About TA Video : Behind the Scenes

First off, obviously this should say "about me" as I am one guy running things here in his sparetime during the evenings. It isn't a business, it is isnt a company, just one fan offering the unavailable to another. After all is said an done, any actual profit made in anyway (which is barely any) is for my time and my time only. Like you, I'm just a fan of everything that this genre and all subgenres of it have to offer. From the blood dripping hacked up zombies to the rough-riding exploitation & grindhouse flicks - all the way down to the nail-biting giallo's of italian cinema. I love collecting those prints of those classic movies currently available on DVD, but lets face there are hundreds of thousands of movies from years gone by that just don't have the fine DVD treatment that they should do - even for individuals like us!

As A Collectors you deserve better. Don't settle for crap!

Like most of you, I've harnessed a nice collection of movies over the years. Many official releases and a ton of not so official DVD's all from various sources all over the globe in varying quality. But, and here's the nut cruncher of it all, I've come to realise that most of the rare movie dealers around on the net and at conventions seem to be purely in it for the money. I am not saying all - Im just saying most.

The big give away is the catalog of thousands upon thousands of titles avaialble at a ball-crushing $20 prices + shipping. Do you really want to pay $20 with a fat grin on your face only to recieve it 6 weeks later, and then find out that what you actually paid for, was just a seriously bad - almost unwatchable turd. But not just any old turd.. this one is glued to a warped dollar store dvd case wrapped up with a half assed, badly printed, hacked up dvd cover to match. I can see that grin you once had just turned to tears.. I know! Because I've been there.. and now.. times are changing!

I offer to you, my version of what unofficial movie dealers seemingly can not - TA Video! Here I am presenting the best of 70's and 80's cinema, adding just the right element of cool while offering the twisted treatment that these gems oh so deserve!! This site offers great prints for all those movies you saw on the late night shows, at the grindhouse, Drive-In's (US), the flea pits (UK) or hell just happened to rent a movie one night and found your true love. Whatever the experience you had, we know that there will always be something your itching to add to your collection.

Getting the movies you want should be affordable. Don't be ripped off!

I really do believe that you should get what you pay for and that means that quality is due alround for that $20 you just paid. What does that mean? It means you deserve the Twistedness! - from your experience on this website, my email resposnes, delivery times right down to the quality of the print on the disc, the slick menus and twisted dvd covers that you'll get each and every time.

Dont suffer in silence. Flush all the turds you've bought in the past. Its time to give your DVD collection the respect it deserves. Like you, I do have thousands of titles in my collection, many rare, others not so rare, some awesome quality, others unfit for human eyes. In order to stand by the quality that I do my best to offer, I really do try to limit what is actually put up on this site.

I don't have thousands upon thousands of titles available here on the site, but what we do have is quality. From the sci-fi classics of the 50's, the sexploitation of the 60's, exploitation of the 70's and the slashers of the 80's and all the european rarities inbetween, I aim to offer the best that I can can of those era's, at the right quality - at the right price all done with my unique effection for these genres - as shows with the prints, dvd menus and the DVD covers to go along with it.

About the movies available and what you can expect from TA Video

With so many unofficial / grey area online resources (and many also lurking about in the back of Magazine ads!) Who do you choose? Why do you choose them. I'm damned sure you have your personal favourite source for your movies, but while your here you should continue to read on and see how I attempt to set what I'm doing apart from the rest.!

I will try to only use the best quality prints I can currently locate for my offerings. If it's really that unwatchable or the quality is just about borderline, then I won't offer it regardless of how rare and hard to find it may be. As Im sure you'll know, it's more common to find fullscreen prints of movies than widescreen prints, however, where possible I will use a widescreen print to ensure that what you are lucky enough to watch is what the director/producer intended - filmed in its original aspect ratio.

Where do we get the prints for these movies. What are my sources?

Prints come from a wide range of sources which can include, but is not limted to VHS Video tape, Betamax Video tape, Umatic tape, Laserdisc, Video Compact Disc (VCD), Analogue / Digital TV broadcast, 8mm, 16mm & 35mm Film and OOP Foreign DVD. More often than not the source is usually from an original excellent quality imported video-tape or foreign imported DVD. On occassion I see some very nice cleaned up films being aired through satellite or cable and yet seemingly don't have any existence in the way of a legitimate DVD release. In these instances I will grab such prints and offer them here. While I would prefer not to offer TV sourced material, offering the availablity of digital quality of a one off airing of such obscure movies really should not be overlooked.

Language & Subtitle Options and availability

The majority of the movies here are in English language. Where english language is not available I will always try to ensure that english subtitles are available, however this is not always the case. Many times the best quality print may contain foreign subtitles. I would rather offer you a quality print with subtitles than a shoddy looking unwatchable print without subtitles. The point is - sometimes I have to make sacrifices to offer the better quality.

Deluxe Twisted Edition Interactive Menu Authoring

Each and every "Deluxe Collectors Edition" you receive from me will be lovingly encoded and authored to DVD using professional DVD authoring software featuring interactive menu's, chapter selection menus, even a few extras and perhaps trailers where possible. Usually I will use elements previously used on the DVD Cover and Disc artwork for use in the DVD Menu's. If I have a range of art sources available I will mix and match to create something a little different.

All Discs are encoded and authored to strict DVD specifications to ensure maximum compatibility with your DVD player. All the DVD's are encoded to NTSC with no region code set, this ensures playability on 95% of worldwide DVD Players..

Vibrant, colorful and snazzy. They look great on the shelf!

When you order a Deluxe Collectors Edition DVD it comes complete with a brand new studio Pro-grade Amaray DVD Case with a shit hot and sickening DVD Cover which is totally 100% custom designed by me using hi-resolution source materials including but not limited to poster art, video sleeves, laserdisc covers, lobby cards or any other sources I am able to locate. I'll use these materials along with my own fine blend of Twistedness and create my own custom dvd covers to match the feel and tempo of the movie its for.

Updated: January 2013

Deluxe editions are nolonger shipped with artwork. All artwork is now downloaded for you to print. This keeps both cost of the item and shipping to a minimum. You can read more about Product Information and/or our Artwork Printing service.

What can you expect to find on the Twisted Edition DVD Covers?

•  Starring Actors/Actresses along with crew personnnel.
•  Other alternative posters or lobby card shots
•  Full movie plot description
•  Bonus shorts and possible extra features included
•  DVD Specifications, languages, runtime, usually found on the back

High quality, custom made 'In-house' collector peices

What I dont use are low quality images found on the internet - totally BAD! Usually images found on the net are at 72 dpi (dots per inch) and are for display on computer monitors only. These are no good for quality artwork print!. I only use sources at 300dpi or more. and design as per dvd sleeve speficiations (which is generally 3240 x 2175 pixels @ 300 DPI).

Lets put it like this, If you nip over to cdcovers.cc and look at the DVD scans you'll find, they make look ok and generally readable on your computer, but when you print them out you will notice that smaller text is unreadable and at times can appear slightly blurred. Why? This is down to the DPI. Most covers available from such sites are scanned at 150 DPI or less (Yeah, seriously!). Even if printed at 300 DPI or 1200 DPI the result will be the same.

Original movie posters, Lobby Cards, half-sheets, inserts, screen shots...these are just some of the elements you should look forward too when ordering from TA Video! What's exciting about your DVD is that I stay close to the original look and feel of the film while still adding just the right touch of Twisted Blends to that cherished gem.

The Front of the case consists of Sharp and Crisp Movie poster artwork with my own treatment. I do not just copy and paste an image into the front and I'm done. You can get that shit from elsewhere. The Back of the case is where things get interesting. I'll include my own little "fun facts" along with Movie descriptions, Rating systems, Critic comments and full use of the entire working space. Take a look at our selection and see for yourself. If it hasnt come from me - It's a slurry pile of blur!

Setting new standards and taking things beyond the 'norm'

I have so seen it all! From hand scribbled dvd named on branded DVD recordable media to thermal printed B&W movies names printed on silver topped recordable DVD's. Nothing beats the full package, and that include a high quality full face - color printed DVD Disc. My Disc artwork is designed to match that of the DVD Sleeve I create exclusively for my website. I use quality Glossy photo color paper for the DVD Covers printed at high resolution via Color inkjet printers at 300 Dots per inch (which is deemed the industry standard for image printing). The paper is quick drying meaning there is no chance for smears.

Once printed and left for a few minutes (to fully dry) I crop each cover by hand using extra sharp craft knives and steel rules (no jagged edges here folks!). This ensures a lean mean, crisper than chips print out with full vibrant colors to make them look ultra cool on your shelf along with the rest of your collection. I do not use sticky DVD labels period. They peel off, scratch easily and more importantly can damage your DVD players. I've seen sticky labels shredded from use before. Stay clear of anyone using sticky DVD labels. Full face on disc printing is where its at, except no less.

Set us apart, place an order and Test the Twistedness!

From print, to menu, to disc to cover, I just know that you are gonna love what I have to offer. You'll come back again and again to add these Awesome Movies to your collection with the Slime treatment thats just right. If you dont believe me.. order one, check it out and then come back and tell me how right I was! If you have any questions or concerns about these DVD's, feel free to get intouch at any time!