Jerry Beck of Streamline on Byte Information Exchange
CBIX, 1989/12/06 21:00
Somewhat edited by Jim Omura
EDITOR’S NOTES: I’ve cleaned up some line noise, corrected some
spelling, rearranged some comments to flow more logically and
reformatted the text at places. As such, you may occasionally
see references to errors or line noise and you didn’t see the errors
that they refer to. Don’t worry about it.
Switch is Emru Townshend
jen is Jennifer Jumper
hmccracken is H. McCracken
jo is Jim Omura
mikebryant is Mike Bryant
DaveMackey Is Dave Mackey
[hmccracken] well, according to my watch it’s 9 exactly, more or less.
[Switch]* Good evening, all.
[jerry.beck] For Harry’s information, I am talking with the Coolidge Corner
about playing AKIRA in January
[hmccracken] Terrific! I’m glad they’re back in business. Have you read
Charles Solomon’s book yet?
[jerry.beck] Yes I’ve read Solomon’s book and it’s a rip-off!
[Switch]* I have an idea on that subject, based on previous CBIXes…
[mikebryant] Harry, is this going to be a free-format session?
[hmccracken] Not totally free format — if you would like to ask Jerry a
question, please send me a message (/msg hmccracken). And I’ll give you the
go ahead to do so.
[hmccracken] Well, we seem to have a quorum.
[Switch]*
[jen]* Good idea, Switch. ‘go’.
[hmccracken] Jerry, why don’t you begin by telling us a little bit about
yourself and your various animation-related interests?
[jerry.beck] More about Jerry Beck coming up
[jerry.beck] I noticed that there was some basic info about me listed as I was
getting into the system. I’m a film distributor, now handling Japanese
animation to American theatres. I’m a writer, having written articles for
various magazines on animation,and co-writing “LOONEY TUNES & MERRIE MELODIES
A Complete Illustrated Guide To The warner Bros. Cartoons. And I’m a fan of
all things fantasy…
[jerry.beck] I’m an ex-New Yorker, now living in Los Angeles and loving it
(especially the weather) and getting more involved with animators and
animation production.
[jerry.beck] Any questions?
[hmccracken] Jerry, why don’t tell a little bit about Streamline Pictures,
specifically?
[jerry.beck] Streamline Pictures is a partnership between myself and Carl
Macek (ROBOTECH). In a nutshell Carl deals with the Japanese producers, we
work on production and marketing, and I handle sales (to theatres). We are
also dubbing certain Japanese animation features.
[jerry.beck] Sorry about my boo-boos.
[hmccracken] Jerry, which specific films is Streamline releasing?
[jerry.beck] Streamline is releasing LAPUTA: CASTLE IN THE SKY, AKIRA,
TWILIGHT OF THE COCKROACHES currently and LENSMAN next summer
[hmccracken] I think we have a question from ‘Jo’ (go)
[jo]* I’ve been asked by The Comics Den whether there will be video tape sales
forthcoming. Also, I’d personally like to know about Canadian theatre dates.
[jo]* go
[jerry.beck] Streamline is not distributing to Canada. I know that one company
up there, Festival Films (no relation to Ron Hall’s company) is trying to
pickup AKIRA for Canada.
[hmccracken] And how about videotape?
[jerry.beck] At this time there are NO plans for home video release. Believe
it or not, the home video companies do not think they can sell Japanese
animation, particularly adult Japanese animation on tape! The movie studios,
even small companies like Expanded Entertainment, do not believe in the market
for Japanese animation. That’s why we were able to aquire these pictures. We
do not have video rights, just theatrical 35mm rights.
[hmccracken] Okay, Jo has a follow-up question…
[hmccracken] go
[jo]* Not really a question. Just my hope that you will find some sort of
arrangement for Canadian distribution.
[Switch]* Yes, busing down to New York to watch a movie is expensive
[jo]* Also, perhaps you can try to bypass the current home video companies and
distribute on your own?
[jo]* go
[Switch]* (Oop. Violated my own rule. Sorry.)
[jerry.beck] Canadian distribution is really out of my hands. But this one
distributor did call us and if he makes a deal with the producers then you’ll
see AKIRA. Actually I do believe that AKIRA will be released on video someday.
Maybe even before HEAVY METAL. I also like what I’m doing because I enjoy
seeing these films on the theatre screen in Dolby stereo.
[hmccracken] Mike Bryant has a question…
[MikeBryant]* Do you have any sort of listing of what theaters you will be
releasing to? (Especially in the New York Area?)
[MikeBryant]* go
[jerry.beck] To Mike Bryant, where do you live?
[MikeBryant]* New City, New York. Rockland County.
[MikeBryant]* go
[jerry.beck] LAPUTA will be coming to the New Community Cinema on Long Island
(Huntington), AKIRA will probably play at the new FILM FORUM theatre in
downtown Manhattan next year. Things change though. New York is one of the
toughest markets to get into. It’s very expensive and we are a low budget
operation. Sorry for all the glitches!
[hmccracken] Jerry, am I correct in thinking that Streamline is doing some
dubbing itself to ensure a good job?
[jerry.beck] Yes. We have dubbed two pictures so far. They are Hayao
Miyazaki’s two films post-LAPUTA: one is MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and the other is
called KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE. They are both very good films — and both are
“G” rated type fare. STREAMLINE wants to open some eyes wit movies like AKIRA.
[hmccracken] Mike, you have another question? (go)
[MikeBryant]* Are the translations of the movies actually translations or
re-writes (as Macek usually does)?
[MikeBryant]* go
[jerry.beck] Believe it or not, these are incredibly faithful translations
with good actors who are acting and not just reading. We also make an insane
effort to match the mouth movements, which they don’t even do in Japan. We
have shown TOTORO to the Japanimation fans at the San Diego Comic Con last
August and they loved it.
[MikeBryant]* YYYAAAAAAYYY!!!!! (Sorry but Robotech: The Movie was a
horror…)
[jerry.beck] Even Carl hates Robotech the Movie. He has a great story on how
that was put together over a weekend, LITERALLY< for Golan and Globus at
Cannon .
[hmccracken] Jo has another question, I believe...
[hmccracken] go
[jo]* About voice actors, I understand that the names on Robotech are mostly
or all pseudos and there are *no* voice credits on Warriors of the Wind. Why
is this?
[jo]* go
[jerry.beck] I can't answer anything about WARRIORS OF THE WIND, but...
[jerry.beck] Carl Macek just walked in and he will respond about ROBOTECH...
[jerry.beck] The voices were all Pseudo because the production was "non-union"
and the actors were not willing to put their career on the line.
[jo]* Ah, Thanks. go
[hmccracken] Switch has a question... (go)
[Switch]* AKIRA was supposed to be shown during the last WorldCon in August,
but it wasn't. I've veen dying to know what happened...
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] The producers wanted to "test" it at the San Diego Comic Con in
August and the World Con but they got all their answers from the Comic Con
screening. Sorry!
[jerry.beck] err... go
[Switch]* Oh, well. C'est la vie, I suppose. go
[hmccracken] Mike has another question... (go)
[MikeBryant]* I'm glad to hear that you're doing faithful translations, but
are the films also full length, uneditted? (Please?)
[MikeBryant]* go
[jerry.beck] YES! go
[MikeBryant]* Sorry to have been a pain but this has been neglected so many
times in the past...
[hmccracken] Jerry, to switch gears somewhat, you've also written a book with
detailed information on every Warner Bros. cartoon ever made -- a monumentous
job. Any stories about that?
[hmccracken] go
[jerry.beck] Yes, ...
[jerry.beck] We entirely rewrote our first book and did everything from
scratch. Watching over 25 cartoons in one sitting, every day, for over three
months, is NOT fun!
[jerry.beck] go
[hmccracken] Wow! Do you come away from it all with a perspective on the
history of the studio's cartoons you didn't have before? (go)
[jerry.beck] Not really! I loved the Warner cartoons going in and I still love
'em!
[jerry.beck] go
[hmccracken] Jo has another question...
[hmccracken] go
[MyrrhMist]* Good evening, folks!
[jo]* First, a comment about Unions. I think they may get in the way of the
future of video animation if they keep up the problems that the credits show.
We *should* be able to sustain an OVA market like in Japan.
[jo]* Now, a question: Are there other works beyond Miazaki that you're
looking into?
[jo]* go
[Byron]* 'evenin' folx
[jerry.beck] Yes. In fact we are looking beyound Japanese animation. We are
interested in Hungarian features from the Pannioa studio.
[jerry.beck] Back to Japan we are looking at two unusual films -- TAKE THE X
TRAIN and MANIE MANI. Do you or anyone out there have any suggestions?
[jerry.beck] go
[hmccracken] Jerry, Dave Mackey has the next question...
[hmccracken] go
[DaveMackey]* Thank you Harry... Jerry, I understand at one point you and Will
were working on a book about the M-G-M cartoons... what is that project's
status? (go)
[jerry.beck] We were ... about eight years ago. Then I decided to go back and
do the Warner book right with 1 -- hey none told me about only typing 80
characters...
[jerry.beck] go
[DaveMackey]* Thanks, Jerry... (go)
[hmccracken] Sorry, Jerry! I didn't know either.
[hmccracken] Switch has the next question...
[jerry.beck] We might approach Turner about the idea now ... now that they
have their own publishing company.
[jerry.beck] go
[Switch]* My suggestions for movies: Nausicaa (if you can wrest it from New
World), Megazone 23 Part I, Area 88 (1&2 combined), Golgo 13, Dirty Pair:
Project EDEN, Lupin. (Hmmn, more than I thought.) My question jumps back a
bit: you said you have the speech matching the movements of the lips in the
films you dubbed -- how do you get some of the glaring differences in sentence
length between Japanese and English to match smoothly? (I'm remembering
some translated anime where the speech is rushed or d r a w n o u t.)
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] Macek here... Some of those titles are being looked into. Golgo
13 is a prime candidate. Lupin and Megazone are not good candidates because
they wereeither too old, too over-exposed or not originally produced for
theatrical release. (go)
[Switch]* Hmn. Megazone was shown in theaters at one point (if memory
serves), which is why I thought of it. I'd have thought Lupin would go over
well, though -- it tends to remind me of some classic humor films like
"Bringing up Baby"
[jerry.beck] Macek again -- In terms of matching the mouth movements, it is
the skill of the ADR writer to take literal translations and construct English
sentences which get the gist of the meaning while keeping the right momentum
of diction and attitude. (go)
[Switch]* ADR Writer?
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] ADR stands for AUTOMATED DIALOGUE REPLACEMENT -- it is a
technical term you see it in credits at the end of most movies made today --
check out the credits for BACK TO THE FUTURE... (go)
[hmccracken] Jo has the next question...
[hmccracken] go
[Switch]* Oh, I see. (on to jo)
[jo]* First, my wish list: Kimagure Orange Road, Borgman, Gundam, Gundam,
Gundam and Gundam :-). Also, I wonder if you could pick up Cat's Eye?
[jerry.beck] Macek here again -- one final word on new choices for
Streamline... We are trying to work with Japanese producers on current
projects so that we can get to the point of joint US and foreighn release of
animated films. (go)
[Switch]* (If I knew you were including series, I'd have said Gundam and Ranma
1/2. Sorry for interrupting.)
[jo]* And I'd like to say to Mr. Macek, I actually feel that he did a good job
with Robotech overall in retrospect. Most of my freinds seem to disagree
lately, but life's like that.
[jo]* go
[hmccracken] Jerry, and Carl, I seem to remember you were working on a Ralph
Bakshi book...Has that been delayed? (And I've also heard, but not seen, that
Ralph has a book out himself)...
[hmccracken] go
[jerry.beck] Macek here -- keep in mind that Robotech was done "live" We
produced all 85 episodes of the series in less than 40 weeks.. Writing,
adaptation casting recording, post-production, music, etc. If it holds up to
repeated viewings and intense scrutiny from fans and maintains any "dignty"
then maybe we've done our job well. (go)
[jerry.beck] We are still writing the book. Bakshi was in a serious car
accident and it put a kink in our plans. We plan to have the manuscript ready
soon. (go)
[hmccracken] Are yours and his two different books, or the same project? go
[jerry.beck] The announcement of the "other" bakshi book was, to our knowledge
a misprint. (go)
[hmccracken] That's weird... Jerry, do you have any other book plans in the
works? go
[jerry.beck] by the way, were we supoposed to be "online " for one hour or two
hours (go)
[jerry.beck] At this time I'm concentrating on STREAMLINE PICTURES, but I'd do
the MGM book if I get a chance. I do all sorts of "writing", I write the copy
on MGM/UA Cartoon video boxes... articles for Tower Video collector, Animation
magazine, etc... (go)
[hmccracken] Switch has a question, I believe... (go)
[Switch]* Jerry, you said earlier that you rewrote Looney Tunes and Merrie
Melodies -- is the rewritten edition forthcoming or already on the shelves?
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] The earlier edition was published in 1981 by Scarecrow press
under the title THE WARNER BROTHERS (sic) CARTOONS (go)
[Switch]* Ah, OK. So I can safely buy the one on the shelves. I forgot to
ask -- does the book include the Private SNAFU films?
[Switch]* go
[hmccracken] Last call for questions for Jerry.... If there aren't any more
perhaps we should wrap things up...
[Switch]* Two questions...
[jerry.beck] The new book (published by Henry Holt) contains all the SNAFU
films and , I promise, everything else. (go)
[Switch]* Great! (go)
[hmccracken] Okay, go ahead with your question Switch, then Jo, and then we
should call it a day...
[Switch]* To Jerry -- are you showing any more Streamline films at cons in the
foreseeable future?
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] No more free rides, bub... you'll have to pay! But seriously,
Maybe next World Con, or more likely the San Diego Comic Con (go)
[jo]* Switch?
[hmccracken] Okay Switch, your last question, then Jo's...
[hmccracken] go
[Switch]* Oh, good, I might be able to make BOTH!
[Switch]* If it’s okay by him, I’d like to ask Carl how Robotech the Movie was
put together over a weekend.
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] Macek here — it’s okay with us to have this in Protoculture
Addicts or any other fanzine as long as the typos are cleaned up … in regard
to Robotech The Movie, Harmony Gold got some minor PR on local LA television
about the time that BLACK CAULDRON was released… Cannon films executives
saw the tv spot and knew AGRAMA — the owner of Harmony Gold from a previous
business deal. They put one of their “agents” onto getting anything Harmony
Gold had as a feature. Panic time resulted in my being asked to turn
something with Robots into Robotech The Movie… The only film in the library
was Megazone 23. We tried to do a faithful adaptation originally and segue it
into the original MACROSS section of Robotech — Not my choice… While I was
in Japan working on the Sentinels, Cannon saw the rough cut of the film and
dropped the property claiming that it was not up to Cannon’s usual standards.
I was asked to try and salvage the deal…. HARMONY GOLD told me to go into
the series and pull scenes and cut footage from the original movie. The
result was Robotech The Movie…It is an exercise in production that was
interesting from that narrow point of view but the end result was total
trash as far as I was concerned. There’s more but I think you get the idea
(go)
[hmccracken] Interesting… Jo, you have the floor for the last question.
[hmccracken] go
[jerry.beck] How has anyone seen Robotech the Movie? (go)
[Switch]* Interesting! I was wondering how Robotech the series and Robotech
the movie could have such jarring differences.
[jerry.beck] Did you get it from a foreign source? (go)
[Switch]* I agree with jo — overall, Robotech was a very good series.
Thanks. (go)
[hmccracken] Yes. I think Jerry and my mutual friend Bob Miller was the only
person who saw it… go
[jo]* First, some more thoughts on possible targets: Time Alien (Go Shogun),
Angel’s Egg, Robot Carnival, Gal Force and, (oh yuck 🙂 Iczer 1. Also, for
some titles that might not be the most popular, you might think about
subtitling. Anyway, beyond that, I
[jo]* ‘d just like to say that I hope you stick around for future BIX usage
beyond this session.
[jo]* go
[Switch]* It was shown on video at Con*Cept here in Montreal.
[Switch]* go
[Switch]* Dunno — I wasn’t playing the tape, just watching.
go
[jerry.beck] Macek here — I’ve got to go but Jerry is still on-line. I’ll be
in Chicago for an art exhibit Friday and Saturday featuring all sorts of
interesting animation artwork. (go)
[Switch]* One last interruption (sigh) — Robot Carnival would be excellent;
and I also hope both Jerry and Carl stick around on BIX. It would be
interesting.
[Switch]* (go)
[hmccracken] Thanks for stopping in, Carl. (go)
[MikeBryant]* Another film suggestion: Windaria
[jerry.beck] I’m enjoying this and perhaps I’ll tune in (or toon in ) next
week
[MikeBryant]* (went)
[hmccracken] Well,
[Switch]* Jerry, a quickie — I’ve been trying to prod some of my Californian
friends to find addresses & phone numbers for Japanese
[hmccracken] unless Jerry has any final words of wisdom this may be a good
time to close up shop.
[Switch]* animation studio offices in California, like Tokuma Shoten and Momo.
Know you any? (Obviously TS)
[Switch]* go
[jerry.beck] Those are good suggestions. We are looking into some of them,
GOGOL 13, SUPERNATURAL BEAST CITY (WICKED CITY), and ROBOT CARNIVAL, the
problem with the latter is that each section is own by its respective
filmmaker, and a nightmare of paperwork is involved.(go)
[hmccracken] Yes Jerry, besides CBIX we have the animation conference itself,
where you can read and leave messages, but not in “real time” like this
discussion… (go)
[jerry.beck] Yes I know the addresses, but if you’d like you can send the
letter to us and we will forward it. We’ll wrap in a moment Harry
[Switch]* That’s great! Thanks!
[jo]* Argh! I forgot Bubblegum Crisis!
[jo]* (sorry 🙂 go
[Switch]* Of course! How could’ve we forgotten BGC?
[jerry.beck] Anyone can drop us a line at: STREAMLINE PICTURES, 5625 Melrose
Ave, 2nd Floor Jerry Beck or Carl Macek, Hollywood, CA 90038 (go)
[hmccracken] Jerry, any last words?
[jerry.beck] Thanks for introducing me to this… I urge anyone who hasn’t
seen Japanese animation IN A THEATRE, to try it if it comes your way. I guess
I’ll sign off now… but I’ll be back (go)
[hmccracken] Thank you Jerry, and Carl, for participating in this — our first
CBIX session in the ‘animation’ conference. And thanks to all who stopped by
and asked questions.
[hmccracken] go
[jo]* I’m gone (poof!)