Are we sure Trancas even has the rights to unused footage? I know film companies get around to distributing alternate cuts of films that other companies have the rights to quite a bit. This is happening with Scream Factory’s release of Nightbreed’s Cabal cut where Warner has the distribution rights to the theatrical cut, but other cuts are on the table. Trancas being the sole rights holder may be different; but they also abandoned the film reels which were saved by Mr. Kirkus and to whatever extent Don May Jr. Saving reels abandoned for thirty some-odd years and left to rot (and I don’t know if any cleaning or restoration was involved) should yield some sort of financial reward aside from a pat on the back and a word of acknowledgement. Film companies pay money to those holding the best available prints of their films when restoration is needed, I’m not sure how this is any different.
First of all, I have to admit that I would want to be fairly paid if I had this material in my possession. And royalties is a fair way to do that IMO.
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I’m with Billy on this. He owns the footage, and he can sell it for whatever he feels it’s worth. It’s that simple guys…
Sure he can. He can also be told that he’s out of his mind to expect that kind of payment.
But really, this isn’t about the price. This is about his hypocritical stance when it comes to being paid. It’s okay for him to get royalties from the alleged millions that are going to be made by this release, but somehow the fact that they’re making money off of it is wrong and evil. Give me a break. He wants to make money just as bad as they do, and he can do that too. It’s called negotiation. If he was serious about giving it to them and giving the fans what they want, he would be doing that. Instead, he laughs off their offer, badmouths them at every turn, and brags about showing the footage to John Carpenter and other Halloween alumni (I’ve never seen names drop so easily like in that post he made).
Then again, if he did give it to them, would we still be talking about him? Think about it.
Someone sees it for what it is… Damn right, show it or just shut up.
Seller has every right to ask whatever price they want. Some are up in arms about this. However, it is what it is. So, It’s okay for someone to pop a total of $325.00 on a blank, and conversion and turnaround and try to flip it, and ask for 1K or more? I think that’s okay. If someone wants a certain price for something rare, so be it. That’s just how I feel this whole deal.
I see a few posts here referencing Billy “selling” the footage. I can’t speak for Billy, but I think it would be highly unlikely he would sell the footage. I assume he would maintain ownership and license it to Trancas for a prospective release.
Sell it, license it. It doesn’t matter which. Either way, Billy is looking for monetary compensation from it, and that is the issue, no matter how you look at it.
Love this thread 
This
I think it does matter because if you’re going to comment on something like this it helps to understand how these things usually work. As to him looking to be paid, so what? So would each and every one of you. Those negatives weren’t handed to the guy. He should expect to be paid for them. I don’t see how anyone can dispute that.
I’m not taking sides here. Really none of us should be because only two people in this thread know the specifics of any proposed deal. I am disappointed to see the animosity between Justin and Billy. Whether they can come to a business agreement or not, it’s unfortunate that it’s getting personal between them.
Just my opinion.
I agree, I also don’t think anyone is arguing that the footage is worthless. Bust some of the statements from the owner of the “unseen footage” make no sense.
- Trancas are a multi-million dollar company that rapes the fans of their hard earned dollars.
- Would you sell this footage for a mere Ten Thousand while it would go one to make millions and millions…NOPE.
- I want a royality on the profits.
- I’m trying to get you to see guys to see it, I’m doing this for the fans.
The above roughly translate to:
I am holding out for a profit of royalties that will make Trancas millions. Even though Trancas are a multi-million dollar company that rapes the fans of their hard earned dollars, no one will see the footage until I get my cut… but I’m doing it for the fans 
Read my initial input. I had said that I didn’t blame him for trying to get his money back and then some.
I don’t know shit but I know human behavior and unless the holder is very wealthy or just enjoys having the golden key to the crapper I would expect 2 see this before we die especially since the worlds in the DUMP as we speak.It is worth a great deal of money 4 sure and i,d be proud of it if I had it but I just don’t know how many people their are as passionate as us out there.Damn sure Priceless 2 us,it,s our life.It,s exciting and if nothing else it gives us something to think about and honestly I don’t know if I want better shots of the mask 
Hell we’ve seen the Bin Laden footage already 
Did anyone really see what all just really happened? Justin kept getting asked about this footage because he works for Trancas and just deflected it. That’s it. He persisted with an inappropriate offer, like it was good enough…and stated lies and formed a wall between us. As I stated all along…any deal must go thru Malek.
Look, I’ve had this footage since 2004…I tried making a deal back then. It took 7 years for 2 different people to contact me about this footage. Then, my first statement to them is “I need to talk to Malek…he run Trancas. He’s the only one who can make any deals.” PERIOD! But no, one proceeds and makes and inappropriate offer; and I tell them flat out, if you make an offer worth my while, we’ll talk. Guess what, it’s not worth my while and he still continues to offer the same offer like it’s Pawn Star or Storage Wars. It’s not worth my time and if you were in my shoes, honestly…It wouldn’t be worth yours, if your honest with yourself. Look, I’m not saying Justin isn’t a nice guy…I’m a nice guy too…but, this is business.
I will gladly, on any podcast, try and make a deal with Malek. I stated that on a podcast…for everyone to listen to. They are the ones who won’t do it, plus, Malek, must be involved. Also, when did they dictate how much this footage it worth? I talked to 4 different historians and they put a hell of a higher price on this footage. Also, why is the Library of Congress interested in this footage? Because, it’s worth a lot. They have contacted Don about it. And if they make an offer worth my while, you’ll never see it. EVER! They don;t release stuff, nore lend stuff out.
This is a business deal; hate me… Spite me… If you don’t think I care for the fans…would have let my Kirk get cast into everything? Guess what, I didn’t make a dime off it. Would I contributed to, and still let them use my Halloween Memorabilia on the discs for FREE? Come on. Seriously, Trancas had 12 photos and nothing on Halloween, that’s from the company who owns the title. Weird? NO Tv Spots, radio Spots, stills, posters…they had NOTHING! They came to me back in 1997/98, I did it for nothing.
Anyway…continue your opinions…keep talking about the footage because that just helps the cause because if any of you remember, at one time, for 6 years between 2005 and 2011, Trancas kept saying this footage didn’t exists.
I will hopefully have, this weekend, something for all to enjoy.
As much as I, as a fan, would like to see this footage…I’d handle it the same way Billy has. I’m sure he didn’t get it for free and I don’t expect him to let it go for free. Maybe it’ll see the light of day, maybe it won’t. I guess time will tell. None of us have the right to crucify the guy for what he wants to do with something he legally obtained.
On topic: I’ll be getting this 35th edition just for the Cundey approved cinematography.
Jake
Nobody cares about your podcasts, or your historians, or your other BS. The fact is this: someone who could have got that footage into the right hands made you an offer and you refused it because you want to make some big money, not because you want to get the footage out there. I personally don’t care that you want to get paid for it. You should get some money for it, but you seem to have delusions of grandeur. You think you’re entitled to some big buyout here when you’re not. You got lucky and found the footage, and good on your for finding it and keeping it safe, but you expectations are WAY off.
Then again, it’s really not about the money, is it? After all, you’ve got Halloween alumni, historians, the Library Of Congress, and a lot of fans paying you an awful lot of attention. Wouldn’t want that to go away, now would we?
Well I’m glad I brought up the question about this footage cause I was able to learn a lot of interesting stuff on it that I had no clue about.
I can see where the guy who has the footage is coming from, this is a business and in business, it’s about making money. No matter how you put it that’s the truth. I’ve been to conventions where Malek Akkad has said things like, “we’re doing this for the fans…”, etc, etc. But you know very well the decisions made by him and his company has more to do with money/business than it does with what fans want. It sounds like he didn’t score this footage for free and as a fan myself this footage would be worth a lot.
In my opinion, they should work together and try to find a middle ground so it can be put out properly for everyone to see, but if that doesn’t happen because of a bad business deal or ego, oh well. There’s nothing anyone can really do about that. All I know is this whole thread has been a great read hearing both sides of the story.
Exactly!