Devillier Donegan Enterprises: Difference between revisions

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Background

Devillier Donegan Enterprises (DDE) was a Washington, D.C. based documentary distribution company established in 1980 by Ron Devillier and Brian Donegan. In 1994, DDE became majority owned by Capital Cities/ABC, which then merged with The Walt Disney Company in 1996. DDE bought out Disney-ABC's majority interest in 2002, granting them ABC/Kane Productions' catalog. DDE were involved in the distribution and production of the PBS series The Living Edens and Empires, in addition to programs on Discovery Channel and TLC. Devillier Donegan Enterprises became dormant in 2007, and PBS purchased part of the company's content library.

Contents

1st Logo (1980?-1980s)	2nd Logo (1980s?)	3rd Logo (1990s? - 2000s)	4th Logo (1999-2004?)	5th Logo (2000s)

1st Logo (1980?-1980s)

Visuals: On a black background, the words "PRESENTED BY" are presented in a white Helvetica Bold font, along with the company's name below, which is presented in a bold serif font. The first letter in each word is orange, while the rest of the text is colored yellow. The logo design also contains three red stripes intersected by the big orange letters (making them six stripes technically), one above the names "DEVILLIER•DONEGAN", one in the middle, and one underneath "ENTERPRISES". The logo in full looks something like this:

PRESENTED BY DEVILLIER•DONEGAN ENTERPRISES

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Since it was used on American television prints of Monty Python's Flying Circus, it is likely that any old VHS/Betamax recordings of the program will have this logo.

2nd Logo (1980s?)

Visuals: On a deep blue gradient background, the logo unfolds, revealing the following text in silver:

A DEVILLIER·DONEGAN ENTERPRISES Release

Five silver lines, four above and below "DEVILLIER·DONEGAN" , and one underneath "ENTERPRISES" are also present within the logo's design. The text shines from left to right before the logo fades to black.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: None

3rd Logo (1990s? - 2000s)

Visuals: On a dark blue/black background, a silver logo appears, consisting of a shiny rectangle with star shapes cut into it, and the text "DEVILLIER", "DONEGAN", and "ENTERPRISES" with an underline under each word. As the logo zooms out from the center, three golden CGI stars fly in from the right and flip across the screen before zooming into position under the logo.

Variant: On some releases, the byline "Distributed by" would fade in above the logo in a cursive script font.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A five-note pizzicato string piece. On some releases the logo is either silent or the end theme plays over.

Availability: It can be found on some PBS DVDs, most notably the Empires specials Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites and Peter & Paul and the Christian Revolution.

4th Logo (1999-2004?)

Visuals: On a black background, a gold star-shaped crater forms and explodes. The crater turns blue as the logo from before in white begins to form. The star design on the left appears as five separate pieces that zoom towards each other, while the text fades in to the right of the design and zoom out to a comfortable position.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A cymbal crash followed by a three-note horn fanfare and a synth finish.

Availability: It can be found on official DVDs of the PBS historical miniseries Empires, as well as other documentaries DDE produced for the network.

5th Logo (2000s)

Visuals: On a black background, the letters "DDE" swoop in from the bottom right of the screen. Then, a large silver star come into view from the top left. The large star then zooms backwards and rotates counter-clockwise while three smaller stars and a black star-shaped shadow appear. The letters shine as the stars fall into place.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: Found on home media releases of certain PBS specials, including Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire and The Medici - Godfathers of the Renaissance.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{PageCredits|compiled=Jasper064|capture=LogicSmash, Broken Saw, DallasManBette1992 Films}}
 ===Background===
-Devillier Donegan Enterprises (DDE) was a documentary distribution company established in 1980 by Ron '''Devillier''' and Brian '''Donegan'''. Their programs were often distributed on networks such as [[PBS]], The Discovery Channel, and TLC, and internationally with [[ORF]] and [[Lion Television]].
+'''Devillier Donegan Enterprises''' (DDE) was a Washington, D.C. based documentary distribution company established in 1980 by Ron '''Devillier''' and Brian '''Donegan'''. In 1994, DDE became majority owned by Capital Cities/ABC, which then merged with The Walt Disney Company in 1996. DDE bought out Disney-ABC's majority interest in 2002, granting them [[ABC/Kane Productions]]' catalog. DDE were involved in the distribution and production of the [[PBS]] series ''The Living Edens'' and ''Empires'', in addition to programs on Discovery Channel and TLC. Devillier Donegan Enterprises became dormant in 2007, and PBS purchased part of the company's content library.
+{{ImageTOC
-==={{Ordinal|1}} Logo (1980?-198?)===
+||1st Logo (1980?-1980s)
-{{YouTube|id=vLcdyIHew4k|id2=F6CA3gXtq8Y}}
+|DDE-Release.png|2nd Logo (1980s?)
-'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see the words "'''PRESENTED BY'''" in a white Ariel font, along with the company's name below, which is presented in a bold serif font. The first letter in each word is dark orange, while the rest of the text is colored yellow. The logo design also consists of five thick red lines, four of them above and below the names "'''<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|D}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|EVILLIER}}}}{{color|gold|•}}<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|D}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|ONEGAN}}}}'''" , and one underneath the word "'''<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|E}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|NTERPRISES}}}}'''".
+|DDEstars1.png|3rd Logo (1990s? - 2000s)
+|DDEstars2.png|4th Logo (1999-2004?)
+|DDEstars3.png|5th Logo (2000s)
+}}
+===1st Logo (1980?-1980s)===
-'''FX/SFX:''' None
+{{YouTube|id=vLcdyIHew4k|id2=F6CA3gXtq8Y|id3=uZEQyUSIVyI}}
+'''Visuals:''' On a black background, the words "'''PRESENTED BY'''" are presented in a white Helvetica Bold font, along with the company's name below, which is presented in a bold serif font. The first letter in each word is {{color|darkorange|orange}}, while the rest of the text is colored yellow. The logo design also contains three {{color|crimson|red}} stripes intersected by the big {{color|darkorange|orange}} letters (making them ''six'' stripes technically), one above the names "'''DEVILLIER•DONEGAN'''", one in the middle, and one underneath "'''ENTERPRISES'''". The logo in full looks something like this:
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None
+<center><small>'''{{Font|Helvetica|PRESENTED BY}}'''</small></center>
-'''Availability:''' Extinct. Can be seen on original American television prints of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus''.
+<center>'''<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|D}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|EVILLIER}}}}{{color|gold|•}}<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|D}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|ONEGAN}}}}'''</center>
+<center>'''<big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|darkorange|E}}}}</big>{{font|Lucida Fax|{{color|gold|NTERPRISES}}}}'''</center>
+'''Technique:''' A still graphic.
+'''Audio:''' None.
-==={{Ordinal|2}} Logo (1980s?)===
+'''Availability:''' Since it was used on American television prints of ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'', it is likely that any old VHS/Betamax recordings of the program will have this logo.
+===2nd Logo (1980s?)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> <div style='text-align: center;'>text</div>
 File:DDE-Release.png
 </gallery>
-{{YouTube|id=kfZwhig8G9s}}
+{{YouTube|id=Bt6Wrd5vsTw}}
-'''Logo:''' On a deep blue gradient background, we see the logo unfold, revealing the following text:
+'''Visuals:''' On a {{color|darkblue|deep blue}} gradient background, the logo unfolds, revealing the following text in {{color|silver|silver}}:
 <center><big>{{Big|{{Font|Monotype Corsiva|A}}}}</big></center>
 <center><big>'''{{Big|{{Font|Times|D}}}}'''</big>{{Big|{{Font|Times|EVILLIER·}}}}'''<big>{{Big|{{Font|Times|D}}}}</big>'''{{Big|{{Font|Times|ONEGAN}}}}</center>
@@ Line 27: / Line 40: @@
-Five thin white lines, four above and below "'''DEVILLIER·DONEGAN'''" , and one underneath "'''ENTERPRISES'''" are also present within the logo's design. The text shines from left to right as the background darkens before the logo fades to black.
+Five {{color|silver|silver}} lines, four above and below "'''DEVILLIER·DONEGAN'''" , and one underneath "'''ENTERPRISES'''" are also present within the logo's design. The text shines from left to right before the logo fades to black.
-'''FX/SFX:''' Rather simple computer animation of the logo unfolding and shining.
+'''Technique:''' Computer animation.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' None
+'''Audio:''' None
+===3rd Logo (1990s? - 2000s)===
-'''Availability:''' Extinct.
-==={{Ordinal|3}} Logo (1990s? - 200?) ===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> <div style='text-align: center;'>text</div>
 File:DDEstars1.png
 </gallery>
 {{YouTube|id=z5VgTYGf2ig}}
-'''Logo:''' On a blue/black background, we see a shiny {{Font color|silver|silver}} rectangle with star shapes cut into it, along with the text "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DEVILLIER}}}}", "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DONEGAN}}}}", and "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|ENTERPRISES}}}}" in {{Font color|silver|silver}}, each with a {{Font color|silver|silver}} underline. As the logo zooms in from the center of the screen, three {{Font color|gold|golden}} CGI stars fly in from the right and flip across the screen before they zoom away from the camera and underneath the logo.
+'''Visuals:''' On a dark blue/black background, a {{color|silver|silver}} logo appears, consisting of a shiny rectangle with star shapes cut into it, and the text "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DEVILLIER}}}}", "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DONEGAN}}}}", and "{{font|Times|{{color|silver|ENTERPRISES}}}}" with an underline under each word. As the logo zooms out from the center, three golden CGI stars fly in from the right and flip across the screen before zooming into position under the logo.
-'''Variant:'''
-* On some releases, the byline "Distributed by" would fade in above the logo in a cursive script font.
+'''Variant:''' On some releases, the byline "Distributed by" would fade in above the logo in a cursive script font.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''FX/SFX:''' CGI for the logo zooming in and the animation of the stars.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A 5-note pizzicato string piece. On some releases the logo is either silent or the end music plays over.
+'''Audio:''' A five-note pizzicato string piece. On some releases the logo is either silent or the end theme plays over.
-'''Availability:''' Rare. It can be found on some PBS DVDs, including ''Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites'' and ''Peter & Paul and the Christian Revolution''.
+'''Availability:'''  It can be found on some PBS DVDs, most notably the ''Empires'' specials ''Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites'' and ''Peter & Paul and the Christian Revolution''.
+===4th Logo (1999-2004?)===
-==={{Ordinal|4}} Logo (199?-2004?)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> <div style='text-align: center;'>text</div>
 File:DDEstars2.png
 </gallery>
 {{YouTube|id=w785XIQupZI|id2=8QnWvJ2uC3A}}
-'''Logo:'''  On a black background, we see a gold star-shaped crater forming and exploding. The crater turns blue as the logo from before in white zooms out to a comfortable position.
+'''Visuals:'''  On a black background, a gold star-shaped crater forms and explodes. The crater turns blue as the logo from before in white begins to form. The star design on the left appears as five separate pieces that zoom towards each other, while the text fades in to the right of the design and zoom out to a comfortable position.
-'''FX/SFX:''' CGI for the background animation and the formation of the logo
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' A three-note horn fanfare followed by a synth finish.
+'''Audio:''' A cymbal crash followed by a three-note horn fanfare and a synth finish.
-'''Availability:''' Uncommon. It is found on many PBS DVDs of the historical miniseries ''Empires'', in addition to other DDE produced  documentaries for the network.
+'''Availability:'''  It can be found on official DVDs of the PBS historical miniseries ''Empires'', as well as other documentaries DDE produced for the network.
-==={{Ordinal|5}} Logo (2000s) ===
+=== 5th Logo (2000s)===
 <gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
 File:DDEstars3.png
@@ Line 72: / Line 82: @@
 </gallery>
-'''Logo:''' On a black background, we see the initials "<big>{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DDE}}}}</big>" swoop in from the bottom right of the screen. We then see a large {{Font color|silver|silver}} star come into view from the top left. The large star then zooms back and rotates counter-clockwise, as three smaller stars appear, along with a black star-shaped shadow. The letters shine as the stars fall into place.
+'''Visuals:''' On a black background, the letters "<big>{{font|Times|{{color|silver|DDE}}}}</big>" swoop in from the bottom right of the screen. Then, a large {{color|silver|silver}} star come into view from the top left. The large star then zooms backwards and rotates counter-clockwise while three smaller stars and a black star-shaped shadow appear. The letters shine as the stars fall into place.
+'''Technique:''' CGI.
-'''FX/SFX:''' 3D CGI animation for animating both the letters and the stars.
-'''Music/Sounds:''' The ending theme of the show.
+'''Audio:''' The ending theme of the show.
-'''Availability:''' Uncommon. Found on home media releases of certain PBS specials, including ''Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire'' and ''The Medici - Godfathers of the Renaissance''.
+'''Availability:'''  Found on home media releases of certain PBS specials, including ''Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire'' and ''The Medici - Godfathers of the Renaissance''.
 [[Category:Television logos]]
 [[Category:American television logos]]
 [[Category:United States]]
+[[Category:English-language logos]]