Jeet Kune Lee -
I'm not 100% sure where you are coming from regarding jealousy on the BBLA's part.
Carl Jones -
I've no axe to grind with you either.
With regards to the two showings of Enter the Dragon; I can't remember that to be totally honest with you. I do know that we had the 35mm print to show at one event but I just don't recall two showings in one day, nor why the same print couldn't be shown twice in one day. I'm not saying that you are mistaken, just I don't remember. Saying that, I don't remember too many details about those events as I was pretty busy with various things - I'm sure you understand.
As for the DVD of Way of the Dragon, I'll have to think back to what the conventions' main themes were:-
2000 - Convention by can't remember the theme.
2001 - Warrior's Journey Symposium with John Little (March)
2001 - Fury of the Dragons with Pat Johnson (November)
2002 - XBox Game Launch with Way of the Dragon Screening (June/July)
2002 - The Green Hornet with Van Williams (November)
2003 - No Convention
2004 - College Convention
2005 - College Convention - Didn't Attend
2006 - No Convention
So the one that you are talking about was the XBox game launch one? If so, this was a free convention to celebrate (don't think that is the right word somehow) of the XBox game. If I recall, the marketing company for the game contacted us, wanting to promote the game. They paid for the venue but wouldn't pay for the cinema prints so it was done cheaply on the part of the BBLA
At the Warrior's Journey Symposium, the screening of A Warrior's Journey was either BetaSP or SVHS. This was due to no cinema print being available at the time. From what I remember, John had only just finished the film. We did however show Bruce Lee: In His Own Words from a 35mm print.
You also have to look at the cost of staging an event. The hire of the cinema would cost £2000. We hired it at a discounted rate and had the Cubby Brocolli cinema thrown in for free. So, at £10 per ticket, you need 200 people in to just break even. Then if you have a guest, you have accomodation, flights, expenses, etc to pay for. Regularly, DVD and book companies would give us DVDs to sell (if we had helped them out on them) to help pay for the convention. So that's why when say Fist of Fury platinum edition came out and the cheapest price available was around £14.99, we were charging £8 or £9 for it. But supplies were limited. We may have had around 20 copies so we weren't making a great deal from the sales of DVDs, but as they say, "Every little helps." We even sold Bruce Lee Cafe placemats for 50p each.
Tony Hamill -
Thank you for your support but Carl Jones is entitled to his opinion, and I respect that opinion. The events were not to his liking, just as salad cream isn't to my liking. Actually I hate the stuff. In this world where freedom of speech is the order of the day, he is allowed to have and voice his own opinion. He wasn't attacking the BBLA, he was simply stating that the BBLA events could have been better. And respect to him for that. It's all too easy to sit behind a computer screen. I'm sure if we ever bumped into each other at an event, there would be mutual admiration for each other over a cup of tea or coffee. I think it may be your round Carl...
