Vancouver: The Los Angeles office of Toronto-based Fireworks Television moved up the evolutionary scale Aug. 1 when the one-person development bureau became a six-person, full-service production operation.

Fireworks Television u.s.a. already has three new projects making their way through the business affairs department and the first could be in production by next spring, says president Robb Dalton.

Previously, as head of program development at CBS Entertainment, Dalton oversaw the creation of such series as Pensacola: Wings of Gold, Martha Stewart and 18 Wheels of Justice, tnn’s first dramatic series and the project that introduced him to Fireworks.

In its new l.a. operations facility, Fireworks is in production with a second season of 22 one-hours of the Fugitive-inspired series about an 18-wheel truck driver. Dalton says the Toronto and l.a. Fireworks offices have about 11 series on the go, including La Femme Nikita (USA Networks), Caitlin’s Way (Nickelodeon), The 1,000 Deeds of Eddie McDowd (Nickelodeon), Andromeda (Tribune) and Queen of Swords (Paramount).

Dalton says Fireworks wanted to expand its presence in l.a. and expects that the l.a. office can eventually be larger than the Toronto head office run by ceo Jay Firestone. ‘Hollywood is still the centre of the universe when it comes to entertainment,’ concedes Dalton. ‘Fireworks wants to take advantage of the exploding world of cable syndicates and television networks.’

The roster of new series includes one based on a game franchise, another based on a big-screen movie franchise and a third with a major music star attached.

Dalton predicts the production slate could be us$75 million to us$100 million next year.

Fireworks Entertainment claimed independent production volume valued at $141 million and distribution revenue of $85 million for 1999 in Playback’s Independent Production report.

Joining Dalton as vp entertainment is Daniel Tibbets, previously a vp at Papazian Hirsch Entertainment.

Dalton says that while CanWest Global is a parent company, Firestone’s international distribution arm may place the projects with other broadcasters. *