You may remember that some years ago there was talk of a DVD boxset of the early Monster Network videos (‘Crack in the Clouds’, ‘International Coverup’ & ‘Network Neighbourhood’) made between 1995 and 1996. There was even a trailer too. Sadly the project got put back on the back burner for some time but we’re going to try and get it done and dusted this year, which is (kinda) the 21st anniversary year of the Monster Network*.

Russ is going to start working on some interviews (as well as something else, more news soon on that) and I’m going to be going through the tape archives pulling out the footage filmed in the making of these videos but not used, to be edited as outtakes extra edits, plus finally editing the footage filmed between 1992 and 1994 in to a video of it’s own…not to mention loads of web edits and other bits and pieces for extras.

It’s still going to take some time to finally get done but we’ve already got a something special done for the boxset, a remastered version of ‘Network Neighbourhood’ in amazing visual and sound quality. Stoked!

Hhere is a random clip grabbed from the archive, Adam doing some backside ollies on the old midi ramp. After that the original 2003 trailer (low-res) for ‘We’ Are…’.

If you have any ideas for things we could add (or if you know where the lost footage tape is!) then add a comment.

* It possibly is older but the first tag written on a wall I remember was dated 1990. Adam, will probably know for sure. Still, at least 20 years deep…

Slow but sure progress has been made on the ‘We Are’ DVD boxset project. In recent months both ‘Crack in the Clouds’ and ‘International Coverup’ have been converted from VHS originals to DVD format. Monster Network’s 3rd full length video from 1996 ‘Network Neighbourhood’ has had special treatment with it being remastered with new stereo audio and all the editing mistakes and VHS tape glitches removed! Looking really good. Work is continuing on the extras and the new video ‘We Are’ using unseen footage from 1992-1994 and we’re looking at a 2008 release. Check the videography page for the original trailer and further details.

You know what would be amazing? If the legendary missing master VHS tape found it’s way home. Footage of the first Cornwall trip in 1992, Mark Gonzales, Karma, Petersen and Agah at Leigh-on-Sea plus a load of sick local footage (Justin halfnabbing the big civic stairs in 1993 for example) that is going to be missed.

Have a look in your VHS pile at home or in the shed or in the loft, on the off chance.

Speaking of Justin, Check the height of this! Russ doing the business the other side of the lens…

Work has been progressing on the remastering of the Network Neighbourhood video for its ten year anniversary. Its been captured from a pre-edit master so the video is much better quality, improved audio and music, glitches all cleaned up and also to top it off all the original editing mistakes have been removed! The video was made using 2 VCRs with one on pause and then record with the other supplying the footage. Sometimes when putting a trick on to the edit you accidentally let it run too long and there would be a split second added to the edit of footage from the next clip after the trick…nimble fingers were required to operate the buttons but sometimes mistakes were made. With linear editing you couldn’t go back and fix it easily either. Most of the time you’ll not notice them as they are so quick, only a few frames at most and most of the time the extra footage is worthless but during the process of removing these edit mistakes we found a frame or two of this lost in the edit. It’s Kev and Pete at the white bar with the blue oyster filmed by probably Steve Green. It’s weird, it has always been in the video but it took 10 years before we ever got to see it. Subliminal radness.

The ‘We Are’ Monster Network video boxset (which the remastered Network Neighbourhood will be part of) is progressing. We’ll be posting up other old pics and clips soon as well as all our usual current news, photos and footage!