Modern Entertainment
Background
Initially known as "Kinnevik Media Properties, Ltd.", Modern Entertainment, Ltd. was the TV division of the Swedish media conglomerate, Modern Times Group AB, currently a Kinnevik AB company. Its main task was to distribute TV shows and movies, primarily sourced from the Vestron Pictures, New Visions Pictures, Continental Film Group, New Century Entertainment, Crown International, and Dino De Laurentiis libraries, among others. On August 1, 2005, Lions Gate Entertainment acquired the entire film library of Modern Entertainment and the latter shut down afterwards.
Kinnevik Media Properties, Ltd.
Logo (1991-1993)
Visuals: Over a gray-black gradient background is the fancy-looking yellow words "Kinnevik Media Properties Ltd." spinning towards the front of the screen and stops. At the same time, a red circle outline containing a stylized palm tree, appears below the words. The white words "DISTRIBUTED BY" would often appear above the screen when the background fades in.
Trivia: The logo below the text is of Kinnevik AB, which is still in use as of 2023.
Technique: Analog computer animation.
Audio: A whooshing sound with the words spinning and a synthesized crash when the circle outline appears. This music was also used for the MG Perin logo from the early 1990s. Sometimes, it is silent or it would have the end theme playing over.
Availability: Appeared on cable and syndicated prints of movies from the Vestron library, such as Dirty Dancing, Paramedics, Howling III: The Marsupials, and Ghoulies. It was also found on a syndicated print of Defenseless, and is preserved on that film's respective DVD release, since it used an edited-for-television print of the movie. It was also seen on a 2001 Superstation WGN airing of The Wraith.
Modern Entertainment
1st Logo (1993-2000s)
Visuals: On a space background, there is a red electrical tower shooting off electric sparks surrounded by a red circle. Below are the words "MODERN ENTERTAINMENT" in a red serif font.
Technique: A still, computerized graphic.
Audio: Some phaser and wind-blowing noises.
Availability: It was seen on syndicated prints of Crown International films such as Hunk and Tomboy, which can be found on various streaming platforms. Used in tandem with the 2nd logo.
2nd Logo (1998-2005)
Visuals: On a shooting space background, a red electrical tower surrounded by a circle zooms out. The tower is shown sparking. Then, the words "MODERN" and "ENTERTAINMENT" zoom-out to the bottom of the tower.
Variants:
- The text "Distributed by" is seen above the logo.
- The byline "A MODERN TIMES GROUP COMPANY" fades in below in white on newer prints.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A low synth tune mixed with a four-note flute fanfare. Electrical sounds can also be heard in the background.
Audio Variant: A low tone theme exists.
Availability: It is seen on the 2002 DVD release and Hulu's print of The Wraith (while some newer prints of the film replace it with the Lionsgate Films logo) and on older cable prints of Dirty Dancing and Breeders with the latter movie's end theme playing over. It can also be seen on the DVDs of Pelle the Conqueror (2004 20th Century Fox DVD), streaming prints of End of the Line (1987), The Gate (But not the 2009 Lionsgate DVD, though it's also intact on streaming prints) and Maximum Overdrive. It was also probably seen on syndicated TV prints of Empire Entertainment films such as Trancers or Re-Animator. It was also seen on a 2005 Superstation WGN airing of Chain of Command and also at the start of a 2006 airing of Dark Descent on said channel and it also appeared on a GREAT! Movies Classic UK airing of Earth Girls Are Easy, before the 2005 Sony Pictures Television logo. It also appears on the syndicated TV print of Ghoulies, which is included as an extra on the film's Australian Blu-Ray.