The Hurt Locker produces eyes TV push

The Hurt Locker producer Voltage Pictures is raising private equity funds as it looks to expand its television output.

The company, run by Nicolas Chartier, produced Steven Seagal-fronted action series True Justice, which was an international hit before being picked up in the United States by cable network Reelz Channel.

Chartier told TBI that it is gearing up to launch more TV series and plans to produce up to three a year. “We’re raising [private equity] money to try and do more television projects,” he said.

However, he will eschew the traditional network model and likely produce series straight to 13 episodes before shopping for a broadcaster. “We like the model of having a star attached and don’t like it when you have a group of unknown actors and have to go through the pilot process and the LA Screenings. I like doing straight to 13 episodes; I’m a little impatient,” he added.

Chartier said that he is also in talks to persuade some of the A-list directors that he has worked with including The Hurt Locker’s Kathryn Bigelow and Night of the Living Dead’s George A. Romero to develop series for the small screen.