The Arrow Thread - Page 285

tele1962 · #**2841** 11th March 2014, 06:06 PM

Press release...

UK independent distributor Arrow Films is pleased to announce that James White has joined the company as Head of Technical and Restoration. James has had an extensive film career, most notably serving as Head of Technical Delivery for the BFI's DVD and Theatrical Distribution departments.

Arrow Films Managing Director Alex Agran commented: “James joins Arrow with an amazing reputation as the best in the business in restoration, James has been working with Arrow on a freelance basis for the past 12 months overseeing and controlling the restoration process on all of our releases and will now continue his excellent work permanently for Arrow. It is largely due to James’ efforts on our restorations in the visual and sound quality in our films that our reputation continues to grow at such a pace as the market leader for cult films through our Arrow Video label”

One of the most exciting aspects of James' arrival is Arrow's plan to offer supervised restoration services to 3rd party companies working on their own restoration and remastering projects, so they can enjoy the same award-winning quality that Arrow has been internationally acclaimed for.

With over 15 years’ experience working in film restoration and preservation in the UK, Sweden and the United States, James served as Head of Technical Delivery for the British Film Institute, supervising all restoration and remastering for the BFI's DVD and Theatrical departments. Some of his projects of note were new restorations of Alice (1988, Jan Svankmajer), The Edge of the World (Michael Powell, 1937), Comrades (Bill Douglas, 1986), Institute Benjamenta (Quay Brothers, 1995), Herostratus (Don Levy, 1968) and The Long Day Closes (Terence Davies, 1995).

For the past three years James has worked as a freelancer, overseeing a number of award-winning restoration projects for Arrow Films and Eureka/Masters of Cinema, including The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Th. Dreyer, 1928), Zombie Flesh Eaters (Lucio Fulci, 1979), Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1982), The Fury (Brian De Palma, 1978), White of the Eye (Donald Cammell, 1987) and Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore, 1988).

Among the many titles he's currently overseeing for Arrow, he is currently supervising a comprehensive restoration project devoted to the films of the Polish visionary filmmaker Walerian Borowczyk, the results of which will be released through Arrow Video on 30th June 2014.

James White commented on the move, "Having worked with Arrow in a freelance capacity for two years now, I've been continually impressed with their commitment to restoration and to releasing classic and cult cinema at the highest quality standards possible. With so many great projects in the works and such dedicated people on staff, it's a very exciting place to be and I’m thrilled to be made an official member of the team.

Rik · #**2842** 11th March 2014, 06:11 PM

I'm guessing this is like commissioning Da Vinci to do you a portrait?

davcol · #**2843** 11th March 2014, 07:08 PM

its no coincidence that since this guy has been involved with arrow that their quality has improved dramatically. two years ago they were all about jazzy artwork and extras with the main theatrical movie at times neglected. that is no longer the case. good move on their part.