Vancouver-based studio facility Martini Film Studios is expanding its focus on original and service production with the majority acquisition of Lighthouse Pictures, the prodco founded by industry veterans Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.
The production company, also based in Vancouver, specialises in genre and small to medium budget television and film projects. It has produced more than 150 titles since it was established in 2012, including shows for Hallmark, A&E Networks-owned Lifetime, Marvista, Netflix, Disney, Sony and Paramount.
Lighthouse’s service production credits include Three Wise Men & a Baby for Hallmark; feature film The Confirmation, starring Clive Owen, Maria Bello, Patton Oswalt and Matthew Modine; and Netflix feature 1922, based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name.
The Martini Film Studios facility was opened in 2017 by Gemma Martini. Shortly after it launched, Netflix signed a five-year lease to become the studio’s lead tenant, with the global streamer extending that deal by another five years in 2022. The likes of Warner Bros, ITV and CBS have also filmed projects at the facility.
Over the past couple of years, the company has looked to branch into original and service production, in addition to remaining a facility for film and TV projects shooting in British Columbia. To that end, it launched the Martini Entertainment Group in 2020 and tapped VP of development George Patterson and VP of production and international David Shepheard to build out a slate of original and coproduced IP.
With the acquisition, Lighthouse Pictures’ current management and producing team will remain in place. Deal terms were not disclosed.
“I have witnessed over recent years the great reputation and success that Jamie and Shawn have built with Lighthouse Productions and the quality of their work. We have had the pleasure of working closely with their teams, hosting many of their productions at our production facilities and backlots,” said Martini.
“I look forward to working with Jamie and the Lighthouse team to help produce some of our new shows and expanding the business together.”
Goehring added: “I am very excited about this new partnership with Martini Film Studios and the future for Lighthouse Pictures as we continue to produce content for our partners who we have worked with for over a decade. We also have plans to grow the company and attract more production to British Columbia as well as developing and producing our own IP for the international market.”
