Bron invests in Epic Story

The investment arm of North American firm Bron Media has taken a minority stake in Epic Story Media (ESM), the prodco set up by former DHX Media senior VP Ken Faier.

Ken Faier

Veteran children’s TV executive Faier founded ESM last year after leaving DHX, which acquired Nerd Corps Entertainment, where Faier served as president, in 2014.

Bron Ventures has invested an undisclosed amount in ESM, giving it a place on the company’s board and allowing it to “further invest in high-end children’s IP,” ESM said.

Based in Vancouver, LA, New York and Toronto, Bron Media operates subsidiaries Bron Studios, Bron Creative and Bron Animation, in addition to Bron Ventures.

Bron has been behind films such as The Front Runner, Fences, Tully, Leave No Trace and The Birth of a Nation since being launched in 2010 by Aaron L Gilbert and Brenda Gilbert.

Bron Ventures also has strategic investments and partnerships with LA-based companies Media Res and Blackhand Media, as well as New York-based Animal Kingdom.

“The investment provides us further capital to continue to make significant investments in creator-driven kids’ franchises,” said Faier. “As a business, Bron is renowned for backing companies and people with a vision for growth through IP. Building kids’ franchises takes great creators, deep development, astute business acumen and talented brand management. Bron understands this and I am pleased to have them as long-term partners.”

ESM, which said it will remain an independent company, will launch two properties at Mipcom next week. Haley & the Hero Heart was created by Kevin Mowrer of Mowrer Meta Story, while Dolph N Fince comes from Todd Kaufman and Mark Thornton of Neptoon Studios.