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Marquetta Cheeks President

Marquetta Cheeks Marquetta Cheeks is co-owner and President of Emerald Bayou Studios. Her 31-year career spans film, television and music working in Los Angeles and New York. Beginning her career with Richard Pryor and working for major companies like WARNER BROS. (film, television, and records) and INTERSCOPE FILMS. She is proficient in film and television production, music production, contract negotiations, budget administration, project development, promotion, marketing and publicity. Marquetta is skilled at managing and coordinating multiple projects for companies (CBS, RCA, Arista Records) with large crews (NAACP Image Awards - Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Jay Leno) and film budgets up to $100 million (What Dreams May Come). A native of Louisiana, Marquetta graduated from prestigious Southern University in Baton Rouge with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Being a trained musician with a love for the creative arts and a passion for film it was only natural that Marquetta would pursue a successful career in the entertainment industry. As president of EBS, her many responsibilities include overseeing the company's 6 sister companies, entertainment products, film production projects and the two film production training programs. She recently finished the short film THE GLASS CHORD starring Grammy nominee and legendary blues musician Henry Gray. THE GLASS CHORD is the first production from the EBS/LTC Jumonville film production training program set to release fall 2010. Emerald Bayou Studios is gearing up to launch a production slate of 4-8 TV & Film projects. Marquetta is set to produce TOUGH LIKE WEARING DREADLOCKS (Danny Glover) with Charles Burnett (Oprah Winfrey's The Wedding) directing and the feature Brew City and television sitcom Charlotte staring Natalie Desselle Reid (Eve, How To Be A Player, B.A.P.S). Other projects include MY IMAGINARY BOYFRIEND (romantic comedy), FACELESS (Horror), and DEAR ISAUN (young adult drama) Marquetta began her illustrious career on the Columbia Pictures lot at Indigo Productions as a personal and creative assistant to superstar comedian Richard Pryor. While working with Pryor on BREWSTER'S MILLIONS and the weekly CBS children's show "Pryor's Place," Marquetta learned to interact with studio executives, agents, stars, producers, directors and writers. When Pryor made his directorial debut on the film JO JO DANCER, Marquetta spent several months compiling Pryor's personal research for the production. Later, Marquetta co-created/co-produced the children's talk show pilot "It's Ok To Be A Kid" starring Lark Voorhies of "Saved By The Bell," and "In The House" fame and Executive Producer of the abstract short film "Azure Circus Skies"(Christopher Neiman) with director Christina Morales (Dreammaker). Marquetta served as one of the unit publicists for the award winning "indie" film THE MIDDLE PASSAGE. She has worked on a number of film and television production projects of various sizes for major studios. She was part of the strategic marketing team for the Interscope/Polygram film WHAT DREAMS MAY COME starring Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding, Jr., and she was a member of the production staff of Warner Bros. Television "It Had To Be You" starring Faye Dunaway & Robert Urich. Marquetta was an integral part of the executive production staff for the NAACP Image Awards (Halle Berry, Denzil Washington, Jay Leno) coordinating efforts between departments for the Executive Producer. Her career also encompasses the promotion and A&R departments of five major record companies including, Warner Bros., Columbia, Epic, RCA, Arista. Overseeing the operations of A&R and budget administration, developing new artists, producing artists showcases, soundtracks and creating promotional campaigns were just a few of her responsibilities. She has worked with artists such as Quincy Jones, Madonna, Paul Simon, Prince, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, and a host of other music industry stars. She is a former associate member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys). Marquetta became the Concert Promotions Coordinator and later Vice President of Artist Management/Project Development at David Lombard Management and Productions. At DLM she was responsible for recording and touring budgets, developing special projects and maintaining the careers of such acts as Samuelle, Eric Benét, EnVogue, Jasmine Guy, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Ronnie Laws, Brenda Russell, Johnny Gill, and platinum hip hop producers Bosko (E-40, Limp Bizkit, The Luniz, Master P) and Something For The People (Brandy, SFP, Eric Benét). In addition, she is a former member of Women In Film and former elected publicist of The Black Public Relations Society-Los Angeles Chapter. Marquetta is the recipient of the River Road African American Museum's Louisiana Black Film Festival 2007 Award for her contribution to film production. As a big supporter of the community, Marquetta is often a guest speaker at social and political organizations as well as local high schools. Also, she received the Service Above Self award of appreciation from the New Roads Rotary Club. Email