Montreal-based Muse Entertainment has opened an office in Los Angeles, and tapped executive producer Joel Rice to head up the new division.

Rice becomes president of Muse Entertainment Enterprises USA, and will be responsible for developing projects such as MOWs, series, reality and family programming for American TV. Rice’s credits include the Hallmark Channel movie The Note, the family comedy Shredderman Rules, which aired on Nickelodeon, and the CBS drama About Sarah.

‘The time has come for us to have a strong presence in the vital L.A. market,’ commented Muse president Michael Prupas in a Wednesday release.

‘I am often approached by cable networks to oversee a project. Now I will be able to provide the financing as well,’ said Rice.

Muse’s recent productions include the feature comedy The Deal, starring Meg Ryan and William H. Macy, and the Ottawa-shot MOW Too Young to Marry.