Boutique Blu-Ray Interview with James Flower, Producer at Arrow Video (Bruce Lee at Golden Harvest)

[@brettconsolacion3027]

I would like to just say that your style of interviewing is refreshing, respectful, and enlightening. Rare interruptions, cleverly open ended structure, and genuine engagement with the interviewee.

[@TheDiscConnected]

Appreciate that, Brett! Funny enough… I think I’ve discovered that comes from my parents being awful people to me growing up and now I just want to give the people I speak to enough room to respond and to show them that I genuinely care about what they do. Appreciate the kind words :)

[@TheFanaticalDragon]

Excellent, excellent interview Ryan! One of your best yet, and that’s saying something! Extremely excited to see what James and Co put together for Shawscope Vol3. And his little tease about the possibility of some K-Horror is music to my ears. Korean cinema is sorely missing out when it comes to the U.K. labels. Great job 👏

[@BloodnailTV]

Completely agree 😊, K-Horror is definitely a massive hole in my collection!

[@TheDiscConnected]

Thanks a million, Dragon! K-Horror would be an excellent move for my tastes! Thanks for the compliments, sir! Means the absolute world!

[@bestofboastworlds1883]

I don't know man. You have to accept that the company that put out Wolf of Wall St is not the same company that brought The Beyond to the UK. Yes, they still do great things (Bruce Lee, Empire of Screams etc), but they are just different now and stuff like Last Emperor dilutes the brand and makes them less than what they were. Since putting out Pitch Black they've just been chasing profits and putting out stuff that's cheap to licence (endless Niko Mastrorakis for example). James Flower essentially said, "I don't care what you think, if it sells we are happy". The old Arrow would have turned away off-brand licences, THG Arrow put out everything and this just makes the label less collectable. But then again, 88 are putting out MGMs, Vinegar Syndrome have started putting out the mainstream, Indicator have a big studio deal. It's just the way it's all going.

[@TheDiscConnected]

In a sense, I certainly agree with you. It's not allowing smaller films to be found by new collectors. But I also am very fond of a company giving that kind of love to some of the biggest films of all time. I love a company putting their heart and soul into something like The Warriors. You are right, though. Most of these boutique labels are signing studio deals nowadays. For many of these companies, they have to do that simply to be able to exist anymore. These companies serve a niche of a niche.

[@grahamprovan8895]

I think it's a pretty bad attitude to have. To speak for a company you don't work for and assume that their aspirations now dont align with what they "once were" Surely the goal should always be to put out what they want for themselves first and foremost. The bigger acquisitions and titles they are putting out now are still funding them to put out your Coffin Joe's etc. So I think bring it on. They are clearly as popular as ever and selling massively so we should all be supporting them going from strength to strength. Great video and great interview by the way. Appreciated the insight

[@CoinOpTV]

Bravo James - Arrow has released lotsa quality stuff over the years. Interesting to hear the behind the scenes stuff like yall said that Bruce Lee set was pretty epic (even with the shipping hiccups) and I enjoyed ShawScope vol 1 and 2 be interested to see which films make it to ShawScope Vol 3.

[@TheDiscConnected]

I still have hope that one of these Shaw sets will be horror-focused. Thanks for watching, Robert!

[@CoinOpTV]

@@TheDiscConnected yes I think they have officially mentioned ShawScope 3 will be a departure from kung fu into more genre films

[@gavinwolves2528]

Just found your channel through this interview. Love arrow and physical media so have subbed right away!

[@TheDiscConnected]

Amazing! We’re glad to have you. Hopefully the back catalog has enough interviews to keep you interested for a bit :) Let me know if you have any questions!

[@gavinwolves2528]

Thank you and already on my 3rd video great content

[@nicomedessantiago6259]

A fantastic interview. Arrow still kicking it big time i/e. The Shaw Bros. and Bruce Lee Sets! I'm praying, someone, somewhere (Arrow?) will re-discover Seijun Suzuki. I'm greedy for more of his work, but in the meantime, Arrow remains a FAVORITE LABEL.

[@TheDiscConnected]

I've heard the rumor that Criterion may have access to more Suzuki soon... We shall see.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

I hope Arrow gives us more horror films. I'd love Blood Beach, Prom Night 2 and Pin

[@TheDiscConnected]

I’m sure they’ll always give us more horror!

[@nekromantik2009]

On the topic of THG buying Arrow..for me and customers that was a huge negative. THG are not a customer friendly company. The way they treat customers and then put support staff in some other country and read off scripts etc. Had a lot of issues with orders. The recent Arte Orginale orders being cancelled and customer services reading off script and not saying what issue was. It was terrible so I had to stop ordering off arrow site.

[@TheDiscConnected]

You and me both. It is not something I have been happy with. They may have increased their resources, but that did not help us get packages in decent shape sent to us.

[@TheDiscConnected]

@TheBritishSteelbookGuy Arrow US is very hit or miss as well. I’ve decided to not buy direct at all anymore.

[@GrimCellar]

Brilliant stuff, Ryan. Admittedly I don't think the Hut transition was as seamless from consumer perspectives as James would like to think, the website changed to something godawful, some of the cancellations have been unforgivable (I've been a victim of this), etc. Obviously, none of this is James's fault. On the positive side, this interview has reminded me there are still people who love film at Arrow - I was starting to think they'd become purely corporate - and it's helped dispel a few myths. Nice work.

[@TheDiscConnected]

Lol The Hut transition was the absolute opposite of seamless. It was a shitshow and still feels like a mess. I am so glad it helped to reinvigorate even a slight amount of confidence. Thanks for hanging out!

[@fromfilmtocode]

Some more ideas for modern restoration/releases: Vidocq The Eye (2002) Noroi Blade (1998) Marebito (2004) Savageland (2015)

[@TheDiscConnected]

I’d take a fancy edition of Noroi any day!

[@redwillow79schippers94]

Wouldn't it be great if Arrow put out a Nightmare on Elm Street box set? I know I know but I can dream right?

[@TheDiscConnected]

They sure would give it some respect!

[@movie_av_impulse]

One could only pray that ARROW would do the original 1990 TMNT .. With Dolby vision & Dolby Atmos. A nice box set that would fly off the shelves. Next year is the 35th anniversary of the movie we need a 4K restoration please James make this happen

[@TheDiscConnected]

Man... James would be like a kid in a candy shop doing that one. And you and I would preorder in a heartbeat haha

[@movie_av_impulse]

@@TheDiscConnected HELL YEAH I'm telling you true fans of TMNT movie would gladly pay up for a box set with nice artwork, documentaries, and behind the scenes that maybe we never seen. But all we can do right now is dream 😕

[@TheDiscConnected]

@@movie_av_impulse that Umbrella box set is pretty incredible.

[@mhens1496]

Orson Welles arrow video box set!? that would be sick

[@TheDiscConnected]

Right?! That would be WILD.

[@Leif_sauce]

I didn't know Cliff left Shout Factory. Who's running things over there?

[@TheDiscConnected]

As of right now… it’s not even public knowledge.

[@letstalkcriterion]

I’m a big fan of Arrow in the UK but the US releases tend to be better offerings I do import but could save if these were also available in the UK but they are doing a great job.

[@TheDiscConnected]

Yeah… licensing will ALWAYS make that part an issue.

[@fromfilmtocode]

Night of the Living Dead (1990) pls. 🙏

[@TheDiscConnected]

I’d love a great boutique release for this!

[@nicomedessantiago6259]

P.S. 4K all you want boutique labels but PLEASE, DON'T KILL BLU-RAY!!!!!!!! I', 90/10 blu-ray, DVD over here.

[@TheDiscConnected]

I guarantee it is going nowhere. UHD is too expensive for most titles.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

4k is fine but I prefer Blu-ray too

[@TheDiscConnected]

@@redwillow79schippers94 Blu-ray will always be around.

[@chriswright4677]

Could you please get rid of the awful frame. What a poor choice.

[@TheDiscConnected]

What frame are we talking about here?

[@chriswright4677]

@@TheDiscConnected the frame around the picture is so distracting.