Canadian producer/screenwriter Gino McKoy gained experience by crossing his passion for music with film. This resulted in his first feature film script Little Mizz Innocent (LMI). McKoy positioned himself in Los Angeles to pursue his passion in the music industry, which in turn pushed his career to screen write. LMI has been approved by Telefilm and is joining the French and China market to be completed. The crossover of music and film is one way McKoy is gaining success in the film industry.
I got the opportunity to attend the press conference in Cannes for Little Mizz Innocent and met director Xavier Gens, french director of Hitman who will be directing the film, as well as McKoy’s team of supporters. In attendance were label founders and former banking executives Hudson and Lynda McKoy, Gino Mckoy’s parents from Canada, who control the film with Goldove Entertainment, a film and music label. This family affair is another way McKoy has gained support and recognition as a Canadian filmmaker. It also brings light to the supporters that may be overseen in many projects.
When I first met the McKoy’s I instantly saw the support of family. During the press conference Hudson McKoy was proud to show me Gino’s music that will be featured in the film with great pride.
My purpose in Cannes is to further the project Made In Canada by gathering information on the the efforts Canadian filmmakers are doing to find success. Through this project I often see Canadian filmmakers reach out to Canadian sources for support, which overall improves the Canadian filmmaking market. McKoy has taken a different route and placed himself in the hub of the music industry to grow Goldove Entertainment into a music AND film label. I’m learning that sometimes in this business you have to seek means outside of what you originally had planned to begin your career. Sometimes the limitations of the Canadian market do not best suite one’s project and therefore make filmmakers seek another way of being exposed. In this case McKoy has created a co-production with France, Canada and China.
The attention Little Mizz Innocent has gained, a $45-55 million dollar project, shows how McKoy’s crossover of music and film may be another way to gain exposure in the film industry, all while involving Canada as a co-leader for his project.
HERE IS MY EXCLUSIVE VIDEO WITH GINO MCKOY: