Award winning content for the general public.
General Purpose Pictures is an independent Canadian television production company that produces and delivers high quality, critically acclaimed content across all platforms to major broadcasters worldwide. Headed by award-winning industry veteran Scott McNeil, the company is recognized internationally for the substantial inroads it has made in the genres of reality, factual and docu-soap TV, and for its signature General Purpose style. General Purpose Pictures has produced hundreds of hours of programming including The Heat With Mark McEwan for Food Network, Holmes on Homes and The Fix for HGTV Canada, Save Us From Our House and Making House for W Network, and Shotgun Reno for Slice.
Scott Clark McNeil — Producer / Director
A successful television producer and director with over 20 years experience in broadcast television production, Scott Clark McNeil is the owner of the independent Toronto–based production company General Purpose Pictures.
Scott is Executive Producer and Director for the premiere season of MAKING HOUSE for W Network, 2 seasons of THE ULTIMATE W EXPERT CHALLENGE for W Network and 26 episodes of THE FIX for HGTV and Fine Living. His other recent credits include 3 seasons as Executive Producer and Director of THE HEAT WITH MARK McEWAN, airing on Food Network and Fine Living, and 4 seasons as Executive Producer of SAVE US FROM OUR HOUSE! airing on W and American Life and Executive Producer for season one of SHOTGUN RENO for Slice Network.
Scott was the Creator, Executive Producer and Director for the runaway hit series for HGTV, HOLMES ON HOMES, in which he brought G–I Joe to life and broke the mold for reno TV.
Scott's unique brand of story telling keeps on pushing the envelope as he and the talented General Purpose team continue to amass new hit TV series in lifestyle and reality TV.
Josie Crimi — Head of Production
Josie Crimi began her career in commercial production working with Revolver and Rave Films. She then moved to the Factual Department at Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting to explore the documentary world and worked on co–productions with producers and broadcasters worldwide, including Discovery, History, and National Geographic. From there she made the move into independent production, working on domestic and international co–productions with a variety of Toronto–based production companies.
In July 2005 Josie joined the team at General Purpose where she has been able to feed her passion for food and design. She has produced numerous programs for General Purpose including the hit series for W — SAVE US FROM OUR HOUSE!, the Gemini–nominated THE HEAT WITH MARK McEWAN for Food, and THE FIX for HGTV.
Josie was promoted to Head of Production for General Purpose in 2007 and is thrilled to continue creating entertaining, informative and sexy reality- based lifestyle TV.
Blair Locke — Cinematographer
Blair Locke is one of major creative force behind the projects that General Purpose has taken on over the last 7 years. A classically trained cinematographer, his experience ranges from commercials, to features, to long format docs and lifestyle reality TV. A preference for challenging conditions and adventure has led Blair to develop a unique style that combines his formal training and his love of capturing stories as they happen.
Blair's tenacity for story translates into the projects to which he's drawn. He played an integral part in the creative style, look and in–your–face shooting of the hit renovation disaster show HOLMES ON HOMES. Blair shot 4 full seasons of HOH before moving on to 3 seasons of THE HEAT WITH MARK McEWAN for Food Network. Blair not only brought his signature style to the look of THE HEAT, but he was also Co–Creator of the series and Story Producer of the premiere season. Blair is also credited as Director of Photography of many episodes of SAVE US FROM OUR HOUSE! for W, and all 26 episodes of THE FIX for HGTV.
Blair's experiences have led him to believe that good adventures make great stories.
Tiina Soomet — VP Operations
Tiina Soomet joined General Purpose in 2007, bringing with her a wealth of senior management experience from the independent television production sector. A veteran of the film and television industry, Tiina's contribution to award-winning Canadian production has been significant and has encompassed all creative, technical and financial aspects of the business.
Tiina trained as an editor at the NFB in Montreal and has well over 1,000 credits on major networks worldwide. In 1978 she established her own post production facility in Toronto. Her clients included CBC, NFB, TVOntario and numerous independent production companies. She later branched out as a post production supervisor, producer, and supervising producer. As an independent producer Tiina worked closely with CHUM Television and Warner Bros Entertainment (Canada) for over 10 years.
Tiina brings her substantial professional journey to GPP as VP of Operations, managing all financial and structural aspects of the company.
Anne Sinclair — Corporate Accountant
Anne Sinclair loves the dynamic environment in which film and television production operates and has been specializing in accounting for this industry for over 15 years. During this time she has developed strong ties with the funding agencies and the financial sector of the industry.
Anne has been running her own accounting business since 2004. Prior to that she was Controller at Associated Producers for over 11 years.
In 2006 Anne was appointed Corporate Accountant of General Purpose. She set up and manages General Purpose's accounting systems and is responsible for financial reporting and tax credit filings for the company and its various productions.
