Vestron Video: Difference between revisions
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''Vestron Video''' was formed from the assets of the original [[Time-Life Video]] in 1981. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, the company released special interest videos as well as independent films, B-movies, TV movies, and pornography until 1991 (through [[Penthouse Video]]). In 1991, Vestron, Inc. was acquired by [[Live Entertainment]] (later known as "[[Artisan Entertainment]]"), and later in 1993, it was completely folded into said company. In 2016, Vestron Video was revived by [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] as a collector-oriented genre label for catalog titles (mostly horror films), similar to other boutique labels like [[Scream Factory]] and Blue Underground. | '''Vestron Video''' was formed from the assets of the original [[Time-Life Video]] in 1981. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, the company released special interest videos as well as independent films, B-movies, TV movies, and pornography until 1991 (through [[Penthouse Video]]). In 1991, Vestron, Inc. was acquired by [[Live Entertainment]] (later known as "[[Artisan Entertainment]]"), and later in 1993, it was completely folded into said company. In 2016, Vestron Video was revived by [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] as a collector-oriented genre label for catalog titles (mostly horror films), similar to other boutique labels like [[Scream Factory]] and [[Blue Underground]]. | ||
{{ImageTOC | {{ImageTOC | ||
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|-| | |-| | ||
Videos= | Videos= | ||
{{YouTube|id= | {{YouTube|id=6fL6K8wDlYM}} | ||
</tabber> | </tabber> | ||
'''Visuals:''' On a {{color| | '''Visuals:''' On a {{color|blue}} background, a large, angular "'''V'''" is seen facing towards the left, made of thick segmented lines that are larger for the "face" and thinner for the "sides". Above the logo, "{{font|Helvetica|'''VESTRON VIDEO'''}}" is seen with a trademark symbol on the top right. | ||
'''Technique:''' None. | '''Technique:''' None. | ||
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</tabber> | </tabber> | ||
'''Visuals:''' | '''Visuals:''' On a black background, the screen transitions to a screen filled with white stripes via a square wipe effect, and {{color|lightblue|light blue}} laser-like lights care down the lower sections of the screen, revealing a black-{{color|darkred|dark red}} gradient background. As the corners are finished wiping away, a laser scans upwards to carve out a triangle from the stripes and flashes also {{color|lightblue|light blue}}, forming a large "'''V'''". The "'''V'''" zooms out just off-center, with smaller {{color|pink}} sidings joining it a bit later and wipe in downwards, completing the "'''V'''" logo from before as 4 {{color|pink}} lights (which resemble Christmas lights) ping on and off on the top and bottom corners of the logo. "{{font|Helvetica|'''VESTRON'''}}" wipes in via the laser light as a gigantic size, shrinking down to the right to make room for "{{font|Helvetica|'''VIDEO'''}}" to pop in (along with remnants of an TM symbol). The lights continue to ping until the logo fades to black. | ||
'''Variants:''' | '''Variants:''' | ||
* | * A longer variant has the logo staying on-screen for seven or eight seconds longer after the music stops. This instance happened on the 1983 VHS of ''They Call Me Bruce?''. | ||
* | * Sometimes, a copyright stamp, either reading "{{font|Garamond|© (year) Vestron, Inc.}}" or "{{font|Garamond|© (Year) VESTRON INCORPORATED}}" zooms in below. | ||
'''Technique:''' | '''Technique:''' Early computer effects or Scanimation, with possible chroma keyed lights. | ||
'''Audio:''' | '''Audio:''' A repeating synthesized piano ditty plays out when the stripes are formed, which then transitions to a more intense synth theme, similar to a 80s news theme. Synthesized zaps, burning noises, and laser zaps also playthrough out the logo. This was composed by Jim Flamberg. | ||
'''Audio Trivia:''' This is also | '''Audio Trivia:''' This is also the theme for ''How to Beat Home Video Games'', which Vestron also produced. The sound effects are also extremely similar to the ones used in the logo. | ||
'''Audio Variants:''' | '''Audio Variants:''' | ||
* On | * On some of their earliest tapes, there were no sound effects and the music had a slightly vibrato effect to it. This is commonly seen with the copyright variant, but it has been seen without the copyright at some point. | ||
* | * On some tapes in Australia, a different synthesized theme, "Videospots 4" by Harry Forbes from the Parry Music Library, is heard with added synth sound effects which are quieter than the original ones. This fanfare was the same one that was used on the [[United Film Distribution Company]] logo. | ||
* There is also | * Some hi-fi stereo releases from toward the end of the logo's life use a heavily reverberated version of the fanfare, which is also rechanneled. | ||
* There is also a silent version. | |||
'''Availability:''' Seen on Vestron video releases of the time. | '''Availability:''' Seen on Vestron video releases of the time. | ||
* | * It's first appearance, and only appearance during 1982 so far, was only on the ''How to Beat Home Video Games'' series of tapes. It was more widely distributed starting in 1983. | ||
* Notable releases include ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Lord of the Rings'', ''Harry and Son'', ''Trancers'', ''The Purple Rose of Cairo'', ''Ghoulies'', ''Mad Max'', ''The Devil's Gift'', ''Interface'', ''Lifeforce'', ''Burial Ground'', ''Curtains'', ''Amityville 3-D'', ''The House by the Cemetery'', ''Endless Love'', ''Re-Animator'', ''The House on Sorority Row'', ''The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane'', ''Mutant'', ''Class of 1984'', ''Spaceship, Yellowbeard'', ''How to Beat Home Video Games'', ''Mr. Mom'', ''The Care Bears Movie'', ''An American Werewolf in London'', ''For the Love of Benji'', and ''Class''. | |||
* Outside of the U.S., this appeared on all [[Vestron Video International]] tapes that were made prior to 1987. | * Outside of the U.S., this appeared on all [[Vestron Video International]] tapes that were made prior to 1987. | ||
* Also seen on a [[Showtime Networks|Showtime]] airing of ''The Company of Wolves'' back in 2010. | * Also seen on a [[Showtime Networks|Showtime]] airing of ''The Company of Wolves'' back in 2010. | ||
* The first VHS release of ''Mr. Mom'' had this logo, but was missing when Vestron later reprinted it. | * The first VHS release of ''Mr. Mom'' had this logo, but was missing when Vestron later reprinted it. | ||
* On some early releases with the Vestron "Red V-Ball" on the box and label, like early National Geographic releases (including the Laserdisc of ''Man: The Incredible Machine''), this may appear. | * On some early releases with the Vestron "Red V-Ball" on the box and label, like early National Geographic releases (including the Laserdisc of ''Man: The Incredible Machine''), this may appear. | ||
* The | * The copyright variant appears on the aforementioned ''How to Beat Home Video Games'' series, with the first volume having the first copyright stamp and no sound effects, while the second and third have the second copyright stamp and sound effects. It also appears on the original VHS of ''Young Doctors in Love'', which has the first copyright stamp and no sound effects. | ||
* The silent version is also rare. | * The silent version is also rare. | ||
* This also makes appearances on the Lionsgate DVD of ''Irreconcilable Differences'', the [[Full Moon Features|Full Moon]]/[[Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp.|Echo Bridge]] releases and a Movies4Men (now GREAT! Movies Action) airing of ''Trancers'', a Hulu print of the animated ''Animal Farm'', the Artisan DVD of ''Shadows Run Black'', and HBO's broadcasts of ''Ghoulies'' (from May 1986) and ''Re-Animator'' (from January 1987), which probably used transfers from Vestron's laserdisc/video masters. | * This also makes appearances on the Lionsgate DVD of ''Irreconcilable Differences'', the [[Full Moon Features|Full Moon]]/[[Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp.|Echo Bridge]] releases and a Movies4Men (now GREAT! Movies Action) airing of ''Trancers'', a Hulu print of the animated ''Animal Farm'', the Artisan DVD of ''Shadows Run Black'', and HBO's broadcasts of ''Ghoulies'' (from May 1986) and ''Re-Animator'' (from January 1987), which probably used transfers from Vestron's laserdisc/video masters. | ||
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</tabber> | </tabber> | ||
'''Visuals:''' | '''Visuals:''' On a black background, the white stripes form similarly to the 2nd logo, albeit cleaner and in a fixed 4:3 aspect ratio, but then suddenly zooms out to reveal the stripes as a giant striped block in a futuristic laboratory-like space, floating above a glowing circular platform. The aspect ratio also expands out into a 16:9 ratio as it zooms out. 2 large laser devices swivel down from the ceiling and carve the block into a "'''V'''", again in a similar fashion to the 2nd logo, as the camera pans around the lasers. The devices rise back up as the camera focuses on the "'''V'''", 2 claws bringing in the side stripes in {{color|#A9A9A9|very dark grey}} from both sides of the screen, and another device rises up as this happens, turning a sharp 90 degrees to reveal "{{font|Arial|'''VESTRON'''}}" above it. The arms and platform retract, "{{font|Arial|'''VESTRON VIDEO'''}}" forms like in the 2nd logo but with extra sparks and distortion, and the logo flashes. The screen pans slightly downwards to focus on the logo a bit more before the screen glitches and cuts to black. | ||
'''Trivia:''' This was designed by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures and graphic designer Jess Bryden. Upon creating this logo, Felsher commented: "Several years ago I discussed what it would be like to update the Vestron logo with a good friend of mine, Jess Bryden, a gifted graphic designer and filmmaker. When Vestron Video was greenlit, I approached Jess officially about updating the logo. The results were everything I could've hope for and more. References the past, but brings it into the future". | '''Trivia:''' This was designed by Michael Felsher of Red Shirt Pictures and graphic designer Jess Bryden. Upon creating this logo, Felsher commented: "Several years ago I discussed what it would be like to update the Vestron logo with a good friend of mine, Jess Bryden, a gifted graphic designer and filmmaker. When Vestron Video was greenlit, I approached Jess officially about updating the logo. The results were everything I could've hope for and more. References the past, but brings it into the future". | ||
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'''Technique:''' CGI. | '''Technique:''' CGI. | ||
'''Audio:''' A | '''Audio:''' A dramatic rearrangement of the second logo's music, complete with the synth sounds from the logo. It ends with what sounds like a mixture of the light switch flick sound and a loud slam. | ||
'''Availability:''' Debuted online and appears on releases from Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collector's Series, beginning with ''Blood Diner'' and ''Chopping Mall''. | '''Availability:''' Debuted online and appears on releases from Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collector's Series, beginning with ''Blood Diner'' and ''Chopping Mall''. | ||