Mykal Cushnie

In 2007, Cushnie worked on two Jamaican movie projects for FireFly Films. The first was Betta Mus Come,[11] where Cushnie was a camera operator under the direction of Jamaican film director Storm Saulter,[12] and for the second film Candy Shop,[13] where he retained the role of assistant director.[7]

His passion for telling stories would pay off, when DSE Media partnered with College Lifestyle magazine to create and produce the College Lifestyle TV series.[3] 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.[14] However, it would be Cushnie's work with the Irish-born, Jamaican producer Mark Kenny, that would establish DSE Media, and Cushnie, as one of Jamaica's premiere post production facilities. Cushnie's work on reality series The Wray & Nephew Contender and Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall,[7][15] resonated throughout the industry after both shows shot to local popularity.[2] In 2011, Cushnie used his creative direction and post production services on the Jamaican reality series Mission Catwalk, which was fashioned from Project Runway.[16]

In 2010, in partnership with Jamaica producer Kibwe McGann,[17] Cushnie directed and shared executive producer responsibilities on BET-Centric's lifestyle series SPLASH![18] which, in 2011, was commissioned to produce a second season.[5]

In 2009, Cushnie was invited by Kimala Bennett to supervise post production on her social documentary Combing through the Roots: Politics of black hair in Jamaica.[7][19] In the same year, Guyanese attorney and film director Dr Claimont Chung chose DSE Media for W.A.R. Stories,[20] a documentary on the life of the historian, author and activist, Walter Rodney.[7][21] The documentary was screened at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica and at the Reggae Film Festival in late 2009 and, by January 2010,[7] the documentary debuted in New York[22] and in February at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Africa.[7]

In August 2012, Cushnie left Jamaica for Africa with Donisha Prendergsat - granddaughter of Bob Marley - and reggae singer Kelissa McDonald, to film his new documentary, 50 Days in Afrika. The documentary was filmed in 50 days and journeyed across five African countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. The documentary highlighted Africa's contribution to the global film industry.[23] The name of the documentary 50 Days in Afrika is also significant, as it was coined to recognize Jamaica's 50th celebration of independence from slavery and British rule.[24]

Cushnie 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.[7] Since branching out to open DSE Media, he has worked on video projects for some of reggae and dancehall's biggest acts such as: Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Etana, I Wayne, Busy Signal, Jah Cure, Sean Paul, Tami Chynn and Floyd West.[25][26] Cushnie's most successful videos include the Ras Kassa's "Tic Toc", which was Busy Signal/VP Records nominated video of the year,[27] and The Matrimoney movie video, featuring Sean Paul, Tami Chynn, Lady Saw, Fambo, DJ liquid, Tifa and Wayne Marshall, considered to be the new standard by which Jamaican music medley's are judged.[28]