Gino J.H. McKoy

Gino McKoy
Born
Trinidad and Tobago
EducationUniversity of Toronto
Occupation(s)Film director, film producer, screenwriter, singer and songwriter, song producer
Years active2009–present
RelativesHudson McKoy(Father) , Lynda McKoy(Mother)

Gino J.H. McKoy is a Trinidadian-born Canadian film director, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter.[1]

Biography

Born in Trinidad and raised in Canada, Gino McKoy grew up surrounded by music and business. His parents, Hudson and Lynda McKoy, were musicians, banking professionals, and founders of Goldove Entertainment. Following their path, McKoy entered the entertainment industry.[2][1] In his childhood, he became interested in science fiction.[3]

McKoy majored in political science and studied world religions, focusing on Judaism and Christianity at the University of Toronto, where he also graduated. He also received classical music training.[4]

In 2006, McKoy released "Soca Warriors Anthem" for 2006 FIFA World Cup which partly references the chorus of "Road to Italy," a 1989 hit soca song by SuperBlue, associated with the Strike Squad team.[5] Another song, "West Indies Forever", which was produced by him in 2004, was played at the inaugural ceremony of 2007 Cricket World Cup.[6] During his music career, McKoy was affiliated with Bertelsmann Music Group.[7]

McKoy entered the music scene with his 2010 debut album Step Forward, produced by David Kershenbaum after original collaborator Nick Blagona fell ill.[8]

McKoy’s first script about the deep web and bitcoin was allegedly plagiarized by others, including Netflix’s, House of Cards. He was the first screenwriter in Hollywood to write about the deep web and bitcoin in 2011 and consulted with the entertainment division of the FBI on the script. The script was entitled Little Mizz Innocent, which followed a UN interpreter entangled in a conflict between the FBI and a criminal organization.[8] Alongside his music and film work, McKoy ventured into fashion by co-founding Lydgio Fashions with his mother.[8]

In 2015, McKoy wrote the script for Little Mizz Innocent, a film starring Olga Kurylenko.[9][10] The film follows a UN interpreter entangled in a conflict between the FBI and a criminal organization.[11][9]

With a background in music, McKoy released the single 'Everything to Me,' co-written with Hudson McKoy and featured on the soundtrack of his sci-fi horror comedy film LUMINA. The song, released on May 23, 2019, was produced by Greg Phillinganes and David Kershenbaum, mixed by Mick Gazauski and mastered by Bernie Grundman.

In 2020, McKoy wrote and directed a sci-fi action thriller film named Lumina, starring Eric Roberts.[12] It was filmed in Morocco.[13][14] The project's origins date back to 2019 when a distribution agreement was signed with Entertainment Studio Motion Pictures, involving FilmNation, Lionsgate, and Netflix.[1] In March 2023, the film was acquired by Porter+Craig Film and Media.[14] With interest in science fiction, anime, and space, McKoy chose Morocco for its desert landscapes and established film infrastructure.

McKoy is also collaborating with Michael Sloan to produce a new film, Spidersweb, set to begin shooting in the summer of the following year.[15] The film will be filmed in Morocco.

In 2024, Gino McKoy wrote, directed, and produced the science fiction film Lumina. Filmed in Morocco, McKoy also handled the visual effects and performed several songs featured in the soundtrack. Upon its theatrical release in 2024, Lumina gathered a cult following and was featured at different events such as Monsterpalooza and New York Comic Con.[4][16]

Discography

  • "West Indies Forever" (2004)[6]
  • "Soca Warriors Anthem" (2006)[5]
  • "Runaway"[17]
  • "Sensy Girl"[17]
  • "Everything to me"[17]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ a b c "The fight to bring Lumina to light". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
  2. ^ "Olga Kurylenko, Riley Keough set to work this winter".
  3. ^ Ngo, Sheiresa (July 8, 2021). "Gino McKoy Tells Us About His New Movie 'Lumina'".
  4. ^ a b Berman, Marc. "From Making Music To Filmmaking: 'Lumina' Director Gino McKoy Looks Ahead". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  5. ^ a b "Sing Along With the Soca Warriors". New York Times. June 12, 2006.
  6. ^ a b Bateman, Anthony; Bale, John (2008). Sporting Sounds: Relationships Between Sport and Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 232. ISBN 9781134067459.
  7. ^ Bukszpan, Daniel. "'Rocketman' is winning rave reviews, but don't expect Elton John to make a huge comeback". CNBC.
  8. ^ a b c "T&T-born director delves into sci-fi with Lumina". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  9. ^ a b Kay, Jeremy. "Olga Kurylenko to star in 'Little Mizz Innocent'". Screen Daily.
  10. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (May 16, 2015). "Cannes: Xavier Gens Readies Female Action Thriller 'Little Mizz Innocent' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  11. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Goldove in distributor talks on 'Little Mizz Innocent'". Screen Daily.
  12. ^ a b CNBC, Daniel Bukszpan, special to. "Game of Thrones fans are angry about the final season – and the franchise could suffer for it". CNBC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "A Journey into Lumina with Gino McKoy". CGMagazine. June 26, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Flam, Charna (March 15, 2023). "Porter+Craig Film and Media to Release 'Lumina' Starring Eric Roberts This Summer". Variety.
  15. ^ "Cinéma: Les productions étrangères reprennent à Marrakech". L'Économiste. February 28, 2021.
  16. ^ Kabenge, Natalia (2025-03-11). "'Lumina,' the Modern-Day Sci-Fi Cult Classic, Is Now Available on Streaming Platforms". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  17. ^ a b c "Gino McKoy Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
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