Veteran Canadian comedian/actor Dave Thomas has expanded his independent film and television production company Maple Palm Productions with offices in l.a. and Toronto.

Newly on board in l.a. is Bill Bromiley, who leaves Roger Corman’s Concorde/New Horizons to become president of Maple Palm. In addition, Jonathan Josell has been named vp of production while David Baxter will serve as the new company’s vp of development.

Bob Shortly will remain in Maple Palm’s Canadian office and continue as cfo, overseeing all financial aspects of the company.

The company plans to produce two to three features and one telefilm per year. The features will be primarily coproductions and will be smaller independent films, says Bromiley.

First up on Maple Palm’s slate is Ambushed, a thriller directed by Ernest Dickerson (Juice) currently shooting in Wilmington, North Carolina. Also in development is Running With Scissors, an urban comedy scheduled to shoot in January 1998; Just A Couple Of Dicks, a comedy written by Ian Thomas and Rick Green produced in conjunction with PolyGram Canada and set to start in spring of 1998 in Toronto; and The McKenzie Brothers Sequel, written, directed and starring Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, set to shoot in Toronto during summer ’98.

Mike Short’s screenplay The Wild Guys is in development with mvp and Telefilm Canada on board.