By: Victoria Ahearn
Vancouver’s Great Pacific Media (GPM) has entered into an exclusive multi-year strategic partnership with veteran unscripted content creator Sean Connolly’s newly launched Original Content Lab (OCL).
The Toronto-based outfit is focused on developing unscripted kids and primetime series for the global market that will be produced by GPM, the factual division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group.
GPM says the partnership effectively doubles its development efforts, strengthens its presence in Toronto, and supports an expansion into new premium unscripted genres.
GPM has already seen “a significant growth in production volume” from these content wells, says a news release, noting that there are eight series currently underway, including new productions Deadman’s Curse (History/Hulu) and Gut Job and Styled (HGTV/Hulu).
Connolly (pictured) has more than 20 years of experience in content development, working across North America and Europe in the areas of primetime unscripted, kids and family, live action and animation.
He recently led development on the hit Netflix glass-blowing competition format Blown Away, the documentary 9/11: Control the Skies (Bell Media, NatGeo International), and paranormal franchises Haunted Hospitals and Paranormal 911 (T+E/Discovery TRVL).
Connolly was previously SVP of development at BGM in Toronto, but left in January to “pursue other adventures.”
He launched development hub OCL this month with a focus on “originating and acquiring original IPs and collaborating with first-in-class creatives to develop and sell multiplatform content across all primetime unscripted genres,” says the release. That content includes kids and family progrmaming, specialist factual docs, documentary series, docudramas, factual entertainment formats and lifestyle shows.
Newsletter
