Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc (TSX-V:TBRD, OTCQX:THBRF) has said that Great Pacific Media (GPM), its factual division, has entered into an exclusive, multi-year strategic partnership with Sean Connolly's newly launched Original Content Lab (OCL).
The company explained that OCL is focused on developing unscripted primetime and kids series for the global market, that GPM will produce.
"Sean has an exceptional expertise and background in the key genres audiences are hungry for - formats, competition, docudrama and kids," GPM president David Way said in a statement. "It's our mission to attract top talent, and he's one of the best factual producers and creative forces in the business.”
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Through the partnership, Thunderbird said GPM is doubling down on its unscripted development efforts that have led to significant growth in production volume, with eight series currently underway, including new productions Deadman's Curse, Gut Job and Styled. Additionally, it said the deal further bolsters GPM's development presence in Toronto.
“This long-term partnership will be invaluable in accelerating our development pipeline and our delivery of premium factual content to the international market,” Way added.
Thunderbird noted that Connolly has more than two decades of experience across North America and Europe, successfully creating, developing and selling unscripted series in several genres, including competition, formats, docudramas and kids.
He recently led development on hit competition series Blown Away for Netflix, premium documentary 9/11: Control the Skies for Bell Media and Nat Geo International, and paranormal franchises Haunted Hospitals and Paranormal 911, airing on T+E and Discovery TRVL. He has also added kids' content to his skillset, greenlighting Riley Rocket created by Mladen Alexander and Matthew Gerard, while he served as senior vice president of development at Canadian production company BGM in early 2022.
"I'm very excited to be embarking on this new chapter, working closely with David and the incredibly talented development team at GPM, led by Ed de Rivaz, senior VP of development," Connolly said. "My goal with OCL is to work with best-in-class creators and to identify and develop next-level IP to take to the global market. This partnership, with GPM and OCL's combined development and sales experience, ensures a clear path to the production of the highest-quality factual content out there.”
Great Pacific Media programs are seen in more than 170 countries, and the Thunderbird Entertainment Group division specializes in the financing, development, production and co-production of factual, documentary, and reality television
Thunderbird is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa.
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com