National Road Trip Day
The VHS Boom and the Birth of New & Unique Videos
By 1985, Mark Schulze and I were already making waves in the burgeoning home video market. Together, we had produced several innovative VHS titles—many of them the first of their kind. These included Massage for Relaxation, Common Sense Self-Defense for Women, Anti-Terrorism: Weapons & Tactics, California Big Hunks, and Soaring in a Sailplane. To market our growing catalog, we placed a simple classified ad in several national video magazines that read, “Send $1 for New and Unique Videos catalog.”
We were astonished by the response. Envelopes filled with dollar bills and checks began pouring in from all corners of the country. It wasn’t long before we realized we needed an official business entity just to cash the checks. And so, New & Unique Videos was born. Our tapes, priced at $30 and $40 each, began to sell at an impressive clip. The business was booming, and it would have made perfect sense to stay put and grow our company from behind a desk.
But we felt another pull entirely.
A Radiant Turning Point
Even as orders multiplied and success shimmered within reach, something deeper stirred within us. On Valentine’s Day of 1986, to mark our 4th anniversary of the day we met, and reflect on the meaning of it all, Mark and I shared a quiet, contemplative day together. In a state of expanded awareness and profound connection, we lay side by side and imagined ourselves flying into the sun—the brilliant source of all life and energy. It was a moment of surrender, of clarity, of boundless awe.
The only thing that gently called us back to Earth was a shared vision that bloomed in both of our minds at once: Alaska. The wild, the vast, the unknown. The idea of traveling north to experience the great unspoiled beauty of our own continent became not just appealing, but necessary. That was the turning point. We made a sudden yet undeniable decision—to trade material comfort for spiritual curiosity.
Within weeks, we rented out our home in City Heights, sold or gave away most of our possessions, and packed the Chinook camper for a journey that would transform our lives and our creative path forever.
Letting Go of Comfort and Embracing the Unknown
We hit the open road with essentials: wetsuits, clothing, food, camera gear, and a hunger for adventure. In Bend, Oregon, we picked up a four-man Sevylor raft (which truly fit only two) and took it whitewater river rafting, out into the Pacific Ocean, and into lakes for fishing. The rhythm of the road became our new normal. We visited many national parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, DeNali, Banff and Jasper, hiked through forests and deserts, and filmed the raw splendor of North America as we went. It was during this time that we discovered our deeper purpose as visual storytellers.
The Grizzly That Changed Everything
One of the most unforgettable moments came deep in the Yukon wilderness, where we had a terrifying encounter with a charging grizzly bear. There was no time to think—only react. That close call left us forever changed. It underscored just how thin the line between life and death can be in the wild, and reminded us to live with respect, humility, and full awareness. That moment became a symbol of our commitment to telling stories that matter, grounded in truth and steeped in awe. I later wrote a poem about the experience and made a video called The Elation of Tom Morgan.
A New Vision for Crystal Pyramid Productions
When we returned from our many-month journey, our vision had expanded—so had our purpose. Mark had founded Crystal Pyramid Productions back in 1981, and in its early years, we produced videos primarily for nonprofit organizations and special events. But after the road transformed us, so did the scope of our work. We began producing videos for corporate and broadcast clients, and soon became San Diego’s trusted video crew for The History Channel, Discovery, Home & Garden Network, Extra TV, Entertainment Tonight, and many others.
What set us apart wasn’t just technical expertise—it was our instinct for story, our sensitivity to place and people, and our lived experience of following roads less traveled.
The Spirit of the Road Trip Lives On
This National Road Trip Day, I’m filled with gratitude for the journey that reshaped our lives. It was an act of trust—to step away from comfort and into the unknown. But it gifted us insight, resilience, and a creative fire that still burns brightly. That one trip helped launch our vision, our company, and our lifelong passion for meaningful storytelling.
Not every road trip ends in beauty. Many remember the heartbreaking story of Gabby Petito, a young woman who dreamed of making the most of a cross-country adventure but whose life was tragically cut short by the person she should have been able to trust the most. Her story reminds us that the best journeys are taken with a beloved, trusted partner—someone who honors your spirit, your dreams, and your safety. That kind of trust begins with knowing yourself deeply, so you can truly know another.
To all the wanderers and storytellers out there: keep following the road. You never know what kind of magic might be waiting around the next bend.
