Vision Video Ltd.: Difference between revisions
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By the mid-1980s, the company was known as '''Virgin [[Palace Video|Palace]] Video''' and later '''Palace Virgin Gold Distribution Limited''' after entering into a partnership with Stephen Woolley's Palace Video. In 1987, in order to increase its global presence, the company launched its U.S. subsidiary, first distributing tapes through [[Continental Video]], then with its own American subsidiary '''Virgin Vision, Inc.'''. | By the mid-1980s, the company was known as '''Virgin [[Palace Video|Palace]] Video''' and later '''Palace Virgin Gold Distribution Limited''' after entering into a partnership with Stephen Woolley's Palace Video. In 1987, in order to increase its global presence, the company launched its U.S. subsidiary, first distributing tapes through [[Continental Video]], then with its own American subsidiary '''Virgin Vision, Inc.'''. | ||
In July 1989, Virgin was acquired by Jonathan D. Krane's [[Management Company Entertainment Group]] from the Virgin Group, and was renamed '''MCEG Virgin Vision Limited'''. It also combined M.C.E.G.'s existing American video operations, namely '''MCEG Home Video''' and [[Forum Home Video]] with its existing Virgin American unit into one company under the name of '''MCEG Virgin Home Entertainment'''. However, this buyout would soon prove to be a failure, and MCEG soon filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1990. By this point, 85% of the company was sold to GE Capital with the remaining 15% stake was re-acquired by the Virgin Group. but then it later sold the remaining 15% to GE Capital. The company scaled down | In July 1989, Virgin was acquired by Jonathan D. Krane's [[Management Company Entertainment Group]] from the Virgin Group, and was renamed '''MCEG Virgin Vision Limited'''. It also combined M.C.E.G.'s existing American video operations, namely '''MCEG Home Video''' and [[Forum Home Video]] with its existing Virgin American unit into one company under the name of '''MCEG Virgin Home Entertainment'''. However, this buyout would soon prove to be a failure, and MCEG soon filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 1990. By this point, 85% of the company was sold to GE Capital with the remaining 15% stake was re-acquired by the Virgin Group. but then it later sold the remaining 15% to GE Capital. The company scaled down its operations to video distribution only in the UK, while shutting down operations in other countries, namely the U.S. and Australia. | ||
In March 1991, GE Capital put Virgin Vision up for sale. Virgin soon sold their stake of the company to GE in July 1991, who rebranded the business as '''Vision Video Ltd.''' within the same time, with the MCEG Virgin Vision company itself rebranding under the name by July 1992. In January 1993, [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment|PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] acquired the company | In March 1991, GE Capital put Virgin Vision up for sale. Virgin soon sold their stake of the company to GE in July 1991, who rebranded the business as '''Vision Video Ltd.''' within the same time, with the MCEG Virgin Vision company itself rebranding under the name by July 1992. In January 1993, [[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment|PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]] acquired the company and its operations merged with its home entertainment arm [[PolyGram Video|PolyGram Video]]. Vision Video Ltd. was retained as a label of PolyGram Video that dealt with budget VHS releases, similar to their existing [[4 Front Video|4 Front Video]]. | ||
On December 10, 1998, Polygram Filmed Entertainment was sold to Seagram & Sons (the former owner of [[Universal Pictures]] which is now part of NBCUniversal). In 1999, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] acquired the pre-March 31, 1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment library, including the Virgin Vision/MCEG/Palace library and placed it under its [[Orion Pictures]] subsidiary. As for Vision Video Ltd. itself, the label continued to be used for budget releases after the rebranding of PolyGram Video UK as Universal Pictures UK, and soon expanded to budget DVDs as well until it was fully retired. | On December 10, 1998, Polygram Filmed Entertainment was sold to Seagram & Sons (the former owner of [[Universal Pictures]] which is now part of NBCUniversal). In 1999, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] acquired the pre-March 31, 1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment library, including the Virgin Vision/MCEG/Palace library and placed it under its [[Orion Pictures]] subsidiary. As for Vision Video Ltd. itself, the label continued to be used for budget releases after the rebranding of PolyGram Video UK as Universal Pictures UK, and soon expanded to budget DVDs as well until it was fully retired. | ||
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'''Nickname:''' "The Gongman" | '''Nickname:''' "The Gongman" | ||
'''Logo:''' We see a muscular, shirtless man hitting a vinyl record labeled with the Virgin logo on it, as if it were a gong (like [[The Rank Organisation|Rank]] logo). It explodes and as the pieces fly away, sparks appear and white the familiar "Virgin" logo which is stylized for a moment before flashing to | '''Logo:''' We see a muscular, shirtless man hitting a vinyl record labeled with the Virgin logo on it, as if it were a gong (like [[The Rank Organisation|Rank]] logo). It explodes and as the pieces fly away, sparks appear and white the familiar "Virgin" logo which is stylized for a moment before flashing to its normal corporate font. The text "'''''FILMS'' and ''VIDEO'''''", stacked appear on the bottom right of "Virgin", and "'''''presents'''''" fades in underneath. All the text is in white. | ||
'''Variant:''' In an extended version we see the man from before about to hit the record again now in gold, but it shakes and he runs away as an airplane comes crashing though it. We pan across the puzzled man as the airplane makes smoke trials that form the normal "Virgin" text which flashes as the stacked text "''FILMS PRESENTS''" appears below it. | '''Variant:''' In an extended version we see the man from before about to hit the record again now in gold, but it shakes and he runs away as an airplane comes crashing though it. We pan across the puzzled man as the airplane makes smoke trials that form the normal "Virgin" text which flashes as the stacked text "''FILMS PRESENTS''" appears below it. | ||
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* In Canada, some tapes from this company show the [[Cineplex Odeon Video (Canada)|Cineplex Odeon Home Video]] before this logo, even some from MCEG Virgin including ''Slipstream''. | * In Canada, some tapes from this company show the [[Cineplex Odeon Video (Canada)|Cineplex Odeon Home Video]] before this logo, even some from MCEG Virgin including ''Slipstream''. | ||
* Likewise on some tapes in Argentina the [[Transmundo Home Video |Transmundo Home Video]] would appear before this logo and [[Management Company Entertainment Group|MCEG]]'s on PAL tapes. | * Likewise on some tapes in Argentina the [[Transmundo Home Video |Transmundo Home Video]] would appear before this logo and [[Management Company Entertainment Group|MCEG]]'s on PAL tapes. | ||
* In the UK you will also see the MCEG logo before this (International) logo on some tapes from 1989 until | * In the UK you will also see the MCEG logo before this (International) logo on some tapes from 1989 until its rebranding in 1992. | ||
* It also appeared on the Canadian VHS of ''Communion'', after the Cineplex Odeon Home Video logo and before the MCEG Virgin logo. | * It also appeared on the Canadian VHS of ''Communion'', after the Cineplex Odeon Home Video logo and before the MCEG Virgin logo. | ||