Monterey Media

Monterey Media Inc.
Company typeIndependent Film Distributor
IndustryIndependent motion pictures distributor,[1] DVD, Bluray
Founded1982
Headquarters125 Auburn Court #220 Westlake Village CA 91362
Productsfilms
OwnerBayView Entertainment
Websitehttp://www.montereymedia.com

Monterey Media Inc. (formerly The Monterey Movie Company) started as a home video company founded in 1982 by Scott Mansfield. It was initially financed by Noel C. Bloom, and the titles were distributed by the Family Home Entertainment subsidiary of Caballero Control Corporation.[2] Monterey is the second sub-label of NCB Entertainment, after FHE.

In 1987, Len Levy moved to Fries Home Video, an upstart distributor, taking its Monterey line with them, after cutting ties with International Video Entertainment, which received all 53 titles after five years.[3][4] That year, in October, the Monterey Movie Company had signed a 22-title agreement with Forum Home Video, to launch its new Phoenix Video label and Scott Mansfield will provide the package, with Forum Home Video handling U.S. distribution of its titles, and the cassettes would range from $19.98-34.98.[5]

After many years the company has now expanded from home video into independent theatrical distribution, film festivals, and other venues including television, digital delivery, and home entertainment markets.

Its first release was Deadly Games, a film made by Mansfield. Mansfield then released more titles under the Monterey label; early releases included a Dorsey Burnette tribute concert, a Sandahl Bergman aerobic dance video, Dynamite Chicken, a concert by The Tubes, Oh, Alfie!, The Werewolf of Washington, Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?, And Nothing But the Truth, Tomorrow, The Children of Sanchez, and Autumn Born.[6] The company was also the exclusive distributor for All Grateful Dead concert videos/ DVDs for over 20 years, including The Grateful Dead Movie and Dead Ahead.

Currently, they distribute their films at festivals and events, in theaters, and on DVD and VOD, including feature films, documentaries, self-help videos, and PBS programs.[7]

In 2019, Monterey was acquired by BayView Entertainment.[8]

  1. ^ "Monterey Media [us]". IMDb. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Low Videocassette Prices Seen Rejuvenating Market" (PDF). Billboard. 1983-06-11. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  3. ^ "Levy To Helm Fries' HV Label". Variety. 1987-03-25. pp. 41–42.
  4. ^ "Monterey Breaks Off Distrib Deal With IVE; 53 Titles Go To Fries". Variety. 1987-07-01. p. 34.
  5. ^ "Forum & Monterey Ink A 22-Pic Deal". Variety. 1987-10-14. p. 46.
  6. ^ "Billboard". 30 November 1985. Retrieved 11 July 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Video Company VHS Cover Art". critcononline.com. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  8. ^ "BayView Entertainment Acquires Monterey Media – Media Play News". Retrieved 2020-01-16.