MONTREAL: TVA International, a subsidiary of Montreal-based Group TVA, opened operation offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles and announced the creation of both a US$32.5 million multiyear production fund and a co-production deal for at least six made-for-TV movies for Fox Family Channel, budgeted in the US$2 million to US$3 million range TVA’s production fund will be used to finance a range of TV movies and dramas, in addition to the bunch for Fox. Third-party producers are expected to be able to access the cash, while TVA will take distribution rights to fund projects.

Set to air in 1999 is MOW Perfect Little Angels, a Stepford Wives-style tale that features kids. VP and executive producer Francois St-Laurent (Arsene Lupin) is managing the new Vancouver office and will oversee all of TVA International’s production and development. The L.A. office is slated to open shortly. The new Vancouver operation is contained within the offices of James Shavick Entertainment, which is in production with Fox Family Channel on 65 half-hours of Addams Family.

According to St-Laurent, TVA has a two-picture deal with Shavick to start with.

The decision to proceed with the production fund follows the successful Shadow of the Bear, a TVA family film starring Alan Thicke and Michael Yarmush.