Part 3/16:
In its nascent years, New Line operated out of Shea’s New York City apartment, distributing obscure foreign films, grindhouse fare, and underground art. Shea, a passionate film enthusiast with aspirations to direct, took substantial risks on movies that major studios often shunned, including titles like Reefer Madness (public domain re-releases) and a slew of John Waters’ provocative films. This DIY approach earned New Line a reputation as an "underground" home for edgy, offbeat cinema, appealing to a niche audience hungry for non-mainstream content.