Chapter 224 220
Jack Valenti sat across from Duke without waiting for a response, unfastened the brass latches on his briefcase.
He pulled out a stack of legal paper, market projections and a lot of graphics, then laid them on his desk to Duke's annoyance.
'Same fcking shit all over again.'
The MPAA had a clear position and Valenti was here to talk again.
The traditional studios were terrified of home video.
To the Studios, a VCR wasn't a home appliance tjat people were just using to time-shift, which meant to record your Movies or TV shows to watch at a later time.
It was a piracy machine that allowed you to duplicate movies, fast foward Advertisements and kill movie attendance.
"Theaters are our lifeblood, Duke. Do you agree?" Valenti tapped the reports.
"Cinema is sacred. If people can press a button and watch movies at home, they'll stop going to the theater."
"The Motion Picture Association as I must remind you has a unified position," Valenti said. He smoothed the papers flat on the table.
"Now, we are proposing an industry-wide coalition. With every major studio signing a pledge."
Duke didn't touch the papers. He just watched Valenti's hands, they trembled slightly for some reason.
"The strategy will be simple," Valenti continued. He tapped the brief. "Refuse to license any film to any home video format. And strangle VHS and Betamax in the crib."
Duke leaned back, his Godfather chair creaked.
"The goal is elimination," Valenti said. "Kill the technology before it kills theatrical exhibition."
He leaned forward. "We have momentum," Valenti urged, trying to build inevitability.
"Warner Brothers, Universal, MGM, Disney. They're all considering the pledge and understand the stakes. But we need Paramount."
Duke listened, his expression neutral. The room fell silent as he finished.
A moment later, Duke laughed.
Valenti stiffened as irritation crossed his face.
Duke leaned forward. "You want me to sign a pledge that would damage my Studio and Atari..."
Duke said. "To refuse revenue for my own company. Is that about right?"
Valenti nodded slowly. "For the good of the industry."
Duke picked up one of the market reports. The numbers were grim with theatrical attendance declining.
They were on opposing sides, mostly cause Duke was a big time owner of the VHS technology.
"Jack, let me tell you what i have said several times already," Duke said. He set the report down. "I see a goldmine for the industry, in what you're calling a grave."
Valenti frowned. "The VCR is a piracy machine. Every cassette sold is a stolen ticket. You should understand this."
"No," Duke said. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out the lot to aura-farm.
He turned back. "Paramount owns the biggest library in Hollywood. Why would I lock them up when I could sell them to households?"
Valenti opened his mouth. Duke held up a hand, stopping him.
"Think about the math, Jack. A blank VHS tape costs a few dollars and sell it for 60 dollars. Sometimes more. That margin is basically pure profit."
"No theater owners taking half, no distribution middlemen. Just us, the Studios and the consumer."
Valenti shook his head. "You're the industry leader, Duke. The most successful studio head in town. And you want to play around? Think about Hollywood."
"I am always thinking on Hollywood," Duke said.
"Have you ever heard the saying. 'Once a new technology rolls over, if you're not part of the roller, you're part of the road.'"
"What I'm proposing for the industry is," Duke continued. "And to leave it clear, yeah, it would of course include Universal LaserDisc tech to follow it."
"The theaters get the premiere with a year as exclusive. Then cable and only then home video. The same film will then be sold 3 times and everyone wins."
"Theaters will then exist for the spectacle, Jack," Duke said. "The event, communal experience type of thing where you need to be sitting in with a crowd. You can't replicate that energy on a home TV."
"If people watch at home on their own schedule, they will stop going to the cinema," Valenti argued.
"Jack, I understand the fear, but once again," Duke began. "we're looking at this whole thing wrong. We don't have to choose between the theaters and the Households. We can do both."
"You're playing with fire, Duke," Valenti warned. His tone grim.
"We need a unified front," Valenti said, emphatizing his point. "If we don't stand together and hold the line, we fall apart."
Duke shrugged. He wasn't intimidated by the MPAA or division. If anything, they needed to be intimidated by him.
"The way I see it, Mr. Valenti, every other studio can be worried, with the exception of Paramount. The worst case scenario for you, is a great result for me."
"And also a Best case Scenario for you, is a great result for me..."
Valenti stood up when he listened this last part. He had been regretting for years supporting Duke when he was starting. This VHS problem was too much.
Every Studio was trying to play both sides and Paramount were still not willing to cover up their mistake.
"You're wrong for the way you're acting. The industry will fight this with politics."
"Look... you got your lobbyists, Jack," Duke said. "And, I got mine. Let's agree to disagree. The Paramount ship follows its own course."
Valenti couldnt help but get a last word in, "Wasserman is already suing VHS and Betamax, we will fight it all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary"
Duke shrugged and gave a slight smile. "Well, i guess I'll see you there, Jack."
Valenti gathered his briefs and snapped his briefcase shut.
He walked to the door, but turned back last minute.
"You're making a mistake, Duke. The biggest of your career."
Duke met his gaze, without blinking. "I've made plenty of mistakes I can assure you. This isn't one of them."
Valenti left, but before he stared for a moment to the wall, where a picture of Duke, President Reagan and Sandra Day O'Connor stood behind the desk.
Valenti brows furrowed, as he recognized Sandra Day O'Connor.
'Isnt that the new Supreme Justice Appointe...' He walked off, slaming the doow behind him.
Duke stood alone in the quiet office. 'What a fcked up guy. Implying I dont care about Hollywood.'
It was better to just accept the Supreme Court ruling of 1984 was coming.
Sony VS Universal and Disney.
Of course, the studios would end up losing both in court and monetarily.
And then they would embrace home video anyway, just ten years too late.
Even until now, the only major Studio with a Home Video focus was Paramount that wanted to monetize the library.
Other studios were openly complaining about Home Video, but almost all had Small Home Video operations already.
Selling their old films for some extra revenue.
A single movie VHS tape in 1981 typically costed between 70$ and 90$ (equivalent to over $200 today).
Paramount was pricing their own films at 45$-60$, and offered genre bundles on VHS.
"Should Operation BlockBuster be started?"
___
Later that afternoon, Duke left the lot early.
His driver headed toward Owlwood Estate.
Duke entered the house, slightly tired already. 'I should start to do Tennis or some sport again.'
A hairdryer hummed from the living room, he walked toward the sound.
Margaux sat in a chair, as a stylist hovered over her.
Margaux caught sight of him in a mirror and her expression tightened.
"You're not supposed to be here," she said, trying to not move. She raised her voice over the dryer.
"We agreed on the schedule. It's my wednesday with Brandon. You have the house near the studio. Respect the arrangements."
Duke didn't answer, just walked past Margaux without a word.
He moved around the house, looking for familiar spots until he just followed the sound of a television and found Brandon engrossed, sitting on a rug.
Brandon looked up and his face lit up. "You're early! Wait here! I want to show you something!"
The boy sprinted down the hallway while Duke sat on the carpet too.
A moment later, Brandon came running back, wearing a youth soccer uniform.
It was a royal blue jersey with a number 10 on the back.
Duke's face broke into a smile that was slightly strained.
"Today was your soccer thing?" Duke asked. "Tha- that's great, buddy. You look like a professional. When's your first game? Can you get me tickets?"
Brandon shrugged. "I don't know yet. Coach handed these out today. He said we have our first practice Saturday morning at the park."
A pang of guilt struck Duke.
Between the studio, video games, and just the mess around, he had forgotten about this.
"I'll be there," Duke said, as he pulled the boy into a hug and a kiss on the top of his head.
Duke stood up. Moved toward the couch and patted the cushion. "Come. Let's watch a movie together. I brought something special home from the studio. I want to share it with you."
He reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a few VHS tapes.
In his past life, he had a ritual, watch at least one movie a day that started with his dad. And he was trying to keep it alive wiht his son.
In his past life, the movie his dad liked the most was, 'George of the Jungle' with Brendan Fraser.
He showed the movie to Brandon. "Have you ever heard of 'The Amityville Horror' or 'The Evil Dead'"
Brandon didnt answer, and just pushed the tapes down, "No no, Dad, no horror. I'll choose."
Brandon went and slid a cassette into the VCR.
He had recorded a few episodes of Green Lantern: The Animated Series.
"This is one of ours," Duke said as a pleasant surprise.
Brandon climbed up beside him on the couch.
"Are Green Lanterns real?" Brandon pointed at the screen.
Duke smiled, but didnt answer.
'This kid... he really like Green Lantern... Thats like your favorite superhero being Aquaman... I may have to introduce this kid to some Nightwing and Batman comics.'