Number 8 Films' Teddy is on the company's compilation Boys on Film 6 A company which distributes gay movies, including the work of Auckland's Number 8 Films, has suffered a devastating loss of stock in a fire which was started during the riots in London. A blaze in the Sony warehouse in Enfield, North London, has destroyed 60,000 DVDs with an estimated value of at least $1.4 million. The losses include almost the entire stock of Peccadillo Pictures, which distributes queer and arthouse films. The distribution company has included the short Teddy by Auckland's Number 8 Films in an omnibus release of shorts, while the filmmaking charity's second short Communication is due to be released in another collection in September. Peccadillo Pictures Manager Tom Abell was overseas when the fire broke out and has told Pinkpaper.com: "I got a call at 4am UK time this morning saying that the warehouse was on fire. It has since burned to the ground. It's completely destroyed." He says it dents the company's cash flow enormously and it will have to re-arrange its release schedule. "But it's not just our stock. Lots of independent record labels had their stock at the warehouse so it's devastating for many small businesses, not to mention Sony." Abell is confident that it will not have long-term implications on the company, but is clearly disgusted at the rioting and looting: "It's just a shame that so many of us have to suffer. That said, these people who are responsible should be brought to justice and punished." Christopher Banks from Number 8 Films is quick to put the damage and into the wider context of the overall destruction in Britain as a result of the riots. However he points out, "this is an example of the wide-reaching effects of this that go beyond the days of mayhem and violence. It could have impacts for months or even years for these businesses whose stock is their bread and butter."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 11th August 2011 - 5:35am