ArtistDirect News
Nicolas Jacobi Launches Vancouver Studio Jacobi Productions, Eyes Neo-Noir Thriller and Espionage Feature
Nicolas Jacobi, a former record‑label executive and talent manager, announced the launch of Jacobi Productions in late 2023. The Vancouver‑based studio is already developing a neo‑noir thriller titled PARLOUR and a feature film about a covert intelligence operation known internally as Operation Domino, marking Jacobi’s complete shift from music to film production.
Jacobi’s journey to filmmaking began in 2008 when a music‑industry project diverted him from an early interest in film. He spent more than a decade in the music business, working as an A&R executive in Los Angeles and producing and directing music videos for the label he helped build. While in Los Angeles from 2017 to 2019, he maintained a presence at film festivals—a habit that foreshadowed his eventual pivot.
In 2021, Jacobi started building a network of film‑industry contacts and scouting material. By the end of 2023 he founded Jacobi Productions with his partner Zoya Jacobi, who serves as the company’s vice‑president and leads script evaluation. The studio’s first planned project was a television series set in late‑1980s Toronto, a concept Jacobi believed would attract streaming platforms seeking Canadian content. The series was shelved when the writers were not ready, freeing the studio to pursue other projects.
The next project on the slate is PARLOUR, a neo‑noir thriller written by James D. Brown and Craig Katayama. Jacobi described the film as “a stylized, character‑driven neo‑noir that blends tension with a hint of dark humor while exploring moral ambiguity and the cost of survival.” The title references Mary Howitt’s poem “The Spider and the Fly.” Production will take place in Vancouver, a decision Jacobi made after weighing creative and logistical factors. Filming is slated for later this year or early next, depending on cast availability.
Jacobi Productions also holds the life rights to a real covert operative involved in a decades‑old operation that recovered a significant cache of gold. The studio refers to the story as Operation Domino. Jacobi has not disclosed how the rights were secured but said the operation remains active in some form today. German investigative journalist Peter Müller, who first exposed the operation in a documentary, is co‑developing the screenplay. Jacobi said the project “sits at the intersection of power, secrecy, and consequence, elements that translate strongly to international audiences.” He added that the film will showcase intelligence tradecraft that has faded from public memory.
Beyond PARLOUR and Operation Domino, Jacobi Productions is negotiating additional scripts and quietly developing other projects that have not yet been announced. The studio’s strategy, according to Jacobi, is to focus on stories with an authentic angle and a clear commercial path, rather than repeating familiar studio formulas. His experience in the music industry, where he built relationships and waited for the right material, informs his approach to film development.
At present, Jacobi Productions is preparing to move forward with the two announced projects while continuing to seek new material. The studio’s early slate reflects a blend of genre work and real‑world intrigue, positioning it to appeal to both streaming platforms and theatrical distributors.
Jacobi’s journey to filmmaking began in 2008 when a music‑industry project diverted him from an early interest in film. He spent more than a decade in the music business, working as an A&R executive in Los Angeles and producing and directing music videos for the label he helped build. While in Los Angeles from 2017 to 2019, he maintained a presence at film festivals—a habit that foreshadowed his eventual pivot.
In 2021, Jacobi started building a network of film‑industry contacts and scouting material. By the end of 2023 he founded Jacobi Productions with his partner Zoya Jacobi, who serves as the company’s vice‑president and leads script evaluation. The studio’s first planned project was a television series set in late‑1980s Toronto, a concept Jacobi believed would attract streaming platforms seeking Canadian content. The series was shelved when the writers were not ready, freeing the studio to pursue other projects.
The next project on the slate is PARLOUR, a neo‑noir thriller written by James D. Brown and Craig Katayama. Jacobi described the film as “a stylized, character‑driven neo‑noir that blends tension with a hint of dark humor while exploring moral ambiguity and the cost of survival.” The title references Mary Howitt’s poem “The Spider and the Fly.” Production will take place in Vancouver, a decision Jacobi made after weighing creative and logistical factors. Filming is slated for later this year or early next, depending on cast availability.
Jacobi Productions also holds the life rights to a real covert operative involved in a decades‑old operation that recovered a significant cache of gold. The studio refers to the story as Operation Domino. Jacobi has not disclosed how the rights were secured but said the operation remains active in some form today. German investigative journalist Peter Müller, who first exposed the operation in a documentary, is co‑developing the screenplay. Jacobi said the project “sits at the intersection of power, secrecy, and consequence, elements that translate strongly to international audiences.” He added that the film will showcase intelligence tradecraft that has faded from public memory.
Beyond PARLOUR and Operation Domino, Jacobi Productions is negotiating additional scripts and quietly developing other projects that have not yet been announced. The studio’s strategy, according to Jacobi, is to focus on stories with an authentic angle and a clear commercial path, rather than repeating familiar studio formulas. His experience in the music industry, where he built relationships and waited for the right material, informs his approach to film development.
At present, Jacobi Productions is preparing to move forward with the two announced projects while continuing to seek new material. The studio’s early slate reflects a blend of genre work and real‑world intrigue, positioning it to appeal to both streaming platforms and theatrical distributors.