Great American Media CEO Bill Abbott has announced a new collaboration with Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning producer Robert Halmi and his company, Great Point Studios. The partnership will focus on producing high-quality, original films rooted in family values, designed for audiences seeking uplifting and meaningful entertainment.
The agreement includes more than twenty films and original series to be produced by Great American Media at Great Point Studios Buffalo over the next two years. This initiative will expand domestic film production while creating jobs in casting, crew, and creative roles across Western New York. Together, Abbott and Halmi are building a foundation for new American storytelling that celebrates heart, hope, and community.
Abbott and Halmi previously helped shape the modern family film genre through their leadership at Hallmark, where Halmi served as founder and Abbott as President & CEO for more than a decade. “This partnership is about raising the bar,” said Abbott. “We are committed to producing content that not only entertains but uplifts. We want to make these films here in the U.S. with people who share our passion for authentic, values-driven storytelling.”
“I’m thrilled to reunite with Bill Abbott and support the incredible work he’s doing at Great American Media,” said Halmi. “This partnership reflects our shared vision, and we’re proud to welcome these productions to our campuses.”
The first project in this new partnership is A Christmas Spark starring Mario Lopez, filmed earlier this summer at Great Point Studios Buffalo. “It has been a joy to produce and star in A Christmas Spark, which premieres during the 5th Anniversary Edition of Great American Christmas this season,” said Lopez. “The talent, crew, and locations in Buffalo are top notch. This film gave me a way to honor the heroism of firefighters and tell a story that reflects their courage.”