Studio City, CA – Lightyear Entertainment announces that it has embarked on a major project to remaster and future-proof its classic music films. Shot and edited on videotape in the 80’s, there was no way to go back to 35mm film materials. But using modern technology, the company has successfully remastered eight of them in High Definition for the first time.
Lightyear CEO Arnie Holland said: “These films are some of the best music films ever, starring some of the biggest artists ever. Some are concerts, some are documentaries, and one is a unique feature film. All were in Standard Definition. It was sad for me to watch them become so fuzzy and outdated, when these beloved artists’ music is still vibrant and relevant. Technology had pushed these classic films aside, but now technology has made them great again. Yes, we used AI programs to accomplish this. While I am as worried about the future of AI as most other people, right now it’s a great tool. And ignoring the possibilities of what it can do doesn’t make sense. We owed it to these major artists to use every tool we could find in order to preserve and future-proof these films.”
All of the eight films were produced in the 80’s before Lightyear’s 1987 management buyout of RCA Video Productions, Inc.
The first film to be newly released was Elvis ’56 Remastered, on February 20. For that one a BluRay was released for the first time along with a release to Digital platforms in TVOD, SVOD, AVOD and YVOD.
On June 5, the following films will be released to Digital platforms in TVOD, SVOD, AVOD and YVOD:
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (the Video Album) Remastered
Jefferson Starship: The Definitive Concert Remastered
Stevie Nicks: Live at Red Rocks Remastered
On August 21, the following films will be released to Digital platforms in TVOD, SVOD, AVOD and YVOD:
A Night with Lou Reed Remastered
Rick Springfield: The Beat of the Live Drum Remastered
Waylon Jennings: America Remastered
Return to Waterloo (a film by Ray Davies of the Kinks) Remastered
Waylon Jennings America was released on DVD in 1986. It has never been offered to Digital platforms before. The film includes scenes with Robert Duvall, Hank Williams, Jr. and Johnny Cash.
Return to Waterloo is a 60-minute feature film (released theatrically by New Line Cinema), and, instead of dialog by the actors, the story is told almost exclusively by the lyrics of original songs penned by storyteller extraordinaire Ray Davies.
Elvis ’56 was originally seen on Cinemax after debuting at Sundance; Stevie Nicks Live at Red Rocks on HBO, Rick Springfield’s The Beat of the Live Drum (directed by David Fincher) on HBO, Eurythmics Sweet Dreams on MTV, A Night With Lou Reed on MTV.
All of the film remastering was produced in-house by David Lawrence, Lightyear’s Director of Film Acquisition. Sound mastering adjustments were done by Sky Spooner, Lightyear’s Executive Vice President.
Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Lightyear Entertainment, a distributor of independent films and music, was founded in 1987. www.lightyear.com
