Vancouver- and Toronto-based entertainment PR and digital marketing firm Jive Communications has opened a L.A. office, with co-founder and partner Lindsay Nahmiache moving stateside to head up the new outpost.

The new office will focus on assisting Canadian film and television companies who want to expand their presence in the U.S., including current Jive clients CineCoup, Buck Productions, Vortex Words + Pictures, the Vancouver International Film Festival, Brightlight Pictures and the Whistler Film Festival. Jive will also represent Canadian consumer brand clients stateside, and seek out new American entertainment and brand clients.

The agency, however, has already signed on some U.S.-based entertainment clients, including Los Angeles-based PCB Productions, headed by video game talent director Keith Arem. PCB Productions recently pacted with Bill Marks’ Vortex Words + Pictures to produce the upcoming action thriller feature Frost Road. The company is also doing the U.S. publicity for Arem’s upcoming feature, The Phoenix Incident.

By opening an office in L.A.,  Nahmiache says Jive is able to take advantage of “a great little niche” of Canadian entertainment companies looking to build their profile in the U.S. market. Some of Jive’s clients, such as Buck Productions, also expressed an interest in specifically working with a Canadian PR company to expand their presence across the border.

“[Buck Productions] was looking for their overall Canadian PR [agency], and they were looking to build their U.S. presence so it makes sense for them to work with a Canadian film who understands their values and what they’re up to here,” Nahmiache told Playback Daily. “We have U.S. staff, but the U.S. staff work with the Canadian staff to understand the [appropriate] messaging.”

Nahmiache said Jive also found American entertainment clients are particularly interested in the digitally integrated approach the company takes to PR. While Jive also does traditional publicity – such as pitching to publications for coverage – the company also has a dedicated digital team. That team’s remit includes social media promotion, including working with social media influencers, as well as coordinating digital ad buys which play into the overall narrative of the campaign.

Currently, the L.A. office has two full-time staff, including Nahmiache. She will travel between Jive’s Vancouver and LA. offices, with co-founder and partner Almira Bardai travelling between Toronto and Vancouver. The company is aiming to have four or five full-time staff based out of the L.A. office within six months, Nahmiache said.