IN MEMORIAM: NICK REDMAN - HAIL AND FAREWELL (1955-2019)

Nick Redman, documentary film maker, movie lover and Fox film score preservationist/pioneer died on January 17^th, 2019 in Santa Monica after a long and valiant battle against cancer. He was only 63. To those who only knew Nick from his work with Twilight Time – the company he co-founded with Brian Jamieson - with Nick’s passing, the world of home entertainment has lost one of its most ardent supporters.  And indeed, Nick’s reputation in the Hollywood community is beyond reproach. Movie lovers everywhere owe him an eternal debt; sadly, now beyond remuneration. It is becoming rarer still today to find men of Nick’s caliber, toiling for the cause of film preservation and presentation on physical media, the market artificially shrunk by studio absent-mindedness and willingness to farm out their hard-earned product to third-party distributors like Twilight Time. So, we doff our caps to Nick’s fortitude and foresight here, establishing one of home video’s premiere distribution companies with a sustainable business model that unequivocally proved physical media has its place in the digital ‘cloud’/’streaming’ age of disposable fluff and nonsense.  But more on this some other time…another time, when my heart is not so heavy over the loss of a truly great and inspired individual. One man can make a difference, you see, as Nick’s professional career remains a testament – long to endure by reputation alone.

On a much more personal note, I was fortunate enough to interview Nick several years ago, discussing the launch of Twilight Time. Our ‘conversation’ by telephone is a matter of public record on this blog and you may enjoy revisiting it today, as I have already done in preparation for this brief eulogy.  Nick’s distinctly British voice, velvety smooth, calming and cultured, made it easy to talk to him from the outset. What I had first conceived as a formal ‘interview’ piece, quickly settled in to a big-hearted/open-minded, engaging and fascinating tête-à-tête that Nick then graciously allowed me to share with the rest of the world via this blog post. He was as warm and genuine then, a true gentleman with a kind soul and tender heart, who will greatly be missed by all. I am sincerely missing him already. Respects paid to Julie and Rebecca, and sincere thanks to God for allowing us to know Nick during his all too brief span on this earth. Dear Nick, may your ascent to heaven be swift and assured, and may you dwell in serenity in the house of the Lord forever. God bless you, dear friend. At the end of a rainbow, begins a whole new world.