Does anyone remember the prospective name of the one-time planned Criterion subsidiary that was going to release more obscure and cult-designated titles? There was a Mobius thread about it but I can't find it.

DKH

Eclipse, except that apparently Criterion decided there are already enough cult film labels and devoted this to other art-house films.

Great, thanks, I thought it was something like Plexifilms, but couldn't track down any info.


DKH

Plexifilm was a company formed by former Criterion employees, I believe.

They have a website here.

Plexifilms looks as if they have some independent films on their label, with CIAO MANHATTAN! being the biggest, but really seem to specialize in documentaries (or special film projects) about some pretty interesting bands, critically acclaimed with small cult followings like: Galxie 500, St. Eitienne, The Minutemen, Guided By Voices, Low, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, etc.

Interesting. ^_^

PlexiFilm is a pretty fantastic label, actually, albeit one featuring many films with self-limiting audiences. Their 5 FILMS ABOUT CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE is essential, and label head honcho's film HELVETICA is an impossibly entertaining documentary, given that it's ... well, about a font. (No, seriously.) I haven't explored their music selections deeply, but WE JAM ECONO is essential for anybody with even a passing interest in The Minutemen.

HELVETICA is good enough that, when it went to Germany to show us the original sheets on which the font was designed, I had a feeling of, "Whoa, awesome," like I was at the Alamo or something. An impressive little documentary.

HELVETICA will be Plexifilm's first Blu-ray release and it's up for pre-order now (there's also a signed, limited edition available for five times as much). Who would have thought Plexifilm would beat Criterion to the HD punch?

There was never any official word about Eclipse being a cult label for Criterion. It was rumored to be, but when all was said and done, it became the extra-less release label for films deemed to not fit the Criterion mold (less celebrated or whatever).