Minds Eye Entertainment president and CEO Kevin DeWalt says the acquisition of Winnipeg’s Buffalo Gal Pictures in May ‘solidifies the company on the Prairies, and as we continue to grow and raise capital, who knows where we will be.

‘We clearly are a Prairie-based company, but with aspirations to be much more international in focus.’

Minds Eye retains majority shares in Buffalo Gal, whose president Phyllis Laing is a shareholder in the Minds Eye group of companies. Laing is now senior VP of corporate and business affairs at Minds Eye in addition to remaining president of Buffalo Gal’s offices in Manitoba, which provide access to the province’s tax programs and a vital link with its production community.

‘What interested me about pursuing discussions with Minds Eye was the fact that it is a Prairie company and a growing Prairie company,’ says Laing, adding that rather than taking Buffalo Gal productions out of Manitoba, Minds Eye’s larger capacity stands to bring more projects to shoot in the province.

‘[Minds Eye] gains a production arm [in Manitoba] and we gain a larger base operation and a distribution arm [Minds Eye International], which is very important to us.’

According to Laing, the vertical integration of Minds Eye, with post-production houses PostMaster Digital, with offices in Calgary and Regina, and Regina-based Talking Dog Studios, also adds to Buffalo Gal’s efficiency.

Talk of bringing the two companies together started back in 2001 when they began coproducing the first season of 2030CE. In the same year, Laing also worked with Minds Eye on the Patrick Swayze feature Without a Word. Laing says working together on these projects gave the companies a chance to see each other’s working styles and corporate cultures.

-www.buffalogalpictures.mb.ca

-www.mindseyepictures.com