2021 was a remarkable year for MPI Original Films. MPI completed principal photography on 10 projects, developed our future MPI Original Films slate with 10 new projects, and completed the scripts on two narrative feature films which are now in pre-production and will be filmed in 2022. 

This year we filmed the following:

• Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game—a full-length narrative feature telling the true story of Roger Sharpe, the GQ journalist and real-life pinball wizard who in 1976 single-handedly overturned New York City’s 35-year ban on pinball machines. (Mike Faist, the lead of MPI’s Pinball, was recently part of a group of actors receiving a Critics Choice Awards nomination for Best Acting Ensemble in recognition of their work in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story);
• Melons—a comedic short film about a jolly, but meek, grocery store manager who learns to stand up for himself after a misunderstanding brands him as public enemy #1; 
• Infraction—a narrative short making known the true story of a wrongfully-incarcerated inmate and a prison guard who form an unlikely friendship with life-altering ramifications;
• Unloaded—a fast-paced comedic short revolving around a young man named Jack, who before he can propose to his girlfriend, must stop her little sister from disclosing a deal-breaking secret—he owns a gun; 
• Project Home: 3D Printing the Future—a feature-length documentary showing how the power of market-based innovation (3D-printed houses) can provide cost-effective solutions to homelessness and the lack of affordable housing, both in the US and abroad; and 
• We’re Doing Good—a five-episode comedy series featuring Nora and Miles, a progressive millennial couple who aspire to “do good” in the world. However, all of their attempts at activism fail spectacularly and hilariously at every turn.

While busy filming the projects above, MPI also completed the scripts on two MPI Original features, which we are now casting and planning to shoot in 2022:

• Freedom Hair—The true story of Melony Armstrong, a mother who works at a shelter for battered women and decides to start a natural hair braiding business to achieve financial independence for herself and others. To do so she must overcome unexpected obstacles imposed by a powerful cartel and the state of Mississippi.
• The Kemba Smith Story—Based on the true story of Kemba Smith, this narrative feature tells the story of a college student who falls in love with a man, only to learn he is a drug kingpin who leads her down a path of abuse and manipulation, placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs,” and ultimately landing her in federal prison.

In addition, MPI is actively developing several new projects like One Second After—a limited series based on the William Forstchen books, alerting audiences to the very real possibility of an electromagnetic pulse attack and bringing up issues of individual rights and self-government. Our attachment of J. Michael Straczynski to write the pilot was recently covered by Deadline.

2022 promises to be even more impactful. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to sign up to receive MPI’s bimonthly newsletter to stay up to date on our progress in the new year.