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A Bit About Us

Buffalo Gal Pictures is an independent, award-winning production house specializing in feature film and television production as well as 3D animation and visual effects. Since 1994, the company has successfully developed and produced challenging and diverse projects by nurturing collaborative relationships with creative talent and by establishing coproduction partnerships with industry peers, and in the process been responsible for over $250M in feature film and television production. Past successes include Guy Maddin’s seminal film MY WINNIPEG, awarded four stars by pre-eminent film critic Roger Ebert; the critically-lauded HBO Canada television series LESS THAN KIND, executive produced by "Kids in The Hall" / "Saturday Night Live" alum Mark McKinney, and acclaimed feature films including ALOFT, starring Jennifer Connelly, THE STONE ANGEL, featuring Ellen Burstyn and Ellen Page, and ALL THE WRONG REASONS with Cory Monteith.

Its success with the above endeavours has allowed Buffalo Gal the luxury to expand its portfolio to include more genre and technique specific ventures, through partnerships generating associated companies, such as Opus VFX, Kistikan Pictures, Insidious Pictures and Tangent Animation.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Buffalo Gal Pictures continues to produce high quality projects while maintaining an ongoing and exciting development slate. Recent highlights include HYENA ROAD, produced with Rhombus Media, Triple 7 Films and Bron Creative, and nominated for an impressive eight Canadian Screen Awards, the Sean Garrity-directed feature BOREALIS, co-produced with Banana-Moon Sky Films; SUNNYSIDE, produced with Counterfeit Pictures in Association with City (Rogers Media) and also nominated for multiple awards; CONSIDERING LOVE AND OTHER MAGIC, featuring Eric McCormack (WILL AND GRACE) and Sheila McCarthy, and THE MIDNIGHT MAN, featuring Lyn Shaye and and "Freddy Krueger" himself, Robert Englund, with noteworthy upcoming releases including "SIBERIA" with Keanu Reeves, "JT LEROY" with Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Diane Kruger and Jim Sturgess,  "LOOK AWAY" with Jason Isaacs, Mira Sorvino and India Eisley and "NOMIS" with Henry Cavill and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Extremely proud of Winnipeg’s deep talent pool, both in front of and behind the camera, Buffalo Gal Pictures continues to seek out and produce stellar, innovative, and thought-provoking film and television properties.

Buffalo Gal Pictures

PHYLLIS LAING

PRESIDENT

With a keen sense of business acumen, creative vision and a desire to make Winnipeg the epicentre of the Canadian film and television industry, President Phyllis Laing established Buffalo Gal Pictures in 1994 and has continued to expertly guide it to its present success.

The list of credits to her name is as impressive as it is extensive. Joining forces with a variety of producing partners, Phyllis has ensured that Buffalo Gal pictures has been at the forefront of quality Canadian production for over three decades. Beyond her work at Buffalo Gal Pictures, Phyllis has also sought to expand within the industry through the formulation of offshoot companies such as Opus, Kistikan, Insidious and Tangent - genre or market-specific endeavours that meet the needs of underserved voices in film and television.

Phyllis' business ingenuity has thrice been honoured by the Women's Business Owners of Manitoba. She received the Women Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1994 and 2013 and the Impact on Local Economy award in 2002. Committed to the continued development and expansion of the film and television industries, Phyllis served for years as Chair of the On Screen Manitoba Board of Directors, in addition to her seat as a Producer board member. She currently serves as a member of the Gimli Film Festival Board of Directors.

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JEFF BEESLEY

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Regarded as one of Canada’s most exciting talents, Jeff Beesley has achieved widespread acclaim for his extensive body of work in both feature films and network television, with festival screenings of his productions garnering both enthusiastic praise as well as numerous awards. Having directed episodes of the two most successful and critically acclaimed Canadian television series in LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE and CORNER GAS, Jeff has the rare distinction of directing primetime television series simultaneously airing on each of Canada’s major television networks with CORNER GAS (CTV), LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE (CBC) and RENEGADEPRESS.COM (Global Television).

In addition to the above, Jeff has directed episodes of several other comedy series, including INSECURITY and MEN WITH BROOMS, along with the feature film DOLAN'S CADILLAC, the latest in the Stephen King collection. In 2014 Jeff directed the hilarious new award winning web series inSAYASHAble along with two new televison series, THE PINKERTONS and City TV’s critically acclaimed comedy series SUNNYSIDE.

Joining Buffalo Gal Pictures as Partner in September of 2015, Jeff coordinated both development and production of original and acquired properties. Producing credits include CONSIDERING LOVE AND OTHER MAGIC featuring Eric McCormack, THE MIDNIGHT MAN, A VERY SORDID WEDDING, starring Caroline Rhea with a special appearance by Whoopi Goldberg, NOMIS featuring Henry Cavill and Sir Ben Kingsley and JT LEROY, starring Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern and Diane Kruger.  Jeff has also directed the recently filmed MOWs WASHED AWAY and GONE: MY DAUGHTER, both shot in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. 

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Devan Towers

Senior Vice-President

Devan Towers is a practicing lawyer, called to the Manitoba Bar in 1994, and has represented film and multi-media clients in contract negotiations and the development, financing, production, exploitation and protection of intellectual property.

Prior to her call, Devan worked in the film and television industry as a production accountant before taking on administrative positions for commercial production companies.  In 1984 she worked for the Province of Manitoba and designed programs in support of various sectors in the cultural industries, including film, publishing and sound recording.  Devan was instrumental in setting up the film office for the Province of Manitoba, presently Manitoba Film and Music, where she was the Film Financial Officer, the Film Officer/Film Commissioner and the Executive Program Co-ordinator responsible for all film and sound recording programs, respectively.  During this period of time, she represented the Province on various provincial, national and international committees in the cultural industries.  Additionally, Devan has worked as a policy analyst for the Province, provided consulting services to federal and provincial organizations and many private production companies and from 1992 to 1994 she was the Executive Director of the then Manitoba Motion Picture Industries Association (MMPIA) (currently called On Screen Manitoba). 

From 1994 to September, 2013, Devan was in private practice with Taylor McCaffrey, LLP in Winnipeg, MB., where she was a partner for the last 7 years of her practice, and where, in addition to her corporate commercial practice, she provided services to clients from the film, music and publishing industries, including producers, artists, writers, distributors and lending institutions.  In 2004, she took a sojourn from private practice for 2 years and worked with Original Pictures Inc. as Executive Producer on A Bear Named Winnie, an international co-production with Powercorp TV, and spent 2005 as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Original Pictures where she assisted in setting up development and production systems, specifically providing services for the Global/ABC Family series Falcon Beach. 

Devan joined Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc. in 2013 as their Senior Vice-President.  During this time, she has been executive producer on many productions, including on a 22 one-hour episode series entitled The Pinkertons and a treaty animation feature film currently entitled Ozzy.

Devan is on the Board of Directors of The Non-Defensive Voice Inc. (Canada), The Non-Defensive Voice International Inc. (US), and the Gimli Film Festival Inc.  

Devan is recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Entertainment Law.

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Isaac Clements

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES AND MARKETING

Isaac Clements has worked exclusively within the Canadian film and television community for over a decade. Beginning his career at ThinkFilm he graduated to working at Telefilm Canada where he worked alongside a multitude of in house professionals as well as countless filmmakers on such funds as Writer’s First, the Theatrical Marketing Fund, the Alternative Distribution Fund and the regional Development portfolio.

Since then he has held the position of Business Analyst for the Canada Media Fund and E1 Entertainment where his portfolio included the Stephen King series Haven, MTV USA’s remake of the controversial UK series Skins, AMC’s Hell on Wheels and CBC’s Men With Brooms and as well was Head of Operations for Berkshire Axis Media, an equity and film distribution firm located in Canada.

Currently he works as VP, Sales and Marketing at Buffalo Gal Pictures, where he runs their Toronto office and oversees the late stage development and packaging arm. His credits include the television series The Pinkertons and Sunnyside and feature films including Silent Night (a remake of 1980's horror classic Silent Night, Deadly Night), Considering Love and Other Magic, Borealis and Trench 11.

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Liz Jarvis

VP of Post Production

Liz Jarvis joined Buffalo Gal Pictures in 1995 and has contributed to the company as a producer, production executive, production and post supervisor, and assistant director. Her first feature as a producer, SEVEN TIMES LUCKY, a film by Gary Yates, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.  Most recently, Liz was supervising producer for Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson’s critically-acclaimed feature THE FORBIDDEN ROOM, which premiered at Sundance 2015, opened the Berlinale Forum, and won the Toronto Film Critics’ Association Best Canadian Film of 2015.   Additionally, Liz co-produced with Jonas Chernik the feature BOREALIS, starring up-and-comer Joey King and directed by Sean Garrity as well as CIUDADES DESIERTAS, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, co-produced with Mexican director-producer Roberto Sneider.   

Liz co-produced the US-Canada-Kuwait co-production AMREEKA, a film by Cherien Dabis, which premiered at Sundance 2009, and screened at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, winning the FIPRESCI Critics' Prize. Liz also co-produced HIGH LIFE, a film by Gary Yates starring Timothy Olyphant, which premiered at Panorama, Berlin 2009. In 2007 Liz collaborated with writer-director Kari Skogland to produce the feature film THE STONE ANGEL, starring Ellen Burstyn, based on the beloved novel by Margaret Laurence.   

Currently Vice President of Post Production at Buffalo Gal Pictures, Liz is also actively involved as a mentor for upcoming filmmakers, and is a consultant for On Screen Manitoba. 

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Jen Beasley

Head of Development

Jen Beasley brings a wealth of experience in a multitude of fields to her present-day endeavours. A WGC-nominated Canadian writer with comedy and drama television as well as web-based screenwriting credits to her name, Jen has been active in the film communities in both Toronto and Winnipeg for almost two decades. Following a ten-year stint as an assistant cameraperson with various film and television productions (during which she learned the lay of the land when it comes to effective script structure) and before that as both an elementary and high school teacher (during which she learned the effectiveness of time-outs) Jen segued into the television story department, beginning with the Showcase comedy BILLABLE HOURS.

Upon graduating from the Canadian Film Centre’s Prime Time Television Program in 2009, Jen was hired as story coordinator on the award-winning LESS THAN KIND, studying comedy from no less than The Kids in the Hall’s Mark McKinney. Her co-written script for the finale of the second season was nominated for a 2011 Writers Guild of Canada Comedy Writing Award. From there she went on to work as a story editor for Season Four of the acclaimed series. Subsequent work included screenwriting credits on such series as Showcase’s CRA$H & BURN and CBC’s MEN WITH BROOMS as well as story editing on a number of Toronto-based projects in development.

In addition to her position in various television story departments, Jen was also employed as Creative Development/Project Manager for Paquin Entertainment Group in Winnipeg, during which time she penned their associated company Koba Entertainment’s live theatrical touring production of Mike The Knight, based upon the popular Treehouse children’s series.

As a Production Executive at Buffalo Gal Pictures, Jen was integral to both the development and production divisions and is adept at shepherding a project from the initial stages through financing to delivery.

In the fall of 2017, Jen was named Buffalo Gal Pictures' Head of Development, and currently oversees the company's diverse feature and television slate. 

In addition to the above, Jen has gained a strong online following detailing the precocious exploits and utterings of her 5-year-old in the popular blog “Mom Gives Me Scotch” and plans to retire on the proceeds from the book deal when it happens.

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Alan Wong

Executive Assistant / Facility Manager / Producer Associate

Alan Wong is the eldest son of Chinese immigrants who moved frequently across the country, from cities to small-towns, cultivating a unique Canadian experience. He obtained a degree in Music from Brandon University studying classical voice, then, promptly left the country to teach ESL and explore. He re-kindled his passion for contemporary music on the beaches of Japan. Alan returned to Canada to build a career in theatre, his first love, but the songwriting seed had been planted. His theatre credits include The King and I (Rainbow Stage), HMS Pinafore (G&S Society), Canadian Graffiti and Magical Mystery Tour (WOW Productions), various Fringe and Independent theatre shows, as well as being a member of the Manitoba Opera Chorus. Alan was the winner of Winnipeg’s Asian Heritage Society Talent Competition, “Asian Idol” in 2004, and continues to promote Asian heritage awareness through his involvement in historical theatre.

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BGP Media Management

Devan Towers

Barrister & Solicitor, Legal & Business Affairs

Devan Towers is a practicing lawyer, called to the Manitoba Bar in 1994, and has represented film and multi-media clients in contract negotiations and the development, financing, production, exploitation and protection of intellectual property.

Prior to her call, Devan worked in the film and television industry as a production accountant before taking on administrative positions for commercial production companies.  In 1984 she worked for the Province of Manitoba and designed programs in support of various sectors in the cultural industries, including film, publishing and sound recording.  Devan was instrumental in setting up the film office for the Province of Manitoba, presently Manitoba Film and Music, where she was the Film Financial Officer, the Film Officer/Film Commissioner and the Executive Program Co-ordinator responsible for all film and sound recording programs, respectively.  During this period of time, she represented the Province on various provincial, national and international committees in the cultural industries.  Additionally, Devan has worked as a policy analyst for the Province, provided consulting services to federal and provincial organizations and many private production companies and from 1992 to 1994 she was the Executive Director of the then Manitoba Motion Picture Industries Association (MMPIA) (currently called On Screen Manitoba). 

From 1994 to September, 2013, Devan was in private practice with Taylor McCaffrey, LLP in Winnipeg, MB., where she was a partner for the last 7 years of her practice, and where, in addition to her corporate commercial practice, she provided services to clients from the film, music and publishing industries, including producers, artists, writers, distributors and lending institutions.  In 2004, she took a sojourn from private practice for 2 years and worked with Original Pictures Inc. as Executive Producer on A Bear Named Winnie, an international co-production with Powercorp TV, and spent 2005 as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Original Pictures where she assisted in setting up development and production systems, specifically providing services for the Global/ABC Family series Falcon Beach. 

Devan joined Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc. in 2013 as their Senior Vice-President.  During this time, she has been executive producer on many productions, including on a 22 one-hour episode series entitled The Pinkertons and a treaty animation feature film currently entitled Ozzy.

Devan is on the Board of Directors of The Non-Defensive Voice Inc. (Canada), The Non-Defensive Voice International Inc. (US), and the Gimli Film Festival Inc.  

Devan is recognized in Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of Entertainment Law.

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Insidious Pictures

Insidious Pictures is a Winnipeg-based company that aims to put the horror back in "horror movie" - to make movies that are entertaining, innovative and frightening. These are the scary movies people talk about, blog about, recommend to their friends, and watch over and over again just for the thrill of it. The company will be seeking out the most thrilling and original terror tales it can find, and putting them on screen with ferocious, uncompromising intelligence.

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Kistikan Pictures

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Kistikan Pictures is a company created by Tina Keeper and Buffalo Gal Pictures to produce Aboriginal film and television projects. Kistikan Pictures will incorporate the best business, technical and creative knowledge of both companies to create dynamic, innovative Indigenous filmmaking. Kistikan has the opportunity to develop projects with the best Indigenous talent for works in documentary, dramatic feature, short film and television. Mentorship in both creative and technical development is also a key element for the vision of Kistikan Pictures.

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Opus Visual Effects

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Opus is a leading visual effects company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With over a decade of experience, the Opus team has been instrumental in the realization of numerous CG effects in projects ranging from large Hollywood productions to independent films and TV miniseries. Specializing in 3D animation, digital compositing, green screen integration, SFX animation/particle work, pre-visualization and stereoscopic, our highly qualified team will bring your vision to life on time and on budget.

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Tangent Animation

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Animation production is demanding and requires innovative creative teams, brilliant production engineering and sophisticated business affairs to ensure top quality projects are delivered on time and on budget. Tangent Animation has offices in Toronto and Winnipeg and employs an adaptive production model to optimize talent and tax credits to deliver projects successfully, achieving both artistic and financial goals by providing a compelling solution to creative challenges.

Tangent Animation is proud to announce the launch of production on its latest animated feature, “Run Ozzy Run”, a co-production between Tangent Animation in Canada and Capitan Arana, Acradia Motion Pictures, and Pachacamac Films in Spain.

Slated for release in the second quarter of 2016, design and concept work has begun in Spain while the 3D production for the film has commenced in Tangent’s Production Offices in Winnipeg and Toronto.

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