It's that time again. A discussion on Hoarders and Elitists

[oldeschool17]

Unless I've misunderstood... Falkor isn't buying the print. He's paying for Toby Russell to telecine the print and create a DVD-R master copy. The investors then get a DVD-R copy each taken from Falkor's original DVD-R. Toby keeps the 35mm print.

That makes more sense, although as an investor in the £2000 fee I would want partial ownership of the digital master and thus recieve a cut of any profits Falkor were to make if he decided to sell DVD-R copies to other fans outside the circle of ownership (although I'd have no problem with him selling copies at cost).

Good luck trying to audit those sales.

[Markgway]

That makes more sense, although as an investor in the £2000 fee I would want partial ownership of the digital master and thus recieve a cut of any profits Falkor were to make if he decided to sell DVD-R copies to other fans outside the circle of ownership (although I'd have no problem with him selling copies at cost).

I don't think any of the investors are viewing this as a business opportunity. They just want a copy of the film. Once these copies filter down thru the collector's market they won't be worth much anymore.

There is no way in hell it costs that much to telecine the film. Maybe $500 USD max. Somebody is taking the piss

I'm sure Toby wants to make a profit. He went to Taiwan to locate and buy these reels. No reason he shouldn't make a little something. He was intending to put this out via rarescope but the market didn't hold up.

[Killer Meteor]

whilst we're ranting, Running Man/Gil/Fulltime Killer...

dear, oh dear, oh dear

[HungFist]

I've got a quote this time:

the whole thing of a subtitled TAIFU CLUB being available to every cretin in the world pisses me off to no end, to the point where i don't feel like being part of this whole japanese film scene anymore. I'm crazy like that.

Here's one reply you might remember a certain other member making :

I know how you feel. I wasn't happy at all when I heard the news about that new script. Taifu Club is the one movie that I wish would have remained limited to those who can actually appreciate great cinema.

That sounds a lot like me. And I stand behind my opinion. Well, actually I can't bother to care much, but it does suck when these jokers download Taifu Club from the web and then go bragging off how they've got this great rare cool film in their collection... and would never ever give a single thought on actually purchasing the official dvd.

I used to have my custom scripts list in the web and available for anyone. But I took it down many years ago. I got tired of finding my Toei scripts attached to custom dvds uploaded to torrent sites and the people going "woohoo, now I've got this supercool Teruo Ishii film in my collection. On a pristine dvd. And maybe some day I will find a cover art, too. I rule!". And I only did timing. I can imagine how it feels to someone who translated the entire damn movie.

And please lets not go into the download issue. I'm not trying to judge everyone who has downloaded a movie from the net or maybe wanted to preview a risky purchase. But when you use hours and weeks on making a good scipt and try to encourage people to buy the film, and then the majority of people spit on the official dvd and make love to the torrent... yeah, forget about those scripts. With that attitude you don't deserve to see good movies.

[Shingster]

Bootlegging and Asian cinema fandom have gone hand-in-hand since before you or I discovered Eastern cinema, part of the reason why you've enjoyed the privilege of discovering new pinku/samurai/yakuza classics is because of feedback passed on through the years from bootleggers/fans relying on bootlegs. Not that I'd want to encourage people to go out and pirate anything and everything that can be easily bought officially online!

Either way I wasn't emphasising the bootlegging issue with my example; those coments I quoted contain no talk of illegal downloading itself, just about a film that had suddenly become potentially widely available with subs just like if it had been given an official release in US/UK. Of course, this thread has been about the illegal distribution of films from the start as I doubt Toby Russell and Falkor have purchased the distribution rights to Massacre Survivor!

[grim_tales]

I havent seen either 7GM or Victim, would like to though one day. Is that the Sammo one?
I'm sure I heard something about a totally uncut release of Big Boss at one point, I guess nothing came of it

[HungFist]

Bootlegging and Asian cinema fandom have gone hand-in-hand since before you or I discovered Eastern cinema, part of the reason why you've enjoyed the privilege of discovering new pinku/samurai/yakuza classics is because of feedback passed on through the years from bootleggers/fans relying on bootlegs. Not that I'd want to encourage people to go out and pirate anything and everything that can be easily bought officially online!

That's pretty much what I meant. I don't judge all bootlegging when it's done for good cause (like with an intention to discover new stuff and become a supporter of official releases, or simply to see a film that is not otherwise available). But nowadays when anyone with pc and a few hours of free time can custom sub a dvd there's little justification for all those R2J bootlegs collections. Times have changed. Like you said.

Personally I think it would be a fucking embarrasement to have a bootleg of an official release in your collection.

Either way I wasn't emphasising the bootlegging issue with my example; those coments I quoted contain no talk of illegal downloading itself, just about a film that had suddenly become potentially widely available with subs just like if it had been given an official release in US/UK. Of course, this thread has been about the illegal distribution of films from the start as I doubt Toby Russell and Falkor have purchased the distribution rights to Massacre Survivor!

You may me right, but I always interpreted it as response to internet bootlegging. I think the second scrip was made for that specific purpose, and not for people interested in buying the official dvd. But I'm not 100% sure, I don't know who did the script, and I never even saw it myself.

Ah, just remembered. This is a direct quote from Jeroen. "In a perfect world everyone would like to own a copy of Taifu Club". Stuck in my mind for some reason.

[Killer Meteor]

I have to admit, I do have a few custom DVD-Rs of Japanese DVDs, obtained through trades, but the alternative is a dvd with no subs that costs nearly £40!

[grim_tales]

whilst we're ranting, Running Man/Gil/Fulltime Killer...

dear, oh dear, oh dear

Barrel of laughs eh?
There was another member called "Jonathan Stathes" as well - maybe he was Gil also?

[romerojpg]

whilst we're ranting, Running Man/Gil/Fulltime Killer...

dear, oh dear, oh dear

[Markgway]

Does anyone even know who owns the rights to Massacre Survivor?

I suspect the company that made it went out of business about 30 years ago... lol

[oldeschool17]

Ladies and gentleman, this fiasco has come full circle. Take a look at the latest developments in this nonsense:
http://www.kungfucinema.com/forums/show ... 765&page=7
and click onward.

Summary points:
-They secure the print for £2000
-Adonis (Giles and Adonis are partners in crime?) does a screening in the UK for said film. Charges a tenner for admission
-At the screening, they charge 5 quid for a copy of said film. Mind you, Falkor made great pomp and circumstance for rounding up £2000
-Stiller, the Redsun/Panmedia bootlegger, ends up selling this for $8
-An individual that obtains a copy uploads it on a torrent for all to download for free.
-Individuals that paid £100 are furious of the leak and hypocrisy is about.

Job well done Falkor. Can't wait to witness the next swindle.

[Markgway]

I've posted my thoughts in that thread so won't regurgitate them here.

[Yi-Long]

Ah well, I warned them. Idiots get what they deserve. Dumbasses.

[Killer Meteor]

i knew falkor was up to no good

[Killer Meteor]

and Falkor is strangely quiet on the subject

[oldeschool17]

He's probably busy fanning himself with the the money he made off this swindle. That thread is one of the best threads I've read on that forum do to the pure ridiculousness, hypocrisy, and idiocy involved. The fact that the contributors are butthurt and trying to justify the consequences of this whole thing is icing on the cake. Gotta give Falkor and Adonis credit though. Those fools orchestrated an incredible scheme that spanned across the world all for a shit print and probably mediocre movie.

[oldeschool17]

I think this is a great quote in that thread:

Early on he talked about how he could fork over the full amount or a large chunk of it, but then he probably wouldn't make his money back because even his best seller didn't achieve the sales he had hoped. Then he insisted everyone pony up more than 100GBP each, he wasn't going to settle for 20 per person, or the deal would be dead. The wait time was probably to allow for people to save up the money. The movie was probably converted to digital quite a while ago, especially if it was slated for a Rarescope release.

So then later on, his cohort charges a tenner for admisison for the screening and then 5 gpb for an actual hard copy.

[Killer Meteor]

Falkor has re-emerged, but is noticeable avoiding the question lol

[oldeschool17]

Falkor has re-emerged, but is noticeable avoiding the question lol

I don't think he even needs to address it because the people feeling jilted deserved it. Hell, his silence speaks volumes. I love how common sense is thrown out the door all in the name of mediocre bootlegs and the quest for english dubs(in general). Just watch, a few months/year from now he'll come up with another self proclaim AWESOME rare that all the "True" kf fans need to invest in. Everything from this current and previous fiasco's will be swept underneath the rug as though they never happened. They will buy it hook line and sinker. I will laugh again when they get butt hurt over the next movie being leaked to Panmedia and torrents. Does this level of idiocy exist in other genres of cinema or is kung fu cinema full of marks(not to be confused with markgway,lol)?

[Killer Meteor]

In latest news, there is a counter bid for Shaolin Vs Lama underway, and Falkor is clearly sweating! - http://www.kungfucinema.com/forums/show ... stcount=76

[Markgway]

I must admit it takes some balls to ask for donations to a new project and then threaten any rival suggestions. Is Falkor the only person in the whole of fandom who has Toby Russell's ear?

[oldeschool17]

I like his sense of urgency in rounding up this money too. As if Toby will throw those reels away. Does Falkor actually own the reel(massacre survivor) or does he have a pseudo "Dvd master" that he then propagates? I like how there are people that have essentially excused his behavior and are willing to go through the rounds again for a wide copy of Shaolin vs Llama. What fucking idiots.

[Killer Meteor]

Falkor has left KFC - a month ago actually, but I only found out today!

[Markgway]

Yeah, he threw a hissy fit because some infidels dared to criticize his beloved Born Invincible.