When Jennie Montford left The Players Film Company she began what she calls her ‘travels to find new employment.’ In those travels, around last August, the veteran producer had a ‘lovely two-hour meeting with [Partners’ head] Don McLean.’

Montford summarizes what was said: ‘We both decided that we had a mutual respect for each other – but there was nothing that fit what I was looking for at the time.

‘About two months later, perhaps three, Don phoned me back and said, ‘I’m in the mood for setting up a new company. Are you interested?’ Montford jumped at the opportunity.

‘We decided around the beginning of October that it was something we were going to start working on. [McLean] felt that with the trend towards longer and longer rosters, there were certainly Canadian directors that were getting lost on the shelves. And he also felt there were some junior directors at Partners’ who weren’t getting enough time in front of the customers.

‘Don’s idea was to set up a more boutique type of production company and keep the roster small. Keep it with people we know and respect and vice versa. And spend some time really developing directors’ careers and good relationships with customers,’ Montford says.

The result is Bedlam Films, and along with executive producer Evelyn Arthur and office manager Tim Corrigan, they are ready to go.

Currently, the commercial production house has ‘self-contained offices within Partners’,’ but this is not a permanent situation. ‘The idea is, once we’re up and running and bringing some work in, that we find space outside of this building,’ says Montford.

The addition of Arthur as executive producer brings a 27-year veteran line producer, with an agency background, into her first role as executive producer. Arthur is eager for the new challenge.

‘I’ve been around the bend. I’m a control freak so I never thought I could give up line producing. But I’ve seen a lot of it, and it’s time to do this. And I will still continue to do line producing,’ Arthur explains.

The Bedlam roster, which is ‘50% Canadian,’ includes directors Justin Klarenbeck (l.a.), Lisa Mann (Toronto), David Strupp (Toronto), Christina Hodnet (l.a./Toronto), Luis Kuri (Toronto/Mexico) and Adam Massey (l.a./Toronto).

The new company, which opened its doors on Jan. 8, had already received boards by Jan. 2. The influx has Montford and Arthur ‘moving a little faster than expected.’ •

-www.partnersfilm.com