Mario Lopez’s ‘A Christmas Spark’ to Kick Off Slate of Over 20 Projects at Newly Opened Facility

In a major boost to domestic production, Great American Media has signed a sweeping content partnership with Great Point Studios — the studio venture helmed by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Robert Halmi — to produce more than 20 films and original series over the next two years at the company’s recently opened Buffalo, New York facility.

The collaboration kicks off with A Christmas Spark, starring Mario Lopez, which wrapped production earlier this summer and marks the first original announced for Great American Media’s fifth annual Christmas programming lineup. The project — and those that follow — are billed as “inspiring and meaningful” stories rooted in family values, according to the companies.

The multi-title pact also marks a reunion between two architects of the modern family entertainment genre. Halmi, the prolific producer and founder of Hallmark Channel, teams up once again with Bill Abbott, former longtime Hallmark CEO and current chief of Great American Media, who launched the brand in 2021 following his Hallmark departure.

“This partnership is about raising the bar,” said Abbott in a statement. “We’re committed to producing content that uplifts and inspires — and doing it right here in the U.S., with teams who share our passion for authentic, values-driven storytelling.”

Halmi echoed the sentiment: “I’m thrilled to reunite with Bill and support the incredible work happening at Great American Media. Our shared vision makes this partnership a natural fit, and we’re proud to welcome these productions to our campuses.”

The Buffalo facility, one of several owned and operated by Great Point Studios — which also has locations in Yonkers, Atlanta, Cardiff (Wales), and an upcoming campus in Newark, New Jersey — is part of a broader push to scale up U.S.-based production. New York recently expanded its tax incentive package, further incentivizing in-state filming. The companies say the partnership will create a wide range of employment opportunities across casting, crew, and creative departments throughout Western New York.

Lopez, who stars in A Christmas Spark as a middle-aged attorney who gives up a lucrative legal career to become a firefighter, called the experience “deeply personal.”

“The talent, crew, and locations in Buffalo are top-notch,” said Lopez. “This film gave me a way to honor the bravery of firefighters I’ve seen firsthand during the LA wildfires. It’s a story that reflects real sacrifice.”

Great American Media’s portfolio includes flagship cable network Great American Family, faith-based streaming service Pure Flix, FAST channel Pure Flix TV, and Great American Faith & Living — all part of Abbott’s strategy to capture underserved audiences with a steady slate of family-forward content.