Kanai Katsu films on DVD

[Mark Nornes]

Hi Asako,

If he can't find a distributor, then he's on his own. Then there are  
are two ways of looking at this, no?  He can charge the rates aimed at  
libraries, as does Video Data Bank for example. A box set like this? 
from a comparable artist of his stature?would run between $300 and  
$1,000. When you use the term "limited edition", I take it this is his  
line of thinking.

If he does this, 100 is certainly enough. Perhaps too many. No  
individuals would purchase it. Or perhaps only a couple. And those of  
us at universities with budgets would submit our requests?but how many  
are really out there?

The second strategy would be to keep it a price within the reach of  
individuals, which means it will circulate widely and globally. Since  
neither is going to bring in the money of a Hollywood blockbuster,  
there's something to be said for keeping the price down there. And if  
there are English subs, then it would certainly be worth looking into  
foreign distributors (some of whom are on this list).

It would be very interesting to hear from them, as they are neck deep  
in the economic calculus Kanai-san's making.

Markus









On Dec 12, 2007, at 12:26 AM, Fujioka Asako wrote:

> Mathieu asked about the DVD release of Kanai Katsu films with English
> subtitles some weeks ago.
> Mr Kanai is thinking of a limited edition (perhaps 100?) of his 5  
> films to
> be released next year as a Kanai Katsu DVD Box. Mathieu commented  
> that 100
> units is too little. But Mr Kanai does not think that they will sell
> tremendously. Any ideas?
> His films have not been released on VHS or DVD anywhere yet, though
> apparently there is a pirated VHS by someone who videotaped Tokiga  
> Fubuku
> (Stormy Times) as it played in a theater! which is circulating
> internationally.
> Born 1936, Kanai Katsu is a maverick pioneer of Japanese independent  
> film.
> He has just finished making English subtitles for his five major  
> films which
> were showcased in a retrospective at Oberhausen Film Festival this  
> year.
> Kanai Katsu's website:
> http://www.hinocatv.ne.jp/~katsu/english-page.html
>
> Fujioka Asako
>
>
>