News: Industry

MilkBoy’s Lokoff and Joyner to produce Independent Feature Film

Jamie Lokoff and Tommy Joyner, owners of MilkBoy Recording and MilkBoy Coffee are growing the brand with their latest endeavor: film producers. Joining forces with local Oscar-winning film producer Tammy Tiehel-Stedman and Brian O’Connor, founding partner of online music retailer ArkivMusic.com, the team is developing a romantic comedy, Bad Boys Crazy Girls from a script by New York-based writer Heather Maidat.

Lokoff and Joyner partnered in 1997 to run MilkBoy Recording and recently moved from Ardmore to Philadelphia, taking over one of Philly’s premier recording facilities, Larry Gold’s The Studio on 7th Street. In addition to recording such industry heavyweights as Dave Matthews, Patti LaBelle and Usher, Lokoff writes original scores for commercials and features and Joyner is responsible for post-production on numerous films, commercials and records each year. Lokoff, also a trained actor, said, “Right before Tommy and I partnered up, I was cast in a local film. I ended up bringing that film’s audio and soundtrack work to MilkBoy as our first project.” The two have kept close ties to the film industry ever since.

Joyner, Lokoff and Tiehel-Stedman first worked together in 2006. “Tommy and Jamie created original music and did the audio post on a few projects for me and I loved working with them” said Tiehel-Stedman. “Everything they touch, they make better. I knew I wanted to work with them on a feature and when this script came along, things just clicked.” Tiehel-Stedman, worked for Philly companies LevLane and Stewart Digital Video and with Banyan Productions early in her career. She won an Academy Award in 2000 for her short film, My Mother Dreams the Satan’s Disciples in New York.

O’Connor, an entrepreneur in online music sales saw a niche developing as the music industry began to change. He co-founded ArkivMusic.com, a retailer of classical music CDs, and after a decade of success, the company was acquired by Steinway Musical Instruments. He found himself ready for a new challenge, “I've been a film lover my entire life, so when Jamie told me about a potential movie idea, I was interested,” said O’Connor. “I had known Jamie and Tommy through a music project and they introduced me to Tammy. After a few meetings, I realized that the talent in the room was amazing.” O’Connor came on board as a seed investor and producer. He added, “I sent a text message that simply said ‘I'm in!’” Joyner commented, “Brian is such a great addition. He brings a solid business background, enthusiasm and that entrepreneurial spirit we love.”

The team plans to produce Bad Boys Crazy Girls in Philadelphia and is eyeing a late summer 2012 start date. More information is available at www.badboyscrazygirlsthemovie.com.