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Are we confirmed on Fantoma going under? If so, I too will be making some purchases.

It seems like every major figure in "thee" world of "Magick" goes nuts eventually... Crowley, Parsons, L. Ron Hubbard. You'd think the ones coming up through the ranks might have figured it out by now, but as The Firesign Theater once said it, "There's a Seeker born every minute!" The whole business is such an obvious vat of snake oil, so astonishingly brick-wall stupid, one really has to wonder why otherwise seemingly intelligent people fall for it. Does being a successful experimental artist mean you have to be a sociopath, too? And can't they even learn "thee" English language?

At any rate, I'm not losing any sleep over the Anger DVD - it'd be nice to have, but not essential for me. However, it's very frustrating thinking that the additional Masumura titles Fantoma was rumored to be sitting on might be in limbo for a while. Be nice if HVE could pick them up. The four previous Fantoma ones really got me hooked on his work.

- Lon

viridiana wrote:Does anyone know whether or not it is too late to send back a defective copy of Forbidden Zone? Fantoma's been pretty inactive these past few years, so I'm kinda worried about sending it back at this point. Any help'd be appreciated.

Fantoma has always been pretty inactive. Unfotunately.

It should he safe to send in your Forbidden Zone...I received mine within a week, and I had sent it in the day you posted. It works, of course, and I'm happy.

I'm just gonna keep bringing this up every month or so until we get some news one way or the other. Does anyone have any info on what might be going on with Fantoma--if they're going to call it a day or not? More importantly, can anyone speculate on what might happen to the anger if they do, in fact, close shop?

Considering that their last true release (Forbidden Zone) occurred nearly one year ago (8/31/04), and Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? has been in limbo for nearly 11 months, I think the chances of any further releases are pretty slim. Still, I wish they'd give us some information on their moribund webpage.

FINALLY got an email from Fantoma. Sounds like things are OK after all.

Fantoma wrote:Thanks for the concern. We're not going anywhere. We're just in the process of changing distributors (the ugly side of the DVD business). Keep checking back, we should have an update soon and a list of approximately 10 upcoming titles.

Thanks,
Fantoma Films

Thank fuck!

Hi,

Yes we are still releasing the Films of Kenneth Anger. We don't have an official release date yet, but keep checking back and there should be some news shortly.

Thanks,
Fantoma Films

Not to complain in light of this wonderful news but how did the act of changing distributors impair their ability to update the site simply stating they were in a period of change?

I agree that the explanation doesn't make any sense (sounds like it was written by the White House press office). Nonetheless, I wish them well as they move forward.

If all of their merchandise and outstanding monies due are with their now former distributor then their explanation makes perfect sense.

I also received a reply from them today. They must have been very busy. But I'm glad to hear that there will be new titles soon.

I got an even stronger message from Fantoma, indicating that "Why does Herr R run amok?" and "Dead pigeon on Beethoven street" would be released later this year.

Hah, fricking fantastic! 10 upcoming titles no less... so aside from Beethoven, Anger and the Amok releases, what else is there? I thought they mentioned at least two more Fassbinder titles so they could add a second Fassbinder Collection box.

There are also two Masumura titles coming from Fantoma(Black Test Car, Red Angel).

Where did you get that info for more Masumura? Great news nonetheless, as I've enjoyed the two I've seen so far.

I just received an email from Amazon.ca that my pre-order of "Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?" (which I place over a year ago) has been cancelled because "it won't be released after all."

The Fantoma website is also down at the moment. Let's hope these are signs that the website is being rebuilt to include news of all of their new releases (Kenneth Anger, please).

I wrote them about something before they went dormant and very possibly before they changed sites and the wrote back and told me whatever I asked and that they were working on the two Masumura's listed above and maybe even a third. Who ever wrote the e-mail back called Black Test Car his greatest or best or other extremely positive adjective. Wish I could be even more vague for you Annie.

Thanks, that was vague enough for me.

Well, the Fantoma website's back up, though still not updated.

Fantoma wrote:Thanks for the concern. We're not going anywhere. We're just in the process of changing distributors (the ugly side of the DVD business). Keep checking back, we should have an update soon and a list of approximately 10 upcoming titles.

Thanks,
Fantoma Films

I just got this statement in the mail from Caroline music distribution.

"We're pleased to announce that effective immediately, Caroline will be the exclusive distributor of Fantoma Films in the U.S."

The statement came with a list of active titles previously distributed by Ryko. Nothing new added to the list.

Hmm, first Plexifilm, now Fantoma, things be changing at Caroline. Best part for me... promos!

ben d banana wrote:Hmm, first Plexifilm, now Fantoma, things be changing at Caroline. Best part for me... promos!

You're not kidding. Today Dennis Doros of Milestone Film and Video just posted the following over at alt.movies.silent:

We ended our deal with Image last year and spent most of this year trying to figure out what to do next. We have finally decided to start our own label (in the age of diminishing DVD sales, increased returns from the stores, and a glut of releases, it wasn't such an easy choice), and it'll start next March with our sister company, Milliarium ZERO's release of WINTER SOLDIER. After that is BEYOND THE ROCKS. After that is AT LEAST fifteen titles including DRAGON PAINTER/WRATH, CHARLEY CHASE, HAROLD LLOYD, et cetera.

Well, every 6 months or so I gotta come in here and inquire about the Anger set. Anybody know anything???

I posted in another thread a couple weeks/months back that a dispute between Anger and Fantoma had scotched the set, according to New Zealand weekly magazine THE LISTENER (they mentioned it in an aside on an article on Anger and the fights he tends to get into).

Oh great...was this before or after Fantoma sent out that e-letter saying the set was still on? If Fantoma's not going to do it, is anyone?