The Official Arrow Video Thread

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Hello Arrow, how exactly does your new deal benefit those restricted to region B? Will be, say, be getting more Arrow releases of titles released by Criterion and Scream Factory? Will you potentially get the finance to restore some of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's titles to HD??

By being able to release in two territories we are now able to tackle more restorations as we have two territories to recoup from. Some titles previously unavailable due to a no or unacceptable master situation can now become a reality. We are also upping our monthly quota of releases from about three a month to five or six or even more - but we still have the same quality control as before so we're working on about seven or eight titles a month and what isn't ready gets saved to another month. This is why we started announcing titles monthly. Hopefully this will take effect soon.

As regards more releases of titles released by those labels, no probably not since we'll be looking to license titles we can release in the US and UK at the same time. It's VERY early days and we'll respond to your feedback and sales data. If we feel we're missing out on lots of UK-only titles then we could change our focus. But for 2015 we have UK-only releases planned til about May.

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Seems like a big missed opportunity not to do US and UK exclusives. The US market gives you access to so much stuff that you'd never get to release in the UK just due to licence issues, not to mention some titles that you'd never get past the BBFC. Less than savvy region locked UKers have absolutely nothing to complain about if you released a US only title; it's not like they'd be able to get it anyway if it came from a different US label. Just ignore those whiners.

We haven't come up against any issues with getting stuff in the US that we can't get in the UK. There are issues with Sony and Paramount for sure, but if we go to them saying we want two territories that could change. The BBFC is a problem of course but that covers off very few films, there's plenty of brilliant and very valuable films left over. We doubt you'll feel wanting.

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by sheldo

Could this mean the UK will never see a lot stuff that is already out in the US as obviously Arrow won't be able to release them in both territories so UK will just miss more titles leaving gaps for someone else to swoop in Arrow's home market?

i.e. Will this new setup mean that UK-only titles will not happen any longer?

No, we have UK-only releases planned til May at least and that may still continue as there are ongoing deals that aren't finalised. It won't be so cut and dry for a while and as mentioned we'll solicit your feedback and go by sales data to inform our decisions.

[CastrosfriendChe]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Seems like a big missed opportunity not to do US and UK exclusives.

Wait, is the Day of Anger release NOT going to be a US exclusive release?
The FAQ says,

"What region code will your releases be?

Whilst many of our older releases are Region Free and most are currently Region B, any future release intended for both North America and the UK will be exactly the same and coded Region A and B or region free where possible."

but near the bottom it says,

"I’m not a US resident, can I still back this?
But of course! Just please be aware that the Blu-rays will be coded Region A/1"

[the blob]

Originally Posted by ArrowVideo

Hi everyone. Happy to answer questions throughout today but obviously we can't be on here all the time so apologies that this is going to be a bit of a one time affair (kinda got to spend most of the time making releases).

Okay then, I've read the videodeck blog and the benefit of funding restorations for UK buyers is fairly obvious and, if I may say, a little unconvincing when weighing up against the possible downsides?

Wouldn't you still have the option of partnering with other labels in other territories to find new masters? The huge downside which seems to be being brushed aside a little is that the UK can potentially lose a number of titles if they've already been licensed in the US. To start... The Fury, Night of the Hunter, Thief, The Beast Within, The Beyond, lots... To me that's going backwards for UK buyers.

[Akijama]

Arrow, what's the likelihood of striking a deal with Universal and MGM in US?

Any plans for launching a new website for US releases only?

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by CastrosfriendChe

Wait, is the Day of Anger release NOT going to be a US exclusive release?
The FAQ says,

"What region code will your releases be?

Whilst many of our older releases are Region Free and most are currently Region B, any future release intended for both North America and the UK will be exactly the same and coded Region A and B or region free where possible."

but near the bottom it says,

"I’m not a US resident, can I still back this?
But of course! Just please be aware that the Blu-rays will be coded Region A/1"

Well that's a mistake. I guess what we meant to say was it'll be the US variant, so no BBFC certs, different barcode etc. It will indeed be a UK and US release, coded region A and B (not free as we don't own any region C rights). Apologies and thanks for pointing this out.

[fuzzymctiger]

Ok here's some clarification.

They've said they'll finish releasing all their UK lisences

That means all the things they've teased and soft announced as well
Which includes Thief and Day Of Anger (soft teased prior to today's announcement via postcard)

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by the blob

Okay then, I've read the videodeck blog and the benefit of funding restorations for UK buyers is fairly obvious and, if I may say, a little unconvincing when weighing up against the possible downsides?

Wouldn't you still have the option of partnering with other labels in other territories to find new masters? The huge downside which seems to be being brushed aside a little is that the UK can potentially lose a number of titles if they've already been licensed in the US. To start... The Fury, Night of the Hunter, Thief, The Beast Within, The Beyond, lots... To me that's going backwards for UK buyers.

Well we tried that and it didn't work. Many other labels didn't want to partner with us and we had to drop some titles. THE FURY almost didn't happen. We very nearly junked THE BURBS because we had to shoulder 70% of the costs, for our tiny territory. But we had to go through with it, it's THE BURBS! Further evidence can be found in the Kickstarter for GOTO, ISLE OF LOVE - no one wanted to fund that, not even the licensor! The only label we ever found any synergy with is Criterion but they release (broadly speaking) very different films to Arrow Video. The labels that do release films similar to Arrow Video haven't been interested and til recently many weren't bothered about releasing Blaxploitation and Euro Crime and Euro Horror, not in the same way we are - with new restorations and extras. So this felt like not only the best but only option.

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Arrow, what's the likelihood of striking a deal with Universal and MGM in US?

Any plans for launching a new website for US releases only?

Yes very possible...

Yes US site is in the works!

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by fuzzymctiger

Ok here's some clarification.

They've said they'll finish releasing all their UK lisences

That means all the things they've teased and soft announced as well
Which includes Thief and Day Of Anger (soft teased prior to today's announcement via postcard)

Exactly. Expect announcements for December and January (both short months due to Christmas) due to come soon.

[Blu MacReady]

Originally Posted by ArrowVideo

Hi everyone. Happy to answer questions throughout today but obviously we can't be on here all the time so apologies that this is going to be a bit of a one time affair (kinda got to spend most of the time making releases).

Will you no now be in direct competition with Scream for titles? I notice they release titles you have and vice versa.
Will this now stop titles coming over here via You that are Scream titles? I'm region free so I can import, but your blus are higher quality.

An example I'm concerned over is Escape From NY. A title Scream are to release, but one I could see Arrow releasing better and with more features. Now it seems that wouldn't happen.

Thanks

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by Blu MacReady

Will you no now be in direct competition with Scream for titles? I notice they release titles you have and vice versa.
Will this now stop titles coming over here via You that are Scream titles? I'm region free so I can import, but your blus are higher quality.

An example I'm concerned over is Escape From NY. A title Scream are to release, but one I could see Arrow releasing better and with more features. Now it seems that wouldn't happen.

Thanks

A title would have to be really exciting for us to pass up being a UK-only release. In the case of ESCAPE FROM NY, that's never going to happen - it's owned by Studio Canal and is one of their major catalogue titles - they will never license it out (we've asked, of course). As mentioned we'd take a view for the future based on feedback and sales data.

[BarnDoor]

There was a rumour that Universal were no longer licencing out titles, at least not for the moment (in the US anyway). Can Arrow confirm or deny if there is any truth to this? There could be certain exceptions of course (Criterion spring to mind) but certainly there doesn't seem to be any movement on the Shout Factory front.

[PowellPressburger]

ARROW I love your releases and I am region free so I import regulary and yes The 'Burbs was a recent import and a great release. However if this U.S. deal keeps films from being passed over for U.K. release because you can't in the U.S.A. you are harming your own company. Many are region free now and import from other countries for your titles but this U.S. deal almost seems more bad then good.

I will say The 'Burbs would have NEVER EVER gotten the treatment in the U.S. like you guys gave it. If it does now it would be because ARROW did all the hard work.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by fuzzymctiger

Ok here's some clarification.

They've said they'll finish releasing all their UK lisences

That means all the things they've teased and soft announced as well
Which includes Thief and Day Of Anger (soft teased prior to today's announcement via postcard)

Thief is my main concern so I'm glad they're still releasing that - December/January is my guess (as the postcard appeared around the same time as Nekromantik I seem to remember). Day Of Anger it seems to imply will be released in February in conjunction with their first US release (of the same film).

I've just realised the implications of this promise to release everything in the UK...does that indeed mean we won't see titles in the UK that the US already have, because Arrow can't get the rights? Or is this transitional - Arrow will continue to release titles already released in the US (e.g. Criterion titles) in the UK, but otherwise will release in both territories? I'm a little confused/unclear on that. Would be a shame to miss out on titles like Thief and Branded To Kill in future!

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

There was a rumour that Universal were no longer licencing out titles, at least not for the moment (in the US anyway). Can Arrow confirm or deny if there is any truth to this? There could be certain exceptions of course (Criterion spring to mind) but certainly there doesn't seem to be any movement on the Shout Factory front.

Not something we can answer at this stage but it's more than likely a rumour.

[CastrosfriendChe]

Originally Posted by ArrowVideo

Yes very possible...

As Arrow approaches the new frontier, what better way to hammer a peg in the ground than to get their hands on American Ninja. Just sayin'.

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

ARROW I love your releases and I am region free so I import regulary and yes The 'Burbs was a recent import and a great release. However if this U.S. deal keeps films from being passed over for U.K. release because you can't in the U.S.A. you are harming your own company. Many are region free now and import from other countries for your titles but this U.S. deal almost seems more bad then good.

I will say The 'Burbs would have NEVER EVER gotten the treatment in the U.S. like you guys gave it. If it does now it would be because ARROW did all the hard work.

The physical media market place is getting tougher and tougher as I am sure it's no surprise. As mentioned previously we would still consider titles for UK-only if they're worth it. It'd be silly of us to release EVERYTHING that comes our way that we might have done when we can focus on bigger and more exciting titles. And if some of those titles are to our financial detriment that's even worse (yes we frequently release risky films that may not make much money because they're good for the label and frankly we just want to see them out - STRAY CAT ROCK, Borowczyk - who'd be releasing these if it weren't for us? As you say once we do the hard work someone else will jump on board, that's the way it is and that's fine).

Stay with us and see what happens, as we've said we'll monitor feedback and do our best to see as many people as possible are happy.

[ArrowVideo]

Originally Posted by rapta

I've just realised the implications of this promise to release everything in the UK...does that indeed mean we won't see titles in the UK that the US already have, because Arrow can't get the rights? Or is this transitional - Arrow will continue to release titles already released in the US (e.g. Criterion titles) in the UK, but otherwise will release in both territories? I'm a little confused/unclear on that. Would be a shame to miss out on titles like Thief and Branded To Kill in future!

It's transitional but also an ongoing process. We have UK-only released planned til May. More may follow as ongoing deals are in progress. We will monitor feedback and sales data to see what people want. Nothing is cut and dry at this stage.