June 11, 2026
Written by: Byron Drinkle
Every company has a story, but not every company is built on decades of hands-on industry experience, industry relationships, and a relentless commitment to doing things better.
Prime Gear wasn’t born overnight. It’s the result of years spent on set by the team of Korie Kessel, Nathan Holley, Byron Drinkle, Andy Watkins, and Mark Todorovic, in rental houses, behind cameras, and inside studios, solving real problems for real productions across Canada.
The Prime Gear Executive Team (from left): Mark Todorovic, Byron Drinkle, Korie Kessel and Nathan Holley.
“When we started Prime Gear, it was during a challenging transitional time, but we all knew we had built something really special across Canada, based on trust and solid long-term relationships. We were very moved and proud of the amazing support we received from both clients and vendors alike, who believed in us, and have been a big part in our current success.” says co‑founder Nathan Holley
The team behind Prime Gear brings decades of experience from production and rental companies that have supported Canada’s film, broadcast, and live production industries.
This extensive, hands-on foundation, spanning video, lighting, audio, film, theatre, and broadcast, set the stage for everything that followed.
The story begins in 2007, when Genesis Integration acquired the assets of Matrix Professional Video Systems, forming Genesis Matrix Video.
In 2008, the Genesis Matrix Pro Shop opened its doors just north of Vancouver’s Olympic Village. It was a modest space with a back-alley loading bay entrance, but it quickly became something more: a trusted hub for professionals seeking reliable gear, knowledgeable support, and real-world solutions.
Offering sales and rentals of broadcast and professional video and audio equipment, the Pro Shop brought together the team that would eventually evolve into something much bigger.
In April 2013, the team took a major step forward by separating daily operations from Genesis Integration and launching Fusion Cine as an independent subsidiary. No shared systems. No shared staff. Just a focused team building something of their own.
With independence came growth.
Fusion Cine relocated to a facility five times larger on Venables Street, expanding its capabilities and reach. In 2014, securing the Sony Service & Warranty Centre contract for Western Canada marked another milestone, accelerating growth and reinforcing Fusion Cine’s reputation as a trusted technical authority.
By 2018, Fusion Cine had expanded nationally, opening locations in Toronto and Montreal. What began as a small local Pro Shop had evolved into a coast-to-coast operation serving Canada’s film industry with sales, rentals, and AV integration services.
Despite its success and profitability, Fusion Cine was part of a larger organization. When its parent’s merger-and-acquisition firm chose to close Genesis Integration, the decision triggered a chain reaction, leaving Fusion Cine a casualty and forcing it to close its doors.
For many companies, that would have been the end of the story.
For this team, it was the beginning of a new chapter.
Out of that moment, the former executive team came together with a shared belief: the Canadian market still needed what they had built.
Prime Gear was created not only to replace what was lost but to evolve it.
This time, the difference was ownership.
Every conversation, every recommendation, and every solution is driven by people who have a personal stake in the outcome.
The same industry veterans that clients trusted for years are now the decision-makers leading the business, bringing a new level of accountability, responsiveness, and care to every project.
Prime Gear is powered by a team whose expertise spans every corner of the industry, with hundreds of years of combined expertise and a shared commitment to doing things right.
Korie Kessel brings over 20+ years of experience across live production, rentals, and studio design. Known for delivering under pressure, she’s trusted coast to coast for turnkey studio builds, technical consulting, and client-first execution.
Nathan Holley combines 20+ years of deep technical knowledge with a passion for cameras and image capture devices. With a background working on set and at large rental houses (Plus8 Digital, then Panavision), he specializes in high-end camera systems, lenses, and advanced DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) workflows that empower creative professionals.
Byron Drinkle has spent over 25 years immersed in film and television, building businesses and relationships across North America. His approach goes beyond simply supplying a box by positioning Prime Gear as a true solutions partner and delivering 360° value on every project.
Mark Todorovic is one of Vancouver’s most trusted post-production experts, with 25+ years designing workflows, post suites, streaming solutions, and data storage and archiving systems. His deep technical knowledge ensures clients have scalable, efficient solutions for ever-evolving industries.
Andy Watkins brings global experience in broadcast and systems integration, spanning the UK, Africa, and beyond. His strength lies in designing user-focused, end-to-end studio and broadcast solutions that perform in the real world, from corporate environments to Houses of Worship.
Carolyn Mansfield brings over 20 years of experience in accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management, supporting a wide range of businesses with accurate reporting, system implementation, and process optimization. She leads the finance team with a detail-oriented and process-driven approach, ensuring strong financial oversight, streamlined operations, and long-term stability for the organization.
Three years in, Prime Gear has grown into a national presence, supporting clients across Canada in film, television, content creation, corporate media, education, government, medical, and broadcast.
But what truly defines Prime Gear isn’t just the gear, it’s the approach:
Prime Gear hosted a small exclusive party with SONY & SHAPE after day one of the Cine Gear exhibits in Burbank, California.
Prime Gear continues to evolve alongside the many industries it serves, adapting to new technologies, new workflows, and new ways of creating and delivering content.
Built on experience and driven by ownership, the company isn’t just keeping pace; it’s helping lead the way.
Because for Prime Gear, this isn’t just business.
It’s personal.
At Prime Gear, it’s more than just sales for us. We work alongside you to help bring your projects to life, building lasting relationships based on trust, experience, and shared success.
