Saturday, July 15, 2006

This Was the Onar Week That Was!

Well, we come to the end of our weeklong coverage of Onar Films and their special edition DVDs of madcap Turkish pop movies. But this isn't really the end. Nor is it the beginning of the end, mearly the end of the beginning. Onar will continue to be one of our top DVD companies and all their releases will be featured here in extensive coverage, from updates on when they'll be released to reviews as soon as we get our hands on them to the first word on what is coming next. We leave you with a word from our friend Bill from Onar who has graciously written a long note to fill us all in on his plans for the future. Thank you Bill! And thanks to all of you who read and especially those who wrote to us in support!
Take it away, Bill!

Although I avoid participating in chats and forums and blogs etc this time I feel I MUST add this small comment.
First, I really don't know how to thank this blogger here, Jared, perhaps the most dedicated and passionate friend of my releases! I have thought of quitting everything, many times...but just because of Jared and a few other friends here and there I will try to persist till the day I end up sleeping in the streets in some big tv carton box.
I see many people asking about my future releases, so here's my plan:
September: A double-bill with 2 70's horror films: ASKA SUSAYANLAR SEKS VE CINAYET( THIRSTY FOR LOVE SEX AND MURDER) & OLULER KONUSMAZ KI( THE DEAD DON'T TALK). You can see their trailers on the 3 Dev Adam disc. The first one is an imaginative and innovative ripoff of a few italian giallos, with lots of blood and nudity. It was released on vhs in Greece 20 years ago but was presented as a... drama/romance film! Thank God I'm aware of these tricks and I regularly check tons of turkish films in search of good surprises like this one.
The other one is a gothic horror with a haunted house, a zombie-like guy and many other things. I have only seen it without subs so I'm not really sure what's going on. I bet there is some exorcism too! I'm really proud of this film as it was admittedly never seen anywhere before. No vcd, no vhs, no tv, nothing. It kind of fell from the sky. So, due to non-existent prior use, my print was found in very good condition and the picture and sound quality will be the best you've ever seen in all my releases.
I really hope it will be out in September.
Right after this, probably in October, another double-bill:
SUPERMEN DONUYOR( SUPERMAN RETURNS(REALLY!), TURKISH SUPERMAN) & DEMIR YUMRUK DEVLER GELIYOR( IRON FIST THE GIANTS ARE COMING).
You can see trailers for both on the 3 Dev Adam disc. My dream was to release it worldwide the same day that the Hollywood Superman Returns opened! But my turkish friends who are trying to get some interviews for me and the subs had better things to do and I missed this opportunity. I'd like to add a slogan on the cover like "THIS SUPERMAN RETURNED LOOONG TIME AGO!".
Demir Yumruk is an extremely obscure superhero film featuring a Superman guy too. It's a really crazy film with one of the weirdest villains I've ever seen. A guy with a woman's wig, dressed like an old woman and speaking like a lady, sitting on a wheelchair with some uncanny abilities etc. Also, some wild villains are there to support him. I still have no subs for this either but I think one of the villains must be called Fu Manchu or something... Let's see..
Later on, maybe at Christmans, another double-bill:
TARZAN ISTANBUL'DA & TARZAN KORKUSUZ ADAM. The first one is from the early 50's and the other early 70's.
I felt I HAD to let a bunch of people see 2 versions of Tarzan a-la-Turca.
I bow to the Turks because 55 years ago they dared produce their own Tarzan, lacking everything...and above all budget. They always proved they were great and true lovers of cult films. It wasn't enough for them to just go to the cinema and see them. They NEEDED to make their own versions on them.
I shared the same mentality. It wasn't enough for me to watch a bunch of awful bootlegs. Let alone the other titles that I knew I could never find even on bootlegs. So, I decided to do it my way. Set up my own cheap little company and go ahead. I know I will never be compared with other major companies. But for me, it is an honour and a vast pleasure to know that I release films that NOONE ELSE WANTS TO RELEASE!
If I find a lost film I will release it no matter if half of it is missing and no matter if the picture looks like shit.I want to believe that there will still be a few romantic people who will still love to see what was left from a lost treasure.
Well, early next year another double-bill with 2 more superhero films:
CASUS KIRAN & DEMIR PENCE KORSAN ADAM.
And then more superhero like MASKELI SEYTAN, maybe ORUMCEK, and some ZORRO films too. I've also secured the oldest historical turkish film, from the early 50's, KIZIL TUG GENGHINS HAN.
Many people ask about TURKISH STAR WARS. Sadly, I'm really hesitant on this one. The world and the internet stinks with bootlegs of it. Some bootleggers have also added english subs too. I don't think there's still buyers left who will supprot my release.
As for TURKISH EXORCIST(SEYTAN) the same problem. Plus, so far it's impossible to strike a deal with its producers. But I will sure do my best for it.
Among my plans for next year are a couple of double-bills with Cuneyt Arkin films. Stuff like DEATH WARRIOR etc.
And to cut a long story short here is my promise. AS LONG AS I GET MY MONEY BACK I WILL RELEASE ALL TURKISH FILMS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SUPERHEROES, HEROES, HORROR, CULT, TRASH AND YOU KNOW WHAT...!
But if my sales keep on sucking I will soon be forced to quit this story and return to my former fan status, searching for bootlegs from bootleggers.
Another crazy thought is this: Instead of 1200 pieces, I will issue only 300-400. I will sell them only through my web site, leaving all merchants out. Thus I will secure an affordable price on them, like 25 euro and the few real fans will be able to get what they want. You must know that merchants buy at 50% off from me so, if I sell my 300-400 pcs alone, I will be able to offer them at 25 eur each.
My first, crazier, thought was to release only 100 pcs per title! I would sell them alone, at 70-80 eur to the craziest fans and that would be all. The others would have to make do with bootlegs.
Finally, before the end of the month I will try to put up trailers for more future releases. You will be able to check them at my site, motiontv, myspace, yutube etc.
Thanks for standing by me!

5 comments:

Nick Frame said...

Jared, like what you're doing in regards to Onar Film, I've known Bill for a while and he is a great guy who releases great DVD's. Just to let you know that DVD Trash is right behind you and Poptique!

http://dvdtrash.blogspot.com/2006/07/dvd-trash-loves-onar-films.html

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good fight Jared!!!

Anonymous said...

3 Cheers, indeed!

It would sadden me a great deal if these wonderful DVDs ceased to be.
ONAR FILMS always has a loyal customer here. Always.

Jon Anders Klausen said...

Bill: You ROCK!!

Jared: You rock too!

Poptique said...

Great week - Great blog - Great movies!

Hats off to Jared, DVD Trash, Mondo Digital, Twitch, The Undead Film Critic and of course Bill.

Keep those films coming and we'll keep telling every last schlock fiend to raid their piggy banks and pick them up!

Hurrah for the one and only Onar!!