# Bright Sun Films

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**Bright Sun Films Ltd.** is a Canadian [film production company](/source/Film_production_company) known for its TV series' *Abandoned,* *Cancelled,* and *Bankrupt*, and its documentary, *[Closed for Storm](/source/Closed_for_Storm)*.

## History

The studio was founded by Jake Williams in 2012 as the [YouTube gaming channel](/source/YouTube_channel) Bright Sun Gaming. In 2014, Williams refocused the channel's content towards abandoned locations, causing him to later rebrand it to Bright Sun Films in 2016.[‡ 1]

In 2020, Williams announced and released his first documentary, *[Closed for Storm](/source/Closed_for_Storm)*, on November 7, 2020 during the [New Orleans Film Festival](/source/New_Orleans_Film_Festival).[1] The film focused on [Six Flags New Orleans](/source/Six_Flags_New_Orleans), an amusement park that has abandoned since its flooding during [Hurricane Katrina](/source/Hurricane_Katrina).[2][3] It was released on the streaming platforms [Tubi](/source/Tubi) and [VOD](/source/VOD).[4]

In March 2025, the studio partnered with White Lake Productions[5] to announce the documentary, *[Stolen Kingdom](/source/Stolen_Kingdom_(film))*, directed by Joshua Bailey, which was released during the [Florida Film Festival](/source/Florida_Film_Festival) on April 11, 2025.[6] The film covers the 2018 theft of Buzzy,[7] an animatronic from [Walt Disney World's Epcot](/source/Epcot) ride, [Cranium Command](/source/Cranium_Command).[8][9]

In 2026 or 2027, the studio is slated to release a documentary on the decline of American malls; It was filmed at the [Chesterfield Mall](/source/Chesterfield_Mall) in [Chesterfield](/source/Chesterfield,_Missouri), Missouri, which was chosen among a list of many malls that were being demolished at the time.[10][11]

## Shows

### *Abandoned*

Bright Sun Films is known for their show, *Abandoned*, which focuses on the topic of abandoned locations; they have covered notable places such as [Disney's Discovery Island](/source/Discovery_Island_(Bay_Lake)),[12][13] [Disney's River Country](/source/Disney's_River_Country),[14] [Vancouver's McBarge](/source/McBarge),[15][16] [Circuit City](/source/Circuit_City),[17] [Schlitterbahn Kansas City](/source/Schlitterbahn_Kansas_City),[18] [Kmart](/source/Kmart),[19] [Memphis Pyramid](/source/Memphis_Pyramid),[20] [Geauga Lake](/source/Geauga_Lake),[21] [Target Canada](/source/Target_Canada),[22] [Zellers](/source/Zellers),[23] and [Sears](/source/Sears)/[Sears Canada](/source/Sears_Canada).[24][25]

"It's the unprecedented and truly surreal sight of seeing something that had been enjoyed by so many people just decay away." - A statement Williams made to [Iowa Public Radio](/source/Iowa_Public_Radio) in 2022.[26][14]

### *Cancelled*

The studio also created the show, *Cancelled*, which covers cancelled and failed projects such as [Titanic II](/source/Titanic_II),[27] [Carnival's Project Pinnacle](/source/Carnival_Cruise_Line#2000s:_Early_modern_era),[28] [The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien](/source/The_Tonight_Show_with_Conan_O'Brien),[29] [Hard Rock Hotel New Orleans](/source/Hard_Rock_Hotel_New_Orleans),[30] and [Independence Day 3](/source/Independence_Day:_Resurgence#Future).[31]

### *Bankrupt*

The studio also created the show, *Bankrupt*, which takes a deeper look at the bankruptcies of notable companies such as [Pan Am](/source/Pan_Am),[32] [Kodak](/source/Kodak),[33] [Six Flags](/source/Six_Flags),[34] [Hudson's Bay Company](/source/Hudson's_Bay_Company),[35] and [Sbarro](/source/Sbarro).[36]

### *Explore*

Another series created by the studio is *Explore* (formerly known as *Abandoned Adventures* and *Abandoned Explorations*).[‡ 1] The show focuses on [urbex](/source/Urban_exploration), in which Williams documents himself exploring abandoned locations. Places that were covered include sites such as a former [Days Inn](/source/Days_Inn), an abandoned a [power center](/source/Power_center_(retail)), [City View Center](/source/City_View_Center), with [Walmart](/source/Walmart) as an anchor,[37] the [SS United States](/source/SS_United_States),[38][39] the [Hamilton City Centre](/source/Hamilton_City_Centre)[40] shopping mall, Parkwood Mall in [Wilson, North Carolina](/source/Wilson,_North_Carolina),[41] and Pines Mall in [Pine Bluff, Arkansas](/source/Pine_Bluff,_Arkansas).[42]

## Awards

Bright Sun Films was nominated for Best YouTube Ensemble during the [11th Annual Shorty Awards](/source/11th_Shorty_Awards) in 2019.[43]

## See also

- [Defunctland](/source/Defunctland)
- *[Closed for Storm](/source/Closed_for_Storm)*

## References

1. ["#NOFF2020"](https://noff2020.eventive.org/films/5f497c13ab220400855c7e9d). *noff2020.eventive.org*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. MacCash, Doug (2020-05-15). ["Rise and fall of Six Flags New Orleans is topic of documentary by 22-year-old YouTube star"](https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/rise-and-fall-of-six-flags-new-orleans-is-topic-of-documentary-by-22-year/article_4b05ae46-96ce-11ea-95e2-ef1b943779a8.html). *NOLA.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. Billington, Alex (2020-05-19). ["Explore an Abandoned Theme Park in 'Closed For Storm' Documentary | FirstShowing.net"](https://www.firstshowing.net/2020/explore-an-abandoned-theme-park-in-closed-for-storm-documentary/). *www.firstshowing.net*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. Shaw, Gabbi. ["Haunting photos show a Six Flags in New Orleans that has been abandoned for almost 2 decades"](https://www.businessinsider.com/abandoned-six-flags-new-orleans-2018-1). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. ["Joshua Bailey's Doc Feature "Stolen Kingdom" Announced As Opening Night Film at the 2025 Florida Film Festival"](https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/joshua-baileys-doc-feature-stolen-kingdom-announced-as-opening-night-film-at-the-2025-florida-film-festival/). *Celluloid Junkie*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. ["2025 Florida Film Festival"](https://2025floridafilmfestival.eventive.org/films/67bf4d2a8761f8a8a1a2ac67). *2025floridafilmfestival.eventive.org*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. Shahan, Lauren (2025-02-14). ["Trailer Released for 'Stolen Kingdom' Documentary About Buzzy Theft and Urban Explorers at Walt Disney World"](https://wdwnt.com/2025/02/trailer-released-for-stolen-kingdom-documentary-about-urban-explorers-at-walt-disney-world-including-buzzy-theft/). *WDW News Today*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. Meier, Cameron (2025-04-09). ["Disney documentary 'Stolen Kingdom' plumbs the weird psychology of theme park explorers"](https://www.orlandoweekly.com/movies-tv/disney-documentary-stolen-kingdom-plumbs-the-weird-psychology-of-theme-park-explorers-39254553/). *Orlando Weekly*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. Osorio, Mateo (2024-12-30). ["'Stolen Kingdom' documentary about Epcot's Buzzy animatronic premieres in 2025"](https://attractionsmagazine.com/stolen-kingdom-documentary-buzzy-animatronic-epcot/). *Attractions Magazine*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. BROWN, LAURA (2024-11-04). ["Chesterfield Mall is the 'every mall,' says documentary crew"](https://www.westnewsmagazine.com/lifestyles/chesterfield-mall-is-the-every-mall-says-documentary-crew/article_6beac6d0-9aef-11ef-8576-530312dd315f.html). *West Newsmagazine*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. ["Filmmakers document Chesterfield Mall for film about death of the American mall"](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2024/09/03/filmmakers-document-chesterfield-mall-for-film-about-death-of-the-american-mall-). *spectrumlocalnews.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Olito, Frank. ["Disney World mysteriously closed an island 20 years ago and left it in ruins. Take a look inside."](https://www.businessinsider.com/look-inside-disney-worlds-abandoned-discovery-island-2019-2). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. ["Man Camped on Disney World Island at Shuttered Park, Police Say"](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/disney-world-discovery-island-man-arrested.html). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200603031055/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/us/disney-world-discovery-island-man-arrested.html) 2020-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-04-18.

1. Benestante, Brigit (2022-08-01). ["What we've lost — and what we've found — in abandoned theme parks"](https://www.npr.org/2022/08/01/1110812277/theme-parks-astroworld-disney). *NPR*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Danyluk, Adam (2021-10-13). ["This new doc gives an update on the iconic McBarge, Vancouver's floating McDonald's (VIDEO)"](https://curiocity.com/this-new-doc-gives-an-update-on-the-iconic-mcbarge-vancouvers-floating-mcdonalds-video/). *Curiocity*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Kronbauer, Bob (2021-10-15). ["Opinion: The McBarge belongs on the bottom of the ocean"](https://www.nsnews.com/opinion/mcdonalds-mcbarge-vancouver-2021-4509845). *North Shore News*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. James, Andrea (2016-10-04). ["Why Circuit City abandoned its 700 stores"](https://boingboing.net/2016/10/04/why-circuit-city-abandoned-its.html). *Boing Boing*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Holliday, Doc HollidayDoc (2024-09-01). ["The Now Abandoned Missouri Waterpark That Never Should Have Been"](https://khmoradio.com/kansas-city-missouri-waterpark-tragedy/). *1070 KHMO-AM*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Burlingame, Russ (2022-04-12). ["Former Kmart Shoppers Mourn That the Once Retail Giant Only Has Three Stores Left"](https://comicbook.com/irl/news/former-kmart-shoppers-mourn-that-the-once-retail-giant-only-has-three-stores-left/). *ComicBook.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. Bright Sun Films (2021-03-05). [*Abandoned - Memphis Pyramid*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEB-YG2iiYA). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Wiley, Chelsea (2020-03-05). ["This Video Of The Abandoned Ruins At Geauga Lake Will Hit You Right In The Feels"](https://www.columbusnavigator.com/geauga-lake-abandoned/). *Columbus Navigator*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Bright Sun Films (2016-05-06). [*Abandoned - Target Canada*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohXYR69UhxI). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2020-07-17). [*Abandoned - Zellers*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxWYZAuMu70). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2019-12-27). [*Abandoned - Sears*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG4z89WH0vs). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2017-11-17). [*Abandoned - Sears Canada*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT6KRNu-MBs). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Benestante, Brigit (2022-08-01). ["What we've lost — and what we've found — in abandoned theme parks"](https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2022-08-01/what-weve-lost-and-what-weve-found-in-abandoned-theme-parks). *Iowa Public Radio*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Engineering, Interesting. ["The Titanic II? Here's why nearly every attempt to build it utterly failed"](https://interestingengineering.com/videos/titanic-ii-why-nearly-every-attempt-failed). *Interesting Engineering*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. ["Revisiting Carnival's Forgotten Pinnacle Project"](https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/revisiting-carnivals-forgotten-pinnacle-project). *TravelPulse*. Retrieved 2025-11-08.

1. Bright Sun Films (2017-08-25). [*Cancelled - The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OE-rmwxhpI). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2023-11-17). [*Cancelled - Hard Rock Hotel Collapse New Orleans*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlpUtckXz4Q). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2019-06-14). [*Cancelled - Independence Day 3*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heCQFnSb1K0). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2018-04-13). [*Bankrupt - Pan Am*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZucyCLraEIE). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2020-07-03). [*Bankrupt - Kodak*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUQXLPNV-kU). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2023-12-29). [*Bankrupt - Six Flags*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rTTImBgz10). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2025-05-23). [*Bankrupt - Hudson's Bay Company*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYIMDip5GrY). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2026-04-17). [*Bankrupt - Sbarro*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmTbKthO84E). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. ["Urban Explorers Give Modern Ruins a Second Life (Published 2020)"](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/27/us/abandoned-properties-to-explore.html). 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. ["Bright Sun Films: Exploring the SS United States"](https://www.ssusc.org/news/bright-sun-films-exploring-the-ss-united-states). *SS United States Conservancy*. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. Cloud, Brady (2023-07-05). ["Brady Cloud: "I Love The Big U!""](https://www.ssusc.org/news/2023/07/06/brady-cloud-model-membership-supporter). *SS United States Conservancy*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

1. Bright Sun Films (2024-03-08). [*Incredible ABANDONED Mall Frozen In 1990*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV_c_c_RZdE). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2022-03-25). [*Modern ABANDONED Mall With Terrifying Sears*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuveHs1QLjc). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Bright Sun Films (2023-03-10). [*Notorious ABANDONED Pines Mall Closed For 2 Years*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49DYfa-DPyA). Retrieved 2026-05-19. – via YouTube.

1. Staff, T. H. R. (2019-05-05). ["Michelle Obama, Noah Centineo, Marie Kondo, John Mulaney Win 2019 Shorty Awards"](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-shorty-award-winners-list-full-1206922/). *The Hollywood Reporter*. Retrieved 2025-11-11.

## External links

- [Official website](http://shopbrightsunfilms.com)

1. Bright Sun Films (2016-02-28). [*THE CHANGE*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2goYOnm_n0). Retrieved 2025-09-27. – via YouTube.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bright Sun Films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Sun_Films) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_Sun_Films?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.