Topic: New Ben Model Kickstarter project

[falsealarms]

Silent film accompanist Ben Model has launched another Kickstarter project to bring some rarely seen silent shorts to DVD.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/silentfilm/the-edward-everett-horton-dvd-project

The release would include five silent shorts starring Edward Everett Horton. I'm familiar with his sound era work but honestly didn't know he was in a series of silent comedies.... produced by Harold Lloyd, no less. Other than some film fest showings, these have largely been unseen for decades.

Color me intrigued....

This Kickstarter will fund a project that brings 5 rare Edward Everett Horton silent comedy shorts from 1927-1928 to DVD. Yes, you read that right -- silent comedy film shorts starring Edward Everett Horton.

These comedies were produced by Harold Lloyd and released by Paramount, and have been preserved in 35mm from original nitrate elements. They are charming and hilarious, and boast excellent production values. They have not been seen by the general public since 1928.

The films that will be on the DVD will be seen in new 2K digital scans of archival materials preserved by the Library of  Congress, and will be scanned by the Library of Congress' lab. I will create a brand new custom musical score for each film.

The films on the DVD will be: No Publicity (1927), Find the King (1927), Dad's Choice (1928), Horse Shy (1928), Vacation Waves (1928).

The DVD box art will be created by professional graphic designer and silent era aficionado Marlene Weisman. The DVDs will be professionally authored and they will be made available for sale online as MOD (manufacture-on-demand) discs. The  finished DVD will be available via outlets like Amazon.com, TCM Shop, DeepDiscount and more, as well as international online retailers. The release will be publicized and reviewed. The DVD will be NTSC format, and will be region “0” (region-free). This is the same workflow as I have been doing successfully for all 23 of my DVD releases.

This Kickstarter covers all costs for the DVD's production and release, as well as the making and shipping of backer DVDs. Kickstarter backers will get their copies of the DVD before it becomes available to the general public.

Possible stretch goal:
While these 35mm preservation negatives look excellent in the new 2K scans, there is a certain amount of dedicated grading (exposure correction), as well as digital cleanup and image stabilization that could be done to make the films look even better. This work can be done but is not in the current budget. If the original funding goal is reached, hiring a specialist to do digital clean-up as well as scene-by-scene exposure correction can be considered as a stretch goal.

Release date (expected):
I expect to be able to have the DVD finished for you by the end of January 2021, and ready for the public for a March 2021 release. It is entirely possible that, because of the pandemic, the project might finish a month or so sooner.

What you get as a backer
I make a point of sending regular updates with behind the scenes information about the films and about the restoration and production process. Some of these are done in text form and some as videos. Last year, during a 2-3 month pause while waiting for digital restoration work on the Douglas MacLean films to be done, we sent out an update every day or two with reviews of each of MacLean's 26 feature films; MacLean is completely forgotten and most of his films are lost or survive incomplete, and these updates gave backers the opportunity to become experts on MacLean's filmography.

[falsealarms]

This wanted to raise $6,700 in 14 days.

It got there in less than under four hours.

Now it's over $9,000 and still climbing.

[falsealarms]

This is now over $16,000 but if it gets to $19,000 by Monday, all 8 Horton shorts will be included and the set will be expanded to 2 discs.

** NEWS FLASH!! ** Aug. 12, 2020 – Although we are set with our funding for a DVD single-disc release of 5 Edward Edward Everett Horton silent comedies, if we can get the funding tally over the $19K line before noon EDT on August 17, this project can expand to a 2-disc set containing all 8 Horton comedies!

If you haven't done so yet, your pledge to this Kickstarter will mean the entire group of films – unseen by and unavailable to the public since 1928 – will be back on screens for fans to enjoy. If you've already pledged and wish to adjust your pledge amount to help out, follow these steps to do so.

[falsealarms]

Less than $900 to go to get all 8 Horton shorts.....

[falsealarms]

$19,000 reached - all 8 Horton shorts are coming our way.

I might be the only one here geeking out about these though?

[falsealarms]

Perhaps lost in the shuffle with the Chase set coming out the same day, the wide release of the Everett Edward Horton silent comedies is being met with a lot of praise. Anyone here get it yet?

https://www.popmatters.com/edward-everett-horton-silent-films
"Edward Everett Horton, a comedic bean pole with a voice you know from cartoons, knew how to make silent film audiences laugh–loudly."

https://bottomshelfmovies.com/garvs-pick-of-the-week-edward-everett-horton-8-silent-comedies-undercrank-productions/
"The shorts, produced by Harold Lloyd, are very funny, have high production values, and are in excellent condition for their vintage. This set gets my highest recommendation."

[metaldams]

I was on the fence, but I ended up buying this and I’m glad I did.  I’ve gotten through the first disc and while the shorts are very good, what is stunning is indeed the print quality.  Like mentioned, produced by Harold Lloyd but perhaps more importantly - preserved by Harold Lloyd.

I wish more silent films looked this preserved and beautiful.  The prints are as pristine as Lloyd’s work, have high production values and are gorgeously tinted.  Looking forward to the second disc.

[falsealarms]

I was on the fence, but I ended up buying this and I’m glad I did.  I’ve gotten through the first disc and while the shorts are very good, what is stunning is indeed the print quality.  Like mentioned, produced by Harold Lloyd but perhaps more importantly - preserved by Harold Lloyd.

I wish more silent films looked this preserved and beautiful.  The prints are as pristine as Lloyd’s work, have high production values and are gorgeously tinted.  Looking forward to the second disc.

How did you end up liking the rest of the set?

[metaldams]

How did you end up liking the rest of the set?

Very much so.  Been a few months since I’ve watched and am do another viewing.