Mariah Inger
Producer
I have been an actor for over 30 years, working in Film/TV, Voice, Motion Caption, Radio and Theatre. With so many years in the industry, storytelling has become a huge part of who I am today. As a woman of colour, this industry hasn’t always been kind nor fair, but through perseverance and the belief that sharing stories with others would allow me to have a voice, I found success and empowerment.
I began mentoring emerging artists. I gained a clearer understanding of how a script is built, getting clarity on a story and a character’s arch. I learned how to lean into the main conflict or subject matter of a story, as well as how to allow moments of a character’s self discovery to land without rushing the outcome. Doors began to open for directing and producing opportunities. I regularly consult and mentor established artists in their own script creations and on many new works in development.
In an industry that has not favored BIPOC artists, I understood that I would need to take on a leadership role in the industry for my BIPOC community, to help solidify new works being created for and by BIPOC artists. Over 4 ½ years ago, Black Wealth Media was born. A company focused on Production & Distribution of AfroCentric content for Film/TV & Web. I helped build the company from scratch and am the Vice President, General manager, Producer and head Production Director. We developed a mentorship program for Black emerging Filmmakers based in Montreal, Qc., which will expand across the country and beyond within the next few years.
I am now in a position to be a voice for the silenced. I am a member of multiple boards, helping to implement better diversity policies throughout the industry.
Although many of my battles have been based on race issues, being a woman has it’s own set of challenges. I knew that if I was willing to work hard for my fellow BIPOC artists, I also had to create a space for my fellow women artists. Hence, Black Willow Films was created. Black Willow Films is a woman driven collaboration. Cha Cha da Vinci and I are determined to bring stories to the screen that promote and celebrate female stories. We are blessed to have the support of both men and women in this mission to make sure that women’s voices are also heard.
Neither battle is won, but I will continue to do my part and continue to work for real change.
Cha Cha da Vinci
Writer
As a singer-songwriter I have dipped my pen into many different coloured pots of ink. In NYC in the eighties, I collaborated with composer Stephen Gaboury and formed ForeFront Productions. We wrote, produced and performed the extraordinary cabaret event, Crystal 6. It was a one woman show with fantastical portrayals of strong magical women. I was signed to the record label 25 West where I co-wrote and recorded, For The Same Man, which shot up the Billboard charts with a bullet and has since established itself as an international cult dance hit. I joined forces with Zette, a renowned NY performance artist and formed the group, Andronyx. We held a residency at the club, Stillwende, writing, producing and performing eye popping, gender bending shows that changed weekly. We pushed sexual and political boundaries to the limit, breaking taboos and challenging convention.
In the nineties in Montreal I teamed up with Luc Fortin, Quebec’s top ‘gitane’ guitarist. We formed the self titled group, Cha Cha da Vinci and released a compilation of original songs that spoke to the joys of love, the power of passion and the need for unrelenting attention to social change.
After 30 years of storytelling through songwriting, singing and dancing, I started writing short stories and screenplays. Jack originated as a short story, first published in 2015 in the compilation, Creativity (Editions FrI). It developed into a screenplay with its’ essence unchanged but its’ trajectory expanded. Now as a short film it is an homage to the strength of the human spirit.
We have multiple projects in the works including a second short film about a woman faced with the dilemma of an unplanned pregnancy and her options to save her child. We also have a feature film script in development about a love affair taken too far.
Black Willow Films is a woman driven collaboration. Mariah Inger and I are determined to bring stories to the screen that promote and celebrate female stories. We are blessed to have the support of both men and women in this mission to make sure that women’s voices are heard.
Credits
Director
HENRI PARDO
Executive Producer
CHA CHA DA VINCI
Director of Photography
AZIZ ZOROMBA
1st Assistant to Director
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE
Sound
TIM CRANSHAW
Sound Mix
JOSHUA BENJAMIN HEMMING
Music Composer
STEPHEN GABOURY
Lighting
Multiple Crew Members - Natural Lighting Adjustments
Editing
AZIZ ZOROMBA
CYRIL LOCHON
Trailer
HUGUES LICTEVOUT
Art Department
GREGORY NOWAK
Head Carpenter
DAVID MERK
Wardrobe
CHA CHA DA VINCI
Makeup
MARIAH INGER
Special Effects Makeup
ALTHEA
Colourist
MAX MACHADO
Credits
MATT
Poster Graphics
KARIMA AFGHOUL
Special thanks to Dominique Morazain, Pierre Lamarche, Kate Busch, Leah Léger, and Perrie Njie
