Mike Fleming

BREAKING: Emmett/Furla Films, which has become an increasingly prolific backer of mid-budget feature films, has launched a TV production division. It kicks off with Rescue 3, a series set against the beautiful backdrop of Southern California’s world-famous beaches. Created by Gregory J. Bonann and Tai Collins of Tower 18 Productions, Rescue 3 is a one-hour action-adventure drama. Emmett/Furla principal Randall Emmett said the company, in conjunction with Envision Entertainment, will fund a full season’s worth of shows, with 22 episodes ready to air in prime time for fall, 2013.

The logline: Rescue 3 is an elite multi-agency task force in South California that encompasses lifeguard, firefighter and Coast Guard agencies. Each episode will center on big-action life-saving rescues involving all 3 services. Bonann, who exec produced Baywatch and is a 43-year vet of the L.A. County Firefighter & Lifeguard departments,  will be exec producer. Jim & John Thomas (Predator) will write alongside Collins. Casting will begin shortly.

Emmett and partner George Furla said that the transition into TV production is a logical next step for the 14-year old company. “We always knew we’d branch into TV, but we wanted to make sure the timing was right,” they said in a statement. “We applied the same financing & strategy principles we learned from making films to TV production, allowing us to greenlight this production.”

EFF and Envision Entertainment recently completed another round of funding that adds $275 million from equity raised from both EFF and Envision Entertainment equity partners. In September of 2011, Emmett/Furla and Envision Entertainment’s Stepan Martirosyan and Remington Chase established a $250 million revolving equity and debt fund to finance a slate of high-end, star-driven commercial feature films in collaboration with a variety of production & distribution partners. In the last 11 months, Emmett/Furla became one of the highest producing companies with over 8 films in production and 4 highly anticipated films End of Watch, Lay The Favorite, Alex Cross, Broken City to be released in the next few months. The company financed over $300 million in movie production since 2011 and Emmett / Furla is producing the $85 million film 2 Guns with Universal Pictures, starring Mark Wahlberg & Denzel Washington. Titles in pre-production include Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg directed by Peter Berg and Motor City starring Gerard Butler and directed by Albert Hughes, both slated to begin filming September 20th. Most recently, Emmett / Furla wrapped production on The Tomb, Empire State, Frozen Ground and Fire with Fire.