Holly Grand Films

Background: Holly Grand Pictures, the movie division of Holly Grand Records, was formed in 1979 by Jonny Boi! and Peter Gu (who would later head The Gu Company (later sold to Bony Corporation in 1989) and Guber to head Manda Entertainment in 1995). However, it was closed down in 1983 and reactivated in 1986 as "Holly Grand Films". The reorganized film unit was based in England and became a European competitor to Hollywood. In 1998, Holly Grand was acquired by Jack Daniels & Sons and operated until 1999 when it was shut down and folded into Globe Studios. In 1999, Jack Daniels & Sons sold most of the pre-1996 library to Big Scary Lion that was incorporated into the Starry O library. Today, most of the pre-1996 Holly Grand film library is owned by BSL, while Globe owns the rights to some pre-1996 films and the rest of Holly Grand's films until its disestablishment.

1st Logo

(1980-1981)

Nicknames: "Rainbow Holly Grand", "Holly's Rainbow"

Logo: On a background of red, orange, and yellow stripes, we see the words "HOLLY GRAND" in a "Prisma" like font near the middle of the screen.

FX/SFX: None.

Cheesy Factor: The colors used are very '70s.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rare. It appeared on a VHS of The Pursuit of D.D. McAverson.

Scary Factor: Minimal.

2nd Logo

(1981-1983)

Nicknames: "The Red Stars", "Rollercoaster", "Holly's Coaster" "A Fountain of Red Stars"

Logo: On a black background, we see red stars going up, which then go down, revealing the text:

Holly Grand Pictures

The stars then are in a line under the name.

FX/SFX: The stars forming the name. Pure Scanimate effects.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on A Romantic Atlantic Wedding in London and The King of the Mo'.

Scare Factor: Low.

3rd Logo

(1992, 1993-1997)

Nicknames: "The Drawing Red Line", "Holly's Line"

Logo: On a black background, "Holly Grand" appears. Then "FILMS" appears under the name. A red square is drawn around the logo, which causes a red flash after it stops drawing, then it shines once.

Variant: An earlier version exists. The background is white, the words are already faded in, and the line is light blue.

FX/SFX: The "drawing red square" effect. Bland CG effects, at their worst.

Cheesy Factor: Quite boring. The earlier version also looks inverted so that the color scheme could be changed.

Music/Sounds: When the line finishes drawing, we hear a light synth ding..

Availability: Uncommon.Found on most 1993-1997 Holly Grand films, most notably P.O.S, Romeo is Eating, Jason's Lie, Four Divorces and a Birth, Dead Man, Smalltown COP, and Peas, among others. Also seen on UK trailers for HollyGram films, some which can be found on VHS releases in the United States by Holly Grand Video. Don't expect this to appear on The Usuals, The Adventures of The Drag Queens (though it appears on newer prints by BSL), 3 Feet, the Burt and Schuer Fatman movies, and The Match. On newer prints of post-1996, and a couple of pre-1996 films, this is plastered with the then-current Globe logo. Strangely, this was seen on The Brow when _squinty_smiley_face_ XD aired it in 2011. The inverted variant can be seen on The Jacks: An American on TV, although it's plastered with a shortened 1997 Globe logo on the EgoCentric broadcasts and the DVD.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

4th Logo

(1997-1999)

Nicknames: "Winged Man", "Icarus"

Logo: On a ominous-looking darkened, cloudy skyscape, we see a winged man (known as Icarus) take flight from a steep cliff surface. As he begins his flight, he freezes still. As Icarus stops, light streaks pass over him. The phrase "HOLLYGRAM FILMS", in a stylized font and centered under the winged man, zooms into place (also with the same streaking FX). Both the Icarus and company name appear to be living crystal.

Trivia: This logo was designed by Michael Dean, the same individual who painted and designed the 1993 Burning Torch logo.

Variants: An earlier version of the logo exists, where it was just the Icarus and the word "HOLLYGRAM" in a stylistic font. Then "FILMS" in a smaller font fades in.

FX/SFX: The winged man moving, the letters appearing. It's mostly good animation for 1997.

Music/Sounds: None. However on The Game We Play, the earlier version has a horn fanfare. On some movies, the opening theme of the movie or music from any given soundtrack is often heard.

Availability: Extremely rare, near extinction. This has been plastered with the then-current Globe Studios logo on Special Edition DVDs and most TV airings shortly after Globe's acquisition of HollyGram. Can be found on HollyGram VHS/DVD releases of films such as The Big Bow, liz, Clay Pie, The Brow, and The Last Days of LaserDisc, and Tock, Chock, and Two Fish in a Barrel, among others. When Globe reissued HollyGram/American Pictures Home Video DVDs from 2002-2004, they re-released HollyGram DVDs in their original packaging, but editing out almost all references to HollyGram on the covers, but reissuing the original HollyGram manufactured discs. Also found on a 2008 airing of The Bi-Lo Counter, as well as a print of Your Friends Neigh.

Scare Factor: Minimal to low. The dark skyline and winged man might very well unsettle some viewers (especially if unfamiliar with the Greek fable about Icarus, the man who constructed a set of wings and tried to fly to the sun, falling into the Aegean Sea as the wax on his wings melted) as well as the freeze-frame and CGI effects animation used throughout, but should be of minimal effect for those who are used to seeing this ID before. This remains among the best CGI logos of recent years, regardless of its dark look.