Monterey Video

Credits

Descriptions by
Ryan Froula

Captures by
V of Doom

Video captures courtesy of
DudeThatLogo

Background

Monterey Video was created in October 1982 as a joint venture between Monterey Media (established in 1979) and Caballero Control Corporation to distribute Deadly Games on videocassette. After Caballero's shares in IVE were bought out by Carolco Pictures in 1986, Monterey's releases were distributed by Fries Home Video until around 1993, before the company started distributing its tapes independently. It is currently one of the most successful distributors on the independent circuit.

1st Logo (October 1982-2004)

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Visuals: On a dusk sky, we zoom out on a silhouette of the famous 17-Mile Drive cliff with the lone cypress tree. When the camera settles, "Monterey Home Video" appears to the right of the tree.

Variant: On Deadly Games, and presumably other very early releases, the logo appears more complete, with about a second or two of extra unabridged video at the start. Most releases have that portion partially obscured by a wipe from the previous screen, or blacked out entirely.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: Just the sound of waves crashing and seagull sounds.

Availability: The company still exists today, but their tapes/DVDs are still hard to find. Their first release was Deadly Games. Other tapes with this logo include the Peter Sellers comedy The Wrong Arm of the Law, The Grateful Dead Movie, and The Grim Reaper (a.k.a. Anthropophagous the Beast).

2nd Logo (2004-2011)

Visuals: We see the logo start out as usual, but in a box. The logo looks remastered: there is now a visible sun, the sky is more of an orange color, the sea is now visible, and cliff with the tree on it looks more realistic. Also, there appears to be sun rays glowing throughout the logo. After the zoom out is done, monterey video. appears at the top of the box.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A different, quieter-sounding set of waves crashing and seagull sounds.

Availability: Seen on more recent releases.

3rd Logo (2011-)

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Visuals: We zoom out on what appears to be a sea stack with a tree. The text "monterey video" wipes in from the left once the zoom-in is finished. The stack and text then become a white silhouette on a black background with "a uniquely independent studio" added underneath the company's name.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Ocean waves and a string fanfare. A drum and cymbal play when the text appears.

Availability: First seen on a 2011 DVD of Looking for Palladin.

Legacy: This logo is heavily disliked by many DVD collectors.