The story of New & Unique Videos®
Independent since the first tape.
In 1985, as video was just beginning to change home entertainment and education, Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney set out to make something fresh: well-made videos that were informative and entertaining at the same time.
They called the company New & Unique Videos®, a name that came to describe their independent spirit and their approach to filmmaking. Four decades later, it is an independent publisher and distributor of educational films and archival media, based in San Diego.
The first five
Five tapes, made from five personal interests.
In 1985 Mark and Patty produced an eclectic set of titles, each one about something they cared about. Several found audiences far beyond what they expected.
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1985
Massage for Relaxation
How to massage another person and yourself. It became a staple of the wellness community, sold by Publishers Clearing House, Ladyslipper, Baker & Taylor and Heathrow Airport gift shops.
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1985
Anti-Terrorism: Weapons & Tactics
With anti-terrorism expert Peter Eliot and his team at Delta Firearms, UK. Used by law enforcement and personal safety instructors.
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1985
Common Sense Self-Defense for Women
An empowering self-defense guide with National Karate Champion Garry Wooten.
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1985
California Big Hunks®
A male dance revue with six exotic dancers that later achieved cult status.
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1985
Soaring in a Sailplane
The world of glider flight, filmed from outside and inside the cockpit.
The accidental birth of a business.
The company started almost by surprise. Mark and Patty had five finished videos and needed a way to reach people who might want them.
They printed a catalog
It listed the five titles, plus ideas for films they hoped to make next.
They placed a classified ad
A small ad in a video magazine offered the catalog to anyone who sent in $1.
The mail started arriving
Dollar bills, and checks made out to “New & Unique Videos,” a company that didn’t exist yet.
They made it official
Just to cash the checks, Mark and Patty formed New & Unique Videos as a real business.
A bold experiment became an independent production company and stock footage library.
From the archive
The catalog that started it all.
These are the pages people sent a dollar for in 1985. Click either page to see it full size.
In the news
Clippings, honors and interviews.
Moments when Mark and Patty, and the company they built together, made the news. Click a clipping to see it full size.
- 1987Southwest Cycling Magazine
Wedding on Wheels
The story of Mark and Patty’s mountain bike wedding in the Cleveland National Forest, east of San Diego.
- 1994The San Diego Union-Tribune
A two-page Business section feature
New & Unique Videos® as a production, distribution and stock footage company.
- 2021City of San Diego
A commendation for community activism
Presented to Mark and Patty by San Diego Councilmember Raul Campillo.
- 2024CBS 8, The Zevely Zone
On the trail with Jeff Zevely
A playful segment about Mark and Patty’s mountain biking, from October 2024.
- PodcastI’m There For You Baby
Forty years plus: the evolution will be televised, or streamed
Barbara Bry and Neil Senturia talk with Mark and Patty about four decades as entrepreneurs, from Crystal Pyramid Productions in 1981 onward.
For reviews and interviews about our cannabis films, see NECTARBALL® Press & Praise.
In our fifth decade
Stories that never go out of style.
We still preserve and share the best of our catalog while taking on new stories. The films carry the same curiosity, creativity and courage that started the company in 1985, and they still reach viewers who value authenticity and depth.
Whether you’re rediscovering a classic, licensing footage for a project or seeing what we’re working on now, you’re part of the story too.
More about us
Explore the rest of the story.
Mark Schulze
Co-founder, director of photography and producer.
Patty Mooney
Co-founder, writer, producer and editor.
The Beginning
From Crystal Pyramid Productions in 1981 to the first catalog.
Company Evolution
How the company changed from VHS to streaming.
Celebrity Encounters
Famous faces met on shoots and assignments over the years.
Archives
Photos, clippings and memorabilia from four decades.