This isn't old Red Sun covers and cases. There are new covers for this 4 in 1 sets (as you can see from the pics they look nothing like the old ones and look legit almost). They make no mention of Red Sun. The company listed is Ying Yang with a logo even! I don't think FYE thinks these are Red Sun discs. They are in 4 packs themed by actors, Ti Lung, Lo Lieh, Chen Kuan Tai, in films by and larged OWNED by Media Blasters and Dragon Dynasty (Ten Tigers, The Master, Heroes Two, The Master, Blood Brothers, Chinese Boxer, Aka Hammers Gods and Fist of the White Lotus). The Dragon Dynasty titles were confirmed by us recently via research done at the US copyright office.
It seems like an attempt to dump old discs in new sets before legit discs from Media Blasters and more titles from Dragon Dynasty start appearing. FYE is fully stocking these with SKUS and such.FYE Is blowing out the old Red Sun on the back ones. These new sets retail for 24.99 , but seem to be on sale for 19.99.
Here are some samples as you can see there is no way to know they are Red Sun for the common shopper might otherwise ignore it. The worst part is as mentioned that most of these titles belong to Media Blaster and Dragon Dynasty. These is an obvious attempt to dump product and at the same time kill the legit releases, ensuring the survival of Red Sun.
If your sick of this crap. Please call Transworld's CFO. I doubt he would like consumers calling him about his company selling bootlegs. Trust me I think it will work. :)
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If you ever had an interest in audio dubbing and the effort that goes in to it, then do we have a treat for you. It takes a lot of effort and skill, but the challenge is often part of the fun. Marin Spanic who works for NEW DVD in Germany and also dubs movies as a hobby was kind enough to talk to HK Film News about NEW and the art of audio dubbing. Also to get an understanding of the effort he puts in too dubbing older films we have two clips, one of Deadly Duo with the dub simply put over the celestial video (often used with Red Sun) and one of Marin’s dubs which show what can be obtained with cleaning up the audio and better syncing. His re-dubs are often kept among a small group of collectors to prevent Red Sun from using them for their “products”, so getting a chance to see and hear this is a nice treat. Thanks again to Marin for doing this interview with us.
Basic Info
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Age 34. Had to quit usual day job because of health reasons. Doing DVDs now fulltime since Feb 2007.
2. What was the first martial arts film you saw and when?
Mid-80s- Millionaires Express, German dub on TV.Saw it while on a very boring Vacation.I think I watched it quite a few times these Weeks. Still hooked to it, can't watch the Movie in any other Language or I'll fall asleep.
3. Growing up in Germany were you frustrated when you found out that many Kung Fu films in Germany often were cut?
Sure, but then the search for the uncut VHS Versions came up, and often they were much more unwatchable - crappy Fullscreen Dupes, whereasGerman Stuff was mostly Letterboxed...
4. What is you favorite Shaw film and Shaw director
Hard to say.I don't have a Number 1 Movie, but these rank very high: THE DUEL NEW ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN KING BOXER
All of the 3 in GERMAN dub for me only - the dubs are the most perfect you could imagine, making the dialogues even better with actors dubbing, not crap done by the usual "But still" folks. I simply can't imagine watching these Movie in another language than the old German subs. (and I HAVE seen them all subbed and all)
New DVD’s
1. Can you describe NEW in terms of what they release and how big they are?
Not so big. Some 3 Movies every 1-3 months. Small Movies, no big studio Stuff.
2. How did you come to work for NEW?
Folks heard how good my dub stuff is I did for myself and copied [it] around for friends.Word-of-Mouth that is. They worked hard to get my number and called me...(like other folks I work [I] now for!)
3. What are your exact duties while working for NEW?
a) look for interesting movie b) look for material needed (Uncut movie? Audio options? Extras?) c) Dubbing, editing. d) Sometimes authoring when there's not much time left.
4. It surprises many non-German speakers that English dubs are often included on NEW DVDs. Why is this the case? Because I want as perfect DVDs as possible. It's not that we NEED the English Dubs in Germany. Heck, I even wrote English subs for the missing Scenes for BLACK PANTHER!
5. How does NEW get the rights to these films especially the rarer ones like Fight for Shaolin Tamo Mystique aka Lady Wu-Tang?
We get them from the German Holders. We tried to get Stuff from HK or Taiwan, but nothing could be done.We just can't find any contacts, less even get over there to make some deals. We would LOVE to get someof the obviously remastered First Films Stuff.
6. What elements do you often receive from the rights owners?
The only thing we get is - at best - a German cinema print, which is of course more often than not cut. So lots of workis to be done 'till it's ready for release.
7. What are some of the latest releases and upcoming NEW DVDs that you think our readers may be interested in?
(all titles will be Widescreen 2.35 and German Language; further dub Options with the title)
THE EIGHT MASTERS (Cut, with windowboxed Inserts) (Mandarin, English)
Shaolin Kung Fu Mystagogue (cut, with 2.10 Widescreen Inserts) / 2 German Dubs (Mandarin, English)
I am also working for another Company at DESPERATE CHASE (BLOOD OF THE DRAGON) (2x English Dubs, Mandarin)
I am also working on LEGEND OF THE WOLF for the MIG Filmgroup, SKY HIGH, and other Stuff. Too much to round up here!
8. Has NEW had any trouble releasing films uncut from the German Censor Boards?
We don't issue films to the censor boards, so there are no problems.
If we DID, we would have no problems these Days to get an uncut 18, but it costs a lot. We ARE doing it for stuff like LEGEND OF THE WOLF, and that stuff gets no Problems these days.
Audio Dubbing
1. What is the process of adding additional language options to a film for a DVD release?
Well, it's best you have an UNCUT Print in English or Chinese. Then you can dub that onto the cut German print to see what's exactly missing. Note that down and you know if and what and where to insert later.
2. How do you attempt to clean up the audio and remove hiss, crackels, and other imperfections?
Use Noise Reduction Filters from Sonic and Adobe. Works pretty well, most annoying is some low hum and buzz. These always have to go. Remove hiss only when the audio is not disturbed too much. Tape and 35mm Print crackle should be removed also.
3. What did the Netherlands seems to get a large amount of Shaw Brothers films released in English?
All their Shaws on Video were in English; it seems to me that ALL Shaws sold worldwide outside of Asia were the English Dubs back then.
4. With the criticism by many that Kung Fu dubs never match the lip movements, how do you go about trying to sync the dubs (German or English)
German Cinema dubs are often better synched than even the Mandarin Stuff. They are normally no problem. As for the usually crappy English dubs, just make it fit. For a seasoned pro this is no problem at all. Never compare to the Original out-of-synch dub, but use your own wit and intelligence.
5. What was the hardest audio project you had to do?
Pick any Celestial Frame-Cut Mess. If you don't notice any lags, it's well worth the work. The best thing an Audience can say to you is, "I noticed no problems with the audio", even when you have to work DAYS to make it perfect.Look at that REDSUN Crap. They can't even synch the most simple stuff correctly, and still they sell that crap in tons. When I stumble upon this stuff I see/hear all the amateurish faults done on all aspects of these boots. Pathetic.
6. Any dream films you would love to work with?
Tell me- what's a greater Dream than what I do NOW? making DVDs of "KARATE-MOVIES" and "Horror-Stuff" you loved as a Kid? Can it get ANY better?I can do Perfect DVDs of Movies I like and thats for a living... not many have even such a "Dream-Come-True" I think.
Jack Stiller aka FarEastPirate issued this statement on Kung Fu Fandom general interest section. (http://p081.ezboard.com/bkungfufandom) It seems as if he feels he is above the law. He also included articles to claim that because priacy is so rampant that he is unstoppable. I doubt however if the IRS would be happy with the fact that he more than likely (no proof just opinionh here) hasn't declared taxes on the over 10,000 USD he must make per MONTH from his ebay store (stiller66@aol.com is his ebay nick). So what will happen next?
In NYC its only a misdemeanor to sell pirated films it has the most Lax laws concerning pirating films.
Also they have their hands so full with Sidewalks of NYC crawling with Movie theater Bootlegs. The MPAA is only interested in the 7 major motion picture studios and new films.
And to bust someone they need to buy an enormous amount of DVD's to make the bust. And they need alot of evidence to do that.
this is not a Europe Fascist regme . its a free country were people have to much rights.
I spoke earlier today to a person a TWC and boy was he not happy when he saw this. I gave him links to the blog and he saw the pictures. He was pretty shocked when I told him this. He said they were going to "take corrective measures immediately". We will just have to see what will happen.
Recently, if you've visited a FYE or Suncoast, you may have noticed a lot of Kung Fu movies popping up in store shelves. DVDs such as classic Shaw Brothers films and other Hong Kong films claiming to be remastered and offering English dubs.
The truth is that these DVDs are actually from known bootleg outfit Red Sun DVD (aka Bonzai Media, HK Video (not the French company), and Panmedia), who are infamous for using stolen video masters from Celestial (the owners of the Shaw Brothers library) and other legitimate companies, and the fact their bootlegs are factory pressed (meaning, not DVD-Rs). They simply remove the Chinese audio track and replace it with an English dub. After years of shoddy tv sourced copies fans have been used too, not surprisingly these titles have sold quite well. This can be seen by simply looking at the best seller list at www.hkflix.com. Who despite knowing of the illegal nature of these products, still sell them.
Red Sun DVDs have been responsible for the cancellation of many planned Region 1 US DVD releases including an Angela Mao boxset, a Joseph Kuo boxset,etc. This is due to the fact that Red Sun's "owner", Jack Stiller, often floods marketplaces online and many American malls with inferior bootlegs by his company of titles that were in planning stages. This in turn caused companies to abort their planned releases and ensures market control for himself.
While this is intolerable enough, it seems that Red Sun DVD has reached a new level of audacity: Being stocked at large US retail shops. Dragon Dynasty is a label from The Weinstein Company set to release many Shaw Brothers, Fortune Star (Golden Harvest, Cinema City, etc), and other greats of Hong Kong and Asian cinema. The rights owned by the company have been reported on several film sites, but may also be seen by simply watching a trailer found at the Dragon Dynasty website (www.dragondynasty.com). This highlight reel shows, Shaw Brothers films Crippled Avengers aka Mortal Combat among others.
The problem is, FYE and Suncoast are now stocking Red Sun versions of these films, as can be seen in this photo taken at the FYE in the King of Prussia Mall (one of the largest commercial malls in the country). These pictures show that not only have these bootlegs been entering the mainstream retail market, but they are being sold as regular product by these stores (as evidenced by a barcode indicating that these titles are a part of store inventory and not a used dvd). Another picture shows Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (once again showing a regular barcode). Though not pictured,in less than five minutes bootleg Red Sun DVDs of One-Armed Boxer and Invincible Shaolin were also found, often near legitimate Dragon Dynasty and other releases.
The sad truth is that not only will these Red Sun DVDs harm the legitimate market for upcoming releases of Shaw Brothers DVDs by flooding the market. They will also cut out shelf space for legitimate Kung Fu releases, as independent dvd labels are having trouble getting their products into major stores. A fact recently talked about in this New York Times article:
These bootlegs are only going to help exacerbate theproblem. The main question is, what will happen? When I talked to an FYE employee, he got very nervous when I told him these were bootlegs of films owned by TWC. He quickly put the ones I showed him behind the register, but this is just one step. The best thing we can do is pass this information along, both to fans telling them to avoid these bootlegs, and to the companies. This is to ensure that TWC and others take appropriate action to remove these bootlegs from the market. If TWC allows these to remain in FYE and Suncoast, it would seem to indicate Harvey Weinstein is impotent in stopping the bootlegging of his own products, Even worse, the selling of them side by side with his own releases. However, given the power and the infuence of TWC, I don't think we as fans will have to fear this. If we as fans support Red Sun, we are only dooming ourselves to the disappointments of the past and a bleak future. The only question is, what will happen next?
