Media Business Institute Productions and Spoken Song Productions have signed a co-development and production deal. This arrangement will help both companies to advance their development and production sales.
The first project on the roster is Sounding Our Drums, a research and development project that is supported by Canada Council for the Arts. The project will undertake research to explore the historical and cultural links between Indigenous and Black Canadians leading to a documentary feature. “Teaming up with Patricia Scarlett, the Founder of MBI is a dream come through. We have a 15+ year working relationship but are now formalizing it.
This is an exciting development for Spoken Song Productions as I’ll now be able to consistently develop and produce new content,” says Shirley Cheechoo, Founder of Spoken Song Productions and the Weengushk Film
Institute (WFI).
Another project included in the deal is Big Little Spirit, an Indigenous-themed Christmas movie that explores the world of the “little people”. A first draft script has been written and Diane De La Haye, Partner at MBI, will be commissioned to work on the second draft of Big Little Spirit.
“MBI Productions is thrilled to be working with Shirley who has so many “firsts” to her name: first Indigenous woman to act, direct, and star in a feature film, first Indigenous Chancellor of Brock University, and so many others. There’s much to learn from her and vice versa,” says Patricia Scarlett, Founder and Co-CEO of Media Business Institute.
In addition to the production projects, MBI is developing The Business of Film Program for WFI. The program will train students in business affairs, marketing, sales, and distribution. Ultimately, WFI will establish an in-house distribution arm for its productions and acquisitions.
About Media Business Institute (MBI) Productions
MBI Productions is the development and production arm of Media Business Institute, a company that delivers year-round hands-on training in the business areas of TV/Film and digital media.
About Spoken Song Productions Inc.
Spoken Song Production is a Manitoulin Island-based indie production company that develops and produces documentaries and feature films.