Bron Studios has launched The Realm, a new genre-focused, director-driven film label led by the company’s VP of development, Garrick Dion.

The label’s remit is to work with innovative scriptwriters and directors to produce films that are “half Blumhouse and half Drafthouse,” said Dion, referring to the American horror prodco Blumhouse and arthouse-focused Drafthouse.

Over the past decade, Dion has come across a number of genre films that he had hoped to put into production, however, the films didn’t fall into the wheelhouse of any of the companies he worked for over the years. He brought this to the attention of Bron Studios’ managing director Aaron L. Gilbert, who suggested the pair figure out a way of launching a genre-focused label within Bron Studios.

The label’s first project is Collared, which is currently slated for a one-month shoot starting in September. The suspense thriller, to be shot in Greater Vancouver, is a Bron-only production and will be directed by Alejandro Brugues (Juan of the Dead) and written by Chris Osbrink.

In the future the label may pursue a handful of copros, said Dion, but the majority of projects will be handled solely by Bron Studios. Any project brought to Bron Studios that has a solid genre angle will likely be produced under The Realm label.

The target budget for all films from the label is between $1 million to $5 million, with a focus on quality rather than quantity, Dion said. Overall, the label will likely produce between three and eight films a year.

“You can’t predict that you’ll get the review and the box office on an Insidious, but I think trusting in solid scripts and unique directors can get us something that can give us something that’s a cut above the rest. We feel like if we can make enough quality movies it will at least garner fans, a fan base and trust in The Realm brand,” Dion said.

At this time, there are no plans to hire any additional staff to accommodate the new label, which will be operated solely by Dion.

As well as Collared, supernatural drama Eden’s Gate, written by Patrick Doody and Chris Valenziano, and Parallel, a sci-fi penned by Scott Blaszak are currently in development with The Realm.