Pacific Arts

Credits

Editions by
Eric S.

Background

Pacific Arts is a multimedia company started by former member of The Monkees, Michael Nesmith, in 1974. By the 1980s, the company grew to have what was at the time the largest video catalog of non-theatrical films, as well as several music artists on its roster and being one of the earliest pioneers of the home video industry. In 1990, the company struck a deal with PBS to distribute their titles on video; the two companies would wind up facing many disagreements over many issues (including royalties, misrepresentation, and breach of contract) that would eventually end in several lawsuits. Due to the cost of litigation, the company was forced to cease operations in the mid-1990s, though they did not go defunct altogether. While Pacific Arts would wind up winning the lawsuit in 1999 and the company does still exist today, Nesmith was disappointed in the whole ordeal (stating famously, "It's like finding your grandmother stealing your stereo. You're happy to get your stereo back, but it's sad to find out your grandmother is a thief."), and stated he likely wouldn't go back to the video business.

Pacific Arts

1st Logo (1981-1989)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a neon blue-outlined circle. Then, there is a second neon blue outline forming a dove, then some leaves flash. "The Pacific Arts Corp, Inc." in an Old English font fade in under the circle.

Variant: There is another variant with magenta flooring on it, with the background turning into a magenta gradient when the animation plays. The logo then disappears, but leaving the background intact.

Technique: Backlit cel animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on movies from the era like The Official Story (La Historia Official). The one with the magenta background can be seen on Tapeheads as well as Heaven.

2nd Logo (1989-1994)

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Visuals: The sequence starts out on a black-blue gradient background, usually with the text "manufactured and distributed exclusively by" on it. Then, after the text disappears the animation in the 1st logo plays, complete with the text in the same Old English font fade in, except it simply reads "Pacific Arts".

Variants:

• From 1992 onwards, "Pacific Arts" is in a different font.
• At the end of the tape, it would zoom out a little and a byline would fade in under the logo.
  • 1989-1992: "A member of the Nesmith Enterprises"
  • 1992-1994: "ONE OF THE NESMITH ENTERPRISES"

Technique: Cel and computer animation.

Audio: A wind chime tune with a ping at the end. On the VHS release of Computer Visions, it's silent.

Availability: It can be seen on PBS Home Video releases. ^[Examples?]

Pacific Arts Video Records

Note: This label was used to release special interest and exclusive videos.

Logo (1980s-1990s)

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Visuals: The sequence starts out with the drawing of the 1st logo on the black background. After it stops drawing, the dove turns gray inside the circle inside a TV tube with a multi-colored filmstrip on the top half and multi-colored bars on the bottom half shown on a white background. The text "PACIFIC ARTS VIDEO RECORDS" is under the TV tube.

Technique: Cel animation and fading effects.

Audio: Again, same as before.

Availability: Seen on the MCA Home Video VHS of Repo Man, though some releases omit this.