1972
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22-year-old Doug Dales along with friend, Brian Greenspan, both
graduates of film studies at York University, decide to purchase a
small Vancouver production equipment rental company. The two,
determined to begin careers in the Canadian film industry, use this
equipment to service commercials and independent productions shooting
in Toronto.
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1973
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Dales and Greenspan begin providing commercials and an increasing
number of producers with camera and lighting equipment. PS establishes
itself as a key competitor in the Canadian production services sector.
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1978
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PS reaches a deal to service the 2.2 million Canadian/U.K. co-production, "Power Play", starring high-profile talents, Peter O'Toole and Donald Pleasance.
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1983
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Now considered a major equipment supplier for indigenous Canadian productions, PS services “Next of Kin,” Atom Egoyan’s first feature film.
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1986
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PS, with partner Atlantis Films, constructs the 100,000-square-foot Cinevillage complex east of downtown Toronto. It houses the two companies plus two fully equipped soundstages and extra office space. The surrounding area subsequently becomes Toronto’s Studio District.
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1987
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PS Atlantic is founded in Halifax, N.S. The company begins working on projects of every size in all four Atlantic provinces and supplies major East Coast features such as “Margaret’s Museum”
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1988
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PS marks its first foray into foreign territory when it supplies “Bat 21,” a Vietnam war film shot in Borneo starring Gene Hackman and Danny Glover. About 18,000 pounds of equipment were provided for the project including a custom-made generator that fit within the hold of a wide-body 747.
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1992
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PS enters a period of high-growth, averaging 30% per year- a trend that continues for the next four years.
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1993
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PS acquires “Lightsource,” a rental competitor located in Toronto.
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1995
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PS buys the interest of Citadel Productions in PS Atlantic and takes full ownership of the operation.
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1995
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PS purchases Northern Lights and launches PS
Vancouver.
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1996
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PS supplies the television series “Sinbad” entirely shot in South Africa.
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1997
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PS goes live with “HITS,” the Hollywood
Inventory Tracking System, allowing the company to keep track of inventory in
multiple locations.
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1998
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Doug Dales wins the CSC’s Bill Hilson Award for outstanding service to the Canadian production industry. PS moves from 65 Heward Ave. to 80 Commissioners St. in Toronto, gaining 35,000 additional square-feet of warehouse space to house its ever-growing inventory.
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1999
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Doug Dales wins the CFTPA’s Jack Chisholm
Award. Douglas Barrett joins PS as
Executive Chairman. With nearly 30 years
of experience providing legal advice and strategic guidance to the Canadian
film and television industry, Barrett serves on the Boards of the Canadian Film
and Television Producers' Association, the Banff Television Festival and the
Feature Film Project of the Canadian Film Centre.
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2002
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PS signs a deal with Paramount
Production Services, a division of Paramount Pictures, for additional equipment
support in Toronto.
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2003
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PS supplies “The Chronicles of Riddick,” a huge breakthrough feature project starring Vin Diesel. PS also goes live with “Rental Works” in Toronto, the newest generation of inventory tracking technology designed for Universal Pictures and enhanced for PS to accommodate its multiple locations.
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2004
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PS acquires Panavision’s Toronto lighting and
grip business.
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2006
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PS officially acquires partner, Luminaire
Production Services Inc., establishing formal PS presence in Winnipeg and
Regina.
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2007
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PS Announces entry into Digital Cinematography!
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