Self Introduction

[Graham Steward]

Hello,

I have to admit, I’ve been lurking on the fringes of the KineJapan mailing 
list for a few months now, but I’ve only just started to find the time to 
become a more active participant. So, as is customary, I’ll now spill the 
beans about myself.

I currently live in Bristol in the U.K.. I studied Film & Lit. at Warwick 
University (also in the U.K.), graduating in July 1997. Thereafter I lived 
in Japan until July 1998, which was great because I was able to buy copies 
of several Ozu films that I couldn’t get my hands on in the U.K. (there 
isn’t much available here in the U.K.).

I saw the KineJapan site a few months ago and was particularly interested by 
the idea of subtitling Japanese films and distributing them to reciprocating 
group members – simply because there’s a dearth of available material in the 
west (especially in the U.K.!!).  What has happened about this lately ?  Has 
anyone actually made any DVDs ?  If so, what methods did they use and how 
good were the results ?  I’m especially interested in this subject because 
I’m about to embark on an MSc in Computer Science and eventually want to 
become involved in DVD production.  I remember someone commenting on the 
improved image quality DVD provides, which prompted me to wonder what the 
source of the imagery was going to be. Surely if they’re dubbing from VHS, 
the DVD image can never better VHS ?  I'd love to get involved in this, but 
my Japanese skills are rudimentary.  What can I do to help, if anything ?

In response to Janet’s queries about locating a copy of ‘An Inn in Tokyo’ – 
have you tried the Bfi ?  They have a screening facility where you can watch 
films on a Steenbeck.  You have to change the reels yourself and it’s a bit 
noisy, but it’s better than nothing.  I wonder if they’ll have this film 
though, because it’s rather early in his oeuvre, and Ozu didn’t become 
trendy in the west until the 1950’s. The following URL shows that Shochiku 
do sell an unsubtitled NTSC copy of it (at least I think it’s Tokyo no yado 
!):
http://www.shochiku.co.jp/video/v30s/sb0234.html
I hope this is of some use to you. I don't know if they sell online yet, or 
whether they ever will.  Shochiku isn't the most forward looking studio in 
the world, but you never know.

I look forward to actively participating in KineJapan in future.

Cheers,
Graham

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