- Mykal Cushnie
-
Mykal Cushnie Born Michael Edward Cushnie
December 28, 1980
Kingston, JamaicaNationality Jamaican Education Wolmer's Schools for Boy's, Kingston Technical Alma mater University of Technology, New York Film Academy Occupation Film director, cinematography, editor Years active 2003–present Michael Edward Cushnie (born December 28, 1980) also known as Mykal, is a Jamaican film director, film producer and editor.[1] He is most recognized for his work on Magnum kings and Queens of Dancehall- the Jamaican dancehall version of American Idol -, The Wray & Nephew Contender - The Jamaican version of Mark Burnett's original boxing reality series The Contender,[2] and Mission Catwalk[3]- The Jamaican version of Project Runway. He is the CEO of DSE Media and founder of Edward Cushnie Films.[4]
Contents
Early life
Michael Cushnie was born on December 28, 1980 at The University of the West Indies Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, to mother Beverline and father Albert, and is the youngest of three children.[5] He attended the Wolmer's Schools for Boys[6] and went on to pursue a course in engineering at the University of Technology, Jamaica before dropping out to pursue his passion of story telling[7] and television[8]
Career
After dropping out of University, Mykal interned at Jamaican cable station Hype Tv where he tried his at hand at Directing, filming, and editing.[9] This piqued his interest as a director, which led to him directing a few music videos Jamaican reggae-dancehall acts such as Capleton, Richie Spice, & I-Wayne under the tutelage of established directors Delano Forbes- of Phase Three[10]-and Asha Michael.[11] In pursuit of becoming certified, Michael enrolled at The New York Film Academy where he studied film and script writing[12] In 2007, Mykal returned to Hype Tv for a short stint, before deciding to form his own company DSE Media, an acronym for Direct. Shoot. Edit.[13]
DSE media, is considered one of Jamaica's leading post production houses[14] and was founded with the vision of creating a complete production facility, where an idea could be developed from start to finish; hence the break down Direct. Shoot. Edit. DSE Media produces and offering post production services for commercials, music videos, reality TV series, short films and documentaries. One of the companies most recognizable commercials-behind the scenes features-, was for the Jamaica Tourist Board's Project Gold, which features Usain Bolt in a series of Jamaican advertisements.[15] Under the DSE Media banner, Mykal also founded Edward Cushnie Films, which is intended to develop, expose and train youths in post production and filming.[16]
Film
In 2007, Mykal would get his break working on two Jamaican movie projects for FireFly Films. The first Film being Betta Mus Come, Mykal was a camera operator under the direction of Jamaican film director Storm Saulter[17] and for the second film The Candy Shop he retained the roll of assistant director.[18]
Tv Series
Mykal's passion for telling stories would pay off, when he (DSE Media) partnered with College Lifestyle Magazine to create and produce the College Lifestyle TV series.[19] This would lead to DSE media being hired for post production services for Barbadian international model and BET host, Leah Marville's reality series Passport 246.[20] However, it would be Michael's work with Irish-bon, Jamaican Producer Mark Kenny, that would establish DSE Media- and Mykal- as one of Jamaica's premiere post production facilities. Mykal's work on reality series The Wray & Nephew Contender and Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall[21][22] would resonate throughout the industry after both shows shot to local popularity.[23] In 2011, Michael would offer his creative direction and post production services to the Jamaican reality series Mission Catwalk which was fashioned from Project Runway[24]
In 2010, in partnership with Jamaica producer/model Kibwe McGann,[25] Mykal would direct and share executive producer responsibilities on BET-Centric's lifestyle series SPLASH![26] which in 2011 was commissioned to produce a second season.[27]
Documentaries
In 2009 Mykal was invited by Kimala bennett to supervise post production on her social documentary Combing through the Roots: Politics of black hair in Jamaica.[28][29] In the same year, Guyanese attorney and film director Dr Claimont Chung would chose DSE Media and Michael to bring to life "W.A.R. stories". August 14, 2011. http://www.rootsculturemedia.com/presskit.html. Retrieved August 14, 2011., a documentary on the life of world renowned, historian, author and activist Walter Rodney.[30][31] The documentary was screened at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and at the Reggae Film Festival in the later 2009 and by January 2010[32] the documentary debuted in Ney York[33] and in February at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Africa.[34]
Music Videos
Mykal first started music videos while working at Hype Tv. While there he worked alongside established Jamaican directors such a Ras Kassa,Ras tingle, Jay Will and Kimala Bennett.[35] Since branching out to open DSE Media, Mykal has worked on video projects for some of Reggae-Dancehall's biggest acts such as: Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Etana, I Wayne, Busy Signal, Jah Cure, Sean Paul, Tami Chynn and Floyd West.[36][37] Mykal's most successful videos include the Ras Kassa's 'Tic Toc' by Busy Signal/VP Records nominated video of the year,[38] and The Matrimoney Movie video, feat Sean Paul, Tami Chynn, Lady Saw, Fambo, DJ liquid, Tifa & Wayne Marshall, considered to be the new standard by which Jamaican music medley's are judged[39]
References
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/Act-1--Take-8----On-Love_8349106
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/MJK-Productions-sets-new-height-for-local-TV--boxing_8377142
- ^ http://www.cfstyle.com/?p=13625
- ^ http://www.dsecreative.com/main/bio.html
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/My-Kingston---Mykal-Cushnie_8943221
- ^ http://paracletus.0catch.com/wbs78.htm
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/My-Kingston---Mykal-Cushnie_8943221
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20050912/business/business1.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://inkwellsurf.org/?p=980
- ^ http://inkwellsurf.org/?p=980
- ^ http://www.dsecreative.com/main/bio.html
- ^ http://www.yardedge.net/interviews/yardedge-talks-to-storm-saulter-about-better-mus-come
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://www.cfstyle.com/?p=13625
- ^ http://butterfly-productions.org/2010/11/20/leah-marville-presents-passport-246/
- ^ http://www.redcarpetshelley.com/component/content/article/495?format=pdf
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/MJK-Productions-sets-new-height-for-local-TV--boxing_8377142
- ^ http://www.cfstyle.com/?p=13460
- ^ http://www.jamyahso.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&Itemid=29&id=103:kibwe-mcgann
- ^ http://wunmagazine.com/2010/04/splashing-into-centric/
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/My-Kingston---Mykal-Cushnie_8943221
- ^ http://myspot.mona.uwi.edu/proffice/uwinotebook/entry/3376
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://www.rootsculturemedia.com/presskit.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://www.shadowandact.com/?p=15532
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100502/ent/ent6.html
- ^ http://www.dsecreative.com/main/ework.html
- ^ http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mykal+cushnie+music+videos&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=mykal+cushnie+music+videos&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivnso&source=lnms&tbm=vid&ei=tWNHToydAca9tgfs_PTvBQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&ved=0CA0Q_AUoAg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=436d4cde20c35c11&biw=1152&bih=747
- ^ http://www.frequency.com/topic/ras+kassa
- ^ http://mamachel.com/2011/07/on-my-radar-matrimoney-riddim-medley-starring-wayne-marshall-lady-saw-zj-liquidtifa-chico-mr-g-sean-paul-fambo/
External links
Categories:- 1980 births
- Living people
- Film directors
- Jamaican people
- Jamaican film directors
- People from Kingston, Jamaica
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