2010-11-02

"Straight to Hell" Returns

Coming to video on December 14th from Microcinema, after a multi-city tour with Director Alex Cox. The film, originally released in in 1986, has been remastered in HD with enhanced gunfire, blood splatters and more from the crew at Collateral Image. There's also some new footage, including three stop-motion animated shots by me.


Production photo of the first of the new stop-motion shots.


The final composite framed as a "trading card" in true 80's aesthetic.


Shooting the wide shot of George's skeleton.


Raw animation against greenscreen.


The final composite in trading card form.


The final close-up of George.


From the Nov. 1 screening at the Rafael Film Center.


2011.11.19 - at The Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, Los Angeles. L-R: Del Zamora, Alex Cox, Dick Rude, the moderator from UCLA who I will identify soon, Miguel Zandoval, James Fearnley, Sy Richardson. In the foreground are the puppets from the three stop-motion shots that I did for the new release.


Miguel Sandoval, Tom Bower and me with the puppet of Miguel's character from "Straight to Hell Returns"

Here's some more "Straight to Hell" links on the web:
LA Weekly
Guardian UK Film Blog article on the re-release
Nardwuar vs. Alex Cox - audio interview
Alienated in Vancouver: Straight to Hell Returns! Alex Cox Interview!
FAQs on Straight to Hell Returns from Alex' website

4 comments:

  1. Totally Awesome Webster, I can't wait to get a copy. Those Trading cards are really cool too, are they available for sale somewhere?

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  2. Oh yeah, are you going to be a part of the "making of" feature that is going to be on the DVD?

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  3. Nope,the trading cards are fake, available in digital form only. But if you find a printer that can make them in the authentic trading card style, in a short run, let me know!

    I won't be part of the "making of" because we couldn't get the footage done in time for the DVD/Blu-Ray mastering deadline. But I'm planning on making a breakdown reel and posting it on my site some time after the video release.

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  4. A new director's cut of Straight to Hell Returns will be released on DVD on 12-14-10. The latest version has a new HD transfer and color correction that alters the look of the film. The new director’s cut also has new digitally enhanced effects and new footage, including some footage that was left out of the original film. The new version features music by Pray For Rain, Strummer and the McManus Gang. For the first time, the film will be available on Blu-ray. The DVD can be found through the Microcinema International website.

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