Derann

Credits

Descriptions by
2K-tan

Editions by
KPLN

Background

Derann (a.k.a. Derann Film Services, Derann Audio Visual, or Derann Video) was a small electronics store formed back in 1964 by Derek and Anne Simmonds whose first names made up the company name "Derann". The company sold 8mm (Super 8) cutout films licensed from major movie companies. Starting in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, they began distributing films on videocassette carrying the Derann Audio Visual logo. Derann was known for being one of the major distributors of films not brought before the BBFC for classification, with several VHS titles such as Blood Lust, Brutes and Savages, and Cannibal labelled "video nasties," a colloquial term in the UK for violent films not approved by the BBFC. Derek Simmonds died in 2002, after which his son Adrian Simmonds took over the company. In September 2011, the company closed down after their stock film sales faded away along with ongoing financial issues.

Derann Film Services

Logo (1970s-1990s)

Visuals: On a cloudy blue sky, a glossy red filmstrip is seen in the centre of the screen, with "DFS" inside of it and clouds covering it. The entire scene then zooms in until if fills the whole screen, and the white text "DERANN" wipes in from the centre out over the filmstrip.

Technique: Camera-controlled and cel animation.

Audio: A loud, powerful bombastic fanfare.

Availability: This can be seen on early Super 8mm films and VHS tapes of titles like She-Devils of the SS and Black Velvet.

Derann Video/Derann Audio Visual

Logo (April 1980-1986)

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Visuals: After the warning screen, the glass letters "AV", semi-transparent and having a 3D look to them, zoom out and slide towards the centre of the screen, with the "A" sliding from the top left, and the "V" sliding from the bottom right. As they settle into place, the word "DERANN" flashes in over the middle of the letters, cutting into them with the same 3D effect, and thus forming the print logo. The logo then zooms in, and "DERANN" flashes, with the logo behind it fading out, and adding "VIDEO" below it. The words start off in white on the space background, but then almost immediately transitions to a black background with the words formed from cyan outlines. The logo then zooms in with a trail effect.

Variant: A B&W version exists on tapes of such films.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: Same as the Cinerama Releasing logo, except it's high-pitched, most likely due to PAL speedup.

Availability: Can be seen on many PAL VHS pre-cert prints of films (mostly horror). Otherwise, you can find some of these on eBay. This appeared on such titles as Ants! (1977), Stacey, Blood Beast from Outer Space, and The Redeemer: Son of Satan!.

External Links

• Derann article on Wikipedia