Pixel Ray Studios is a U.S.-based film production company that also claims to be the “first-ever black-owned film production franchise on the continent of Africa.” ¹ It partnered on a film studio project with the National Film Authority of Ghana. ²

Projects

In 2022, the National Film Authority of Ghana announced that it would be partnering with Pixel Ray Studios to build a new film studio in West Africa. Pixel Ray Studios would have control over the building and equipment for the studio while the National Film Authority would be in charge of distributing and marketing the studio films within the country. The National Film Authority of Ghana estimated the new complex would lead to the creation of roughly 11,000 new jobs. ^{3 2}

Partners

According to its website, Pixel Ray has partnered with several local groups and national media organizations including the Atlanta-based media company Revolutionary Entertainment Group, the Ghanaian government National Film Authority, and the Lagos, Nigeria-based entertainment company Chocolate Chip Group. ^{4 5 3 6}

Executive Staff

Audu Maikori is the co-founder and executive board member of Pixel Ray Studios. Working as a lawyer and entrepreneur, Audu went to law school in Nigeria and spent a year studying leadership management at Yale and Advanced Program Management at MIT. ⁷ Audu is also the founder and vice chair of the Chocolate City Group. ⁸

Ojoma Ochai is a co-founder and executive board member of Pixel Ray Studios. She is on the UNESCO Global Expert Facility for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Ojoma is the regional Director for Arts and Creative Economy Programs for British Council in Sub Saharan Africa and has worked with the World Bank to expand the music and film sectors of Nigeria and the Swedish Arts Council. ⁸

Franklin David is an executive board member for Pixel Ray Studios. He is an American entrepreneur and the founder of talent agency Twizz Management. He previously represented artists including  Fabolous and Mariah Carey. He represented NBA stars such as Carmelo Anthony as well as NFL stars like Pierre Garcon. In addition to his role at Pixel Ray Studios he is the talent director for the New York-based media company UG Media LLC. ⁸

1. “Pixelray Studio.” PixelRay Studios. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://pixelraystudios.com/.
2. Maikori, Audu. “Ghana’s ‘World Class’ Studio Complex.” PixelRay Studios, October 15, 2022. https://pixelraystudios.com/2022/10/15/207/.
3. Maikori, Audu. “Groundbreaking Ghana Film Studio Announced at Inaugural AFRICON Event in Los Angeles.” PixelRay Studios, June 3, 2022. https://pixelraystudios.com/2022/06/03/groundbreaking-ghana-film-studio-announced-at-inaugural-africon-event-in-los-angeles/.
4. “Our Partners.” PixelRay Studios. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://pixelraystudios.com/partners/.
5. “About Us.” Revolutionary Entertainment Group, Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.revolutionaryentertainmentgroup.com/about-1
6. “Financial Advisory Team.” PixelRay Studios. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://pixelraystudios.com/f-t-a/.
7. Maikori, Audu. “Education.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/audumaikori/details/education/.
8. “About Us.” PixelRay Studios. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://pixelraystudios.com/about/.