Asian Action: Greenfan DVD

[Almar@Cult Labs]

Hey what's with this new Asian section? No Shameless aren't moving into Asian films but as some may know I used to do the PR for Hong Kong Legends - also Premier Asia, Soulblade, Dragon, Momentum Asia and others - all now gone. The UK used to have a vibrant Asian DVD scene - even led the world at one point but the market got very overcrowded in the end.

So I'm going to introduce you to Mike who should be along later to tell you what he's doing setting up his Greenfan DVD label. You may have come across Mike's excellent http://www.dragonsdenuk.com/ website if you're a fan of Asian movies. It looks like Mike got as pissed off with the way cult DVD was heading in the UK as we did - he's gone and done something about it and I'm sure the community here will be interested in getting involved in another tiny label getting off the ground - this time though this is one very small one-man band outfit going up against the big guns so fingers crossed he pulls something cool off.

Mike - over to you!

[GreenfanDVD]

Thanks Almar.

I'm a big fan of kung fu/action films and I have been for a good 10 years now. I've been active on Asian movie forums for a few years and I also write for www.dragonsdenuk.com - which has been in a cocoon for a few months now but will soon emerge as www.fareastfilms.com.

I've spent a lot of time hearing people complain about companies that release Asian movies on DVD. Usually the criticism is based on labels not knowing their movies well enough and not listening to the requests of the fans. I wondered, could I set up my own label? I figured it was worth looking into. I had organised a martial arts film festival in early 2007 and during that time made some good contacts. I decided to ask them for advice on my idea to enter the DVD business world. To a man, they all said that they wouldn't recommend it because it's so hard to make any money and it's really costly to set up. I did some maths and came up with the conclusion "**** it, let's give this a go."
I managed to get the UK distribution rights for 3 films - which i bought with a loan from my girlfriend - and began work on producing the DVDs - which I'm paying for with a credit card. So far I have released one title, 'Ninja in Ancient China',which is available from HMV and other stores. I am currently working on 2 more for release later this year.
It's a bit late for much more Greenfan talk, so I'll leave you with a couple of pics and a link to my website. I'll be sticking around here to talk about how I'm doing what I'm doing and, hopefully, learning something about grimey horror flicks.

Mike


www.greenfandvd.com

[Philleh]

Hi Mike! Glad to have you with us

Just checked out your site - Good work on getting Return of the Deadly Blade out!! Major kudo's here With you covering the chop socky and Adam covering the artier side of Asian cinema, it's like Hong Kong Legends never left! lol

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

Welcome to Shameless Mike-and good luck to you.....

[Almar@Cult Labs]

So Mike tell us what have you had to do to bring these films to DVD? did you get them in good nick or was it the usual hellish HK materials situation?

[GreenfanDVD]

Well, I was offered a selection of films that I could buy the UK rights for. I narrowed the list down by only selecting from the films that were available in widescreen (who is happy with fullscreen nowadays) and then researched which films were the best. I had to pull a few favours because the films were rare and it's tricky to get hold of them. I bought the 3 best films (my budget only stretched to 3) and I set about producing the DVDs.

I've never ran my own business before so I was totally starting from scratch. I knew someone who authored DVDs, so I hired him on "mate's rates" to put the discs together. I contacted an asian move forum regular to write some liner notes - he had written some for Media Blasters before and was hugely respected in the fan community. I contacted another forum regular who I knew was very enthusiastic and articulate and asked him to record an audio commentary. I then took on the responsibility to do everything else myself, which included trailers, artwork, etc. After the internet release of the film I signed a deal with a UK sales and distribution team. I had now found myself a designer and because Ninja in Ancient China was going into the shops I had the artwork redone. A before and after is below.....





When I look back at the artwork I can't believe I released the movie looking like that, but hey, I'm learning from my mistakes.

[siccoyote]

Well they both have merits, the first looks like trashy, which is appealing, the second looks like a more refined movie, on the basis of just the cover I think you'd be able to sell the redone one for more money, it just looks worth more.

Myself I'm waiting for someone to get hold of the original 1st Gen VHS master of Lo Gio's masterpiece American Commando Ninja (1987) and release that.

I'd pay a fiver, unless it's packaged with THE SEQUEL! (which I didn't know existed till I just looked it up) Born A Ninja (1988) I might stretch to ?10 in that case.

Actually never mind I've just found it's been released in Germany (of all places)

Anyone know any dvds worth buying from germany?

[dougal]

Without wanting to look like carrion picking over the corpse - with Tartan going belly up I would imagine the rights to their titles are going to start becoming available?

The ethic of labels like Shameless is really appealing - perhaps DIY film labels could really be the new punk?

I'm sure it's occoured to you guys but there should be milage to be had out of small labels banding together from time to time to help each other out - ie joint distribution deals for example? If nothing else there's shared wisdom to be had about what works, what doesn't, how to get things done etc. Or alternatively see what Shameless do any copy it

With labels like Nucleus, Shameless and Greenfan there's a large overlap of customer base and as these forums show there are plenty of people willing to spend time helping out a label they care about. I'm sure that before long people will be knocking up mock ups of Greenfan covers for other films...

[GreenfanDVD]

Hey,

The Tartan film rights have already been picked up in one go by an American company...I cant remember their name.

I'm always willing to talk to any person/business about releasing movies. I don't run Greenfan for the money, I run it because I love movies (and DVDs).

[Philleh]

Here's the current rights holders of Tartan UK and US back catalogue.

http://www.palisades-media.com/