New National Multi-media Company Launched

^[1]Canadian companies Original Pictures ^[2], Partners in Motion ^[3], and Veria Search Media Marketing ^[4] announce the creation of Shift Media Group, a new national company combining factual, and drama production for all platforms with offices in Langley, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Toronto.

“This move is a major expansion for both PIM and OP,” said PIM executive vice-president Ron Goetz, “the combination of OP’s expertise in drama and PIM’s history in factual production produces a powerhouse of creativity that strengthens both companies. The addition of Veria catapults the combined group into the fastest growing sections of digital media.”

PIM will be moving broadcast production staff from Regina and setting up corporate offices in Langley, British Columbia. Original Pictures will retain its head office in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the key office it set up in Toronto four years ago. PIM’s corporate and commercial division Gyro Productions will remain in Regina. Veria has offices in Saskatoon.

“Shift is great for OP,” said Original Pictures founder and president Kim Todd, “we opened our office in Toronto to be closer to broadcasters and distributors and to take advantage of its attractions as a production centre. We recently filmed in British Columbia and we are shooting now in Manitoba. The new company puts us on the national stage in both drama and factual production in a way we could not have done on our own.”

Annelise Larson, partner at Veria said, “In many ways, Shift Media Group will be a microcosm example in what needs to happen in the convergent space – digital meets traditional in mutual respect to create opportunity, tell great stories AND find a sustainable business model.”

Original Pictures is producing its second “American Girl” movie in Winnipeg as well as “The Curse of Chucky” for Universal. It is delivering the movie “Tasmanian Devils” to Sy Fy and Shaw Media and has recently completed the pre-school children’s show “What’s Your News” for CBC produced in Toronto and the UK. Original Pictures has been nominated for 29 Geminis and won 7. It produced the series Falcon Beach which has been sold to more than 135 countries.

Partners in Motion earned an Emmy for “13 Seconds, the Kent State Shootings”. Its shows have been seen in more than 150 countries and include “Crime Stories” for A&E Biography, “Blood Lies and Alibis” for Investigation Discovery, and The Re-inventors for History TV and Smithsonian.

Veria Search Media Marketing is a national leader in the use of search, social media and online production and strategies for screen media. Nicholas Hirst, CEO of Original Pictures and Ron Goetz, executive vice-president of Partners in Motion are co-CEO’s of Shift Media Group.