Canada's Partners in Motion Relocates to Vancouver, Launches Shift Media Group

TORONTO - Canadian indie producer Partners in Motion is relocating from Saskatoon to suburban Vancouver after closing its Regina, Saskatchewan headquarters.

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The move follows the Saskatchewan government's decision to end refundable film tax credits in that western Canadian province.

Partners in Motion will set up its new headquarters in Langley, British Columbia, where generous local film tax credits remain available.

And the indie producer is partnering with Winnipeg-based Original Pictures and Veria Search Media Marketing to launch Shift Media Group.

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The new production company will combine Partners in Motion’s expertise in factual programming with Original Pictures’ history in dramatic programming.

And adding Veria aims to launch the new venture into digital media.

Original Pictures will retain both its Winnipeg head office as it continues to produce in Manitoba and its Toronto satellite office.

Veria has offices in Saskatoon and Vancouver.

“The new company puts us on the national stage in both drama and factual production in a way we could not have done on our own,” Original Pictures founder and president Kim Todd said of the tie-up.

Original Pictures is currently producing The Curse of Chucky for Universal.

The Saskatchewan government earlier this year axed its 45 percent film tax credit, and bucked a North American industry trend by replacing it with a non-refundable 25 percent tax incentive that has proved unworkable for local filmmakers.