. The anniversary celebrations will be kicked off with an event screening at Regent Street Cinema on November 24 with a Q&A featuring the director, screenwriter, producer and son of John le Carré.”
Still with Studiocanal, but on to Monday releases and out on digital over the weekend and in stores on Monday November 8, is The Last Letter From Your Lover, a romance that arrives from Studiocanal after its well received theatrical outing. Commenting on the release, senior product manager Nicola Browning said: “It's a delight to release the beautifully romantic The Last Letter From Your Lover this weekend. We've had fantastic set-up from both physical and digital retailers. The media campaign is currently running across social, search and digital. Along with reviews and listings, we're running a micro-influencer watch-along this weekend and have a luxurious press drop going out to other key influencers. We've partnered with the book publisher, Hodder, and are running competitions for the physical release on Monday. Along with the release campaign, we're also looking forward to promoting the title in our Q4 gifting campaign this year, which provide another perfect moment to buy and enjoy the film.”
Also due from Studoocanal is a title we’ve already mentioned here, but its arrival in stores on Monday November 8 is well worth noting. It is, of course, Francis Ford Coppola’s expanded take on his 1950s teen rebellion tale The Outsiders, presented in its Complete Novel version, adding back scenes excised from the original. (As Coppola himself noted any the LFF Q&A following its premiere screening, it’s not something he’s going to go back and do with every film he’s made, just select ones that he believes are still missing something, like this, Apocalypse Now and the third Godfather film.) In keeping with Studiocanal’s fine restoration work with titles plucked from its vast library, the film looks and sounds gorgeous – and the packaging us sumptuous too. Comment on the release came from senior product manager Alison Arber who said: “Following its debut at this year’s London Film Festival and successful release in cinemas nationwide, The Outsiders is finally out on Home Entertainment on Monday. Releasing on DVD, Blu-ray and digitally alongside the stunning Collector’s Edition complete with CD soundtrack, booklet and badge and both versions of the film, it’s the perfect Christmas gift for grown up 80s kids and film fans alike.”
Another title we’ve mentioned before that is set to arrive in stores on Monday November 8 is the runaway hit that is The Last Bus, due from Parkland Entertainment. The company’s Tom Stewart said: “The Last Bus theatrically keeps on moving… We're targeting to go over £450,000 Box office which will make it one of biggest independents released at theatrical this year! We still have lots of bookings through until December and even into 2022! The home entertainment is launched on Monday and brilliant work from the team at Spirit has seen us secure support from various sectors of the non-traditional area well as the Hight Street in these challenging times. Amazon ranking has been very high over the last two months, it’s currently number 12 in Drama (number 35 in all genres) so it’s great to see this on Physical showing that there is a real appetite for films that may not have been able to reach screens in parts of the UK. Also Digital is looking great with nine platforms fully supporting the release.”
Minds, of course, are already turning to 2022, and the BFI has joined others already talking about their wares for next year by unveiling its slate for the first quarter of the coming year. What’s more, it sees the organisation releasing its second 4K UHD title in the shape of John Hillcoat’s Australian Western, The Proposition, due in February. The film, starring Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone and Emily Watson will come in two-disc 4K UHD and Blu-ray SKUs, complete with bespoke packaging and new extras alongside some original added features too. It’s part of a release slate that includes more Bergman alongside BFI cinema activity (Wild Strawberries is out in January), as well as our favourite kind of BFI release – a stunning restoration and compilation of doomed heroic exploration failures from the early days of film in the shape of South & The Heroic Age Of Antarctic Exploration On Film, with a restored version of the record of Shackleton’s doomed expedition and more, also in February. March sees a third volume of classic BBC drama from Play For Today, as well as a Blu-ray first for David Oyelowo starrer Shoot The Messenger and a documentary looking at documentaries The Camera Is Ours: Britain’s Women Documentary Makers.
Comment on the BFI’s take on The Proposition and the success of its first ever 4K UHD release came from the BFI’s Phil Roberts, who said: “After the successful release of The Seventh Seal, our first-ever 4K UHD, last week, we are really excited to announce our second release in the format will be John Hillcoat's 2005 western The Proposition. Written by Nick Cave and with a score by Cave and Warren Ellis, the film was a box office and home entertainment success on its original release, and has a legion of cult film, genre and music fans. We have worked with The Film Consortium and the filmmakers on a new 4K restoration, and the set will be limited edition, packed with extras and boast newly commissioned artwork by designer Matt Needle. Expect more details of an exciting launch event soon.”
Job news and Altitude has announced a new md for its Altitude Film Distribution arm. Lia Devlin has most recently been head of distribution at the company and moves up into the hot seat. She joined the company in 2014 and had previously worked at Momentum. She is promoted as the company looks at a busy slate, including newly-BIFA nominated Ali & Ava and Palme d’Or winner Titane. She said: “I’m really proud to have played a part in Altitude’s journey to date and very excited to lead distribution into the next decade as we embrace all the challenges and opportunities that continue to make this industry so dynamic and captivating.” Will Clarke, Chairman and Co-CEO of Altitude added: “Lia has been a core member of Altitude since we launched our distribution arm almost ten years ago. The breadth of her experience, her leadership, great taste and ability to tackle a range of challenges is demonstrated by her excellent reputation amongst the industry. We are delighted to have Lia as our Managing Director leading Altitude's distribution ambitions into the future.”
The promotion at Altitude came as previous Altitude Film Distribution md Hamish Moseley announced his departure. He is set to join Netflix as director of distribution, overseeing its theatrical releases and more at the streaming giant. Himself a former Momentum executive (and one who started his career working in an actual cinema), Moseley has worked closely with Netflix for Altitude in recent years, with the independent looking after the svod company’s limited releases into cinemas. He will start in the new year.
Old industry heads such as ourselves will remember the good old days of Christmases past, when there were parties aplenty and some nights we’d be squeezing in two or three events per night… Those days may, sadly, be long gone, but we at the Raygun are now looking at trying to revive a bit of that magic. So we’re just gauging interest this week in whether or not regular readers of the newsletter would be interested in us hosting a Christmas party. We’re 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.
AT THE MOVIES
Amazon’s Prime service has announced that the second series of the high profile Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett adaptation Good Omens has started filming in Scotland, with many of the original cast, including headliners Michael Sheen and David Tennant, returning for the second outing. Gaiman himself said: “Writer and co-showrunner Neil Gaiman commented: “I am so happy to be back here on the streets of Soho, watching, every day, the glorious performances of Michael Sheen and David Tennant. I miss having Terry Pratchett's genius, but it does feel like we are still all walking around inside his head. It’s been an absolute pleasure to have the brilliant John Finnemore co-write this season's story shenanigans with me, and to work with director and my co-showrunner Douglas Mackinnon as he steers the ship, along with our astonishing crew, who have returned to do it again. In this season we get to have new adventures with old friends, to solve some extremely mysterious mysteries, and we encounter some entirely new humans (living, dead, and otherwise), angels, and demons. We were lucky in the first season to have so many outstanding actors taking part, so I took pleasure in inviting people back, wherever we could, some in the roles they played originally, some in new parts written just for them.”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Follow us on www.twitter.com/theraygun…
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
Encore…
Spidey-related business…
The never-ending franchise…
Doggone to Netflix…
THE OBLIGATORY GDPR BIT
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