B.C.’s Martini Film Studios is expanding its services with the acquisition of Vancouver-based production company Lighthouse Pictures.
Martini has acquired a majority stake in the company, co-founded by Emmy-nominated producer Shawn Williamson and industry veteran Jamie Goehring. As part of the agreement, Lighthouse Pictures’ current management and production teams will remain at the company, according to the April 11 announcement.
The acquisition is part of a larger effort by Langley-based Martini Film Studios to expand its services and original production in film and TV.
“The opportunity to acquire a majority stake in Lighthouse has come at a time where we are growing our own production activity and the Martini brand. In 2020, we launched the Martini Entertainment Group, with George Patterson and David Shepheard, and have since built a robust slate of original and co-produced IP [intellectual property],” Gemma Martini, founder and CEO of Martini Film Studios, said in a statement.
“I look forward to working with Jamie and the Lighthouse team to help produce some of our new shows and expanding the business together here in Canada and in other markets.”
Lighthouse Pictures was co-founded in 2012 and has produced over 250 projects in the last decade. The company specializes in producing genre film and TV projects and has worked with Hallmark, A&E/Lifetime, Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX) and Disney (NYSE:DIS), among others.
“This milestone partnership with Martini Film Studios – which has established itself as a hotbed for major international productions – comes during a vital period of expansion for our company. It will significantly fuel our growth plans as we continue producing content with our long-standing partners and attracting more projects to British Columbia. Alongside this deal with the Martini team, we’re also committed to developing and producing our own IP for the international stage.”
Shortly after Martini Film Studios opened in 2017, it signed a five-year agreement with Netflix to allow the streaming giant to become the lead tenant of the studios. That deal was extended another five years.
The studio features 150,000 square feet of stage space, eight stages, an additional 100,000 square feet of support space, and backlot support services provided by studio consulting and equipment services company MBS Group.
