Veteran Canadian TV execs Dave Conlon and Michael McGuigan have launched a new production entity after acquiring the assets of Toronto-based producer-distributor Breakthrough Entertainment and its affiliates.
Shadow Pine Studios will combine Breakthrough Entertainment’s content library and production capabilities with creative studio and post-production company Eggplant, which includes Eggplant Picture & Sound and Eggplant Music & Sound.
This will allow it to “jointly leverage new revenue streams and creative partnerships – while also offering producers access to significant Ontario tax credits, a wide array of post-production services, and an established distribution network for completed content,” the company said.
The acquisition of Breakthrough’s catalogue brings series such as Greatest Tank Battles, Blood & Water, Less Than Kind, I Lived With a Killer, Hollywood Homicide, Cruise Ship Killers and Sunshine Slayings under the Shadow Pine umbrella.
In addition, the new entity will hold the rights to more than 35 feature films and TV movies, including genre titles Vicious Fun, I’ll Take Your Dead, The Oak Room and upcoming comedy caper Vandits, plus a slate of holiday TV movies that are currently in post-production.
Conlon was chief financial officer and partner at Eggplant, while McGuigan held the same roles at Breakthrough Entertainment.
With the acquisition, long-serving Breakthrough staff members Alicja Wicinski and Leanne Brennan will join Shadow Pine Studios as senior VP of operations and head of production, respectively.
“We’ve really hit the ground running thanks to the hard work of our original Breakthrough employees who have now joined Shadow Pine Studios,” said McGuigan.
“Breakthrough had a long history of creating and distributing exceptional content. With the launch of this new studio, we are well positioned and excited to expand on that tradition of excellence.”
Conlon added: “This is a perfect fit for Eggplant’s strategic growth. It allows our group of companies to leverage our existing relationships to access new revenue streams. We’re excited by the possibilities stemming from this acquisition.”