ACI

Credits

Descriptions by
PAV123

Captures by
Eric S., Livin', Mr. Logo Lord, and TheEriccorpinc

Video captures courtesy of
Eric S.

Background

ACI (initially short for "Alliance Communications, Inc." before its name was changed to "Allied Communications, Inc." after a few months of operation, probably due to it sounding similar to another company in Canada) was an independent television distribution company founded by Leonard Hill. In addition to Hill, ACI was co-owned by eight other producers; their holdings included the Avnet/Kerner, Robert Greenwald Productions, Steve White Entertainment, Jaffe-Braunstein Films, The Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company, The Steve Tisch Company, Von Zerneck-Sertner Films, and Spectacor Films libraries, as well as most of the Tisch/Avnet Television library, which has three films controlled by Fries Entertainment. The company was acquired by Pearson plc. in 1995, and in 1996, it became part of Pearson Television (now "FremantleMedia") until its demise in 1999. Several of the libraries ACI represented were sold by FremantleMedia to Multicom Entertainment Group during the 2010s.

(October 23, 1989-1999)

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Nickname: "Filmstrip-A"

Logo: On a black background we see three teal filmstrips move in from the right of the background. They stop to form a triangle. The silver-white gradient words "ACI" with a registered trademark symbol next to it fades in beneath the triangle, while "WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION" also in white in a Times New Roman font flash in beneath "ACI".

Byline: In 1997, the byline "A Pearson Television Company" fades in below replacing "WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION".

Variants:

• Sometimes, "WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION" will be in a different font and each letter will be spaced "further" than normal. The Pearson byline can also appear in a different font.
• A short version also exists.
• There is another version where the logo morphs into the Pearson Television logo.
• Some versions feature a darker color-scheme.
• Sometimes, "WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION" would not appear under the logo.
• An opening version with the word "P R E S E N T S" below also exists.

Technique: The filmstrips, and the text. None for the still version; the morphing transitions for the Pearson Television variant.

Music/Sounds: A calm synth fanfare with a piano key chord.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• A longer version is heard with four jungle-like music notes.
• The tail end of this theme is heard on the still version.
• An abridged version of the Pearson fanfare is heard on the morphing variant.
• Sometimes, the Von Zerneck-Sertner Films theme would be heard over the logo.
• A low pitched version also exists.
• Sometimes uses the ending theme of the TV Movie.

Availability: Rare. Seen on TV movies from the era such as Vanished Without a Trace and Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann.