Lightyear Entertainment
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Background
Lightyear Entertainment is a distributor of independent motion pictures in theaters, on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD, as well as a distributor of music and music videos on CD, DVD, and digital distribution. It was established in the early '80s as a division of RCA, known as RCA Video Productions, before it spun off in a management buyout in 1987 under its current name.
Lightyear releases movies into theaters directly. After the theatrical run, digital distribution and licensing (including VOD, EST, SVOD and TV) in North America is now conducted through 1091 (formerly called The Orchard). Physical distribution of DVDs and Blu-rays is through MVD Distribution. From 2010-2018, both digital and physical were through eOne Distribution. From 2008–10, it was through Vivendi/Universal distribution, and from 1995–2008, through Warner Home Video. From 1991–95, it was distributed through BMG Video. Lightyear's music business in North America is conducted through Caroline Distribution/Universal Music Group.
RCA Video Productions
(1984?-1987)
Logo: We see a picture of a desert in the sunset. We zoom out so that the desert is enclosed in a TV tube, and we see mountains in a night sky. Then yellow squares and lines from a filmstrip in the texture of orange leaves zoom out. The TV tube then changes to water, and the background changes to a forest. We see the words "rvp" in a script font, zooming out in front of flowers as a texture. The yellow squares settle onto the lines, making it into a filmstrip. The TV tube and yellow squares fade into a blue gradient color, then the lines from the filmstrip fade into a cut-out. The "rvp" text turns white and the background then fades into a black-red gradient. Then the words "RCA Video Productions" in white, in a Helvetica font fade in below. The logo shines and then the letters of the "rvp" text flash.
FX/SFX: The zoom out of the logo, the fading, and the shining. All primitive computer animation.
Music/Sounds: A 8-note violin-line synth theme, which fades into synth tinkling with three chimes and an ascending theme.
Availability: Seen on old VHS, Betamax, CEDs and Laserdiscs of the era, including Ray Davies' Return to Waterloo, Music Media's Elvis titles, and releases from RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video's Musicvision label, like Thompson Twins: Single Vision and Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams: The Video Album. The logo does not appear on any of the Jane Fonda workout videos. The logo was later plastered by the Lightyear Entertainment logo on current prints.
Editor's Note: None.
RVP Productions
(1987)
Logo: On a white background, we see the "rvp" logo from before, only colored in red, white and outlines, looking like the print version of the logo. Underneath it are the stacked words "PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS" in red.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Ultra rare. Seen on Stevie Nicks: Live at Red Rocks.
Editor's Note: None.
Lightyear Entertainment
1st Logo (1987-Late 2000s)
Logo: We see a black screen. Then a page effect occurs with purple borders, which reveals a yellow background with the white word "LIGHTYEAR" in it. Then a flash spells out the word "ENTERTAINMENT" in spaced-out letters (ala the 1982 Vestron Video logo), and in a small font, appearing to fit the width of "LIGHTYEAR". The word "LIGHTYEAR" then flashes.
Variants:
- From 1987 to 1991, "A" and "Production" appeared above and below the logo.
- Starting in the late 1990s, the web address "www.lightyear.com" in caps or non-caps fades in below the logo.
- A short version exists.
FX/SFX: Traditional peeling paper, computer effects of flashing.
Music/Sounds:
- 1987-Late 1990s: A '80s synth note with tickling, followed by a synth harp when "ENTERTAINMENT" appears, and the synth note continues.
- Late 1990s-Late 2000s: A marching drum theme.
Availability: Seen on Lightyear Entertainment releases from the era such as Heaven, The Return of Swamp Thing, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Jailbait and The Gristle. It plasters the RCA Video Productions logo on '90s prints of its content like Elvis videos. The short version is seen on Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution. The logo never appeared on either Dinosaucers or other Jane Fonda workout videos, despite having an in-credit notice for the company. Current prints plaster it with the next logo.
Editor's Note: None.
2nd Logo (Late 2000s-2018?)
Logo: On a dark cloudy background, we see multicolored sparks (a la the 1994 United Artists logo) move toward to the screen. The sparks move away, and we see lights, which reveal the same text from before. The spark flashes, and the text turns yellow, flashing like a neon sign. The logo slowly zooms in.
FX/SFX: CG effects.
Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: No longer current. Seen on Lightyear releases of the era like Tanna and Thy Will Be Done, and it was also used to plaster the RCA Video Productions and the original Lightyear Entertainment logo on current prints.
Editor's Note: None.
3rd Logo (2018?-)
Logo: On a stone background, red lines cut out to create the following words in white with a flashing red outline:
L I G H T Y E A R
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
The light then shines, and the stone background disappears, revealing the words "LIGHTYEAR" in yellow, and "ENTERTAINMENT" in white. The embers briefly appear in red, until the logo disappears.
FX/SFX: The red lines flashing.
Music/Sounds: A harp synth theme, not unlike the 1st logo.
Availability: Seen on a few Lightyear movies, like Tanna and Jirga. Used in tandem with the next logo.
Editor's Note: None.
4th Logo (2018?-)
Logo: We see a yellow and purple vortex spiraling. It zooms toward and travels across the screen. Then we zoom/spin in to reveal the text "LIGHTYEAR" in a yellow tall font, with a yellow light glowing below the "T" and sparks emit throughout the logo. The word "ENTERTAINMENT" appear in white via lighting effects in a plain font, down below the word "LIGHTYEAR". Sparks emit throughout the text. The logo then shines, and the vortex continues spiraling. The light then dies down, making the background solid black.
FX/SFX: The vortex spiraling, the text appearing.
Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: Seen on recent Lightyear movies, like The Etruscan Smile and Maze.
Editor's Note: None.
