From Black Wall Street Burning to the upcoming Sessions, Notis Studios films are a product of spiritual inspiration and teamwork. In an interview with the Black Wall Street Times, Marcus Brown and Dr. Dekoven Riggins, co-owners of the Oklahoma-based film studio, discussed their projects and purpose.
Brown is the senior editor and senior colorist. Riggins is the senior audio re-recording mixer. Coming up, Notis Studios is premiering a double feature March 1 at Flix Brewhouse in Oklahoma City.
While explaining the studio name, Brown said, “There’s always something hidden in our films, so we tell you to notice everything.”
They hope to produce six films by summer 2025. These films are part of a series called Sessions meant to tell several stories from the experience of a therapist. The double feature includes part 1, Fragile Bond, and part 2, Twisted Devotion.
The duo met at a men’s retreat at church in 2014. They had other careers – Brown is retired from the military and Riggins works in real estate and higher education. Yet, they became inspired to start a business together. Fasting and prayer prompted their connection. They realized they could combine their skills of video editing and music production.
The beginnings of Notis Studios, Oklahoma City’s Black-owned film studio
They began with a short 18-minute film called Her (2019). Brown explained that they were surprised by the first reactions. “Everybody really liked it and they wanted a part two,” he said.
Riggins came up with the idea for their film Black Wall Street Burning (2020). They wrote the script together and oversaw each piece of production from start to finish.
Brown spoke of awards the film won, but emphasized that accolades are not the mission of Notis Studios. They want to show what Oklahomans are capable of and tell Black stories with our own voice.
“That’s been the problem for far too long, other people telling our stories and they’re dictating the narrative,” Brown said. They want their films to reflect change and growth. They are invested in breaking stereotypes and using authentic points of view. “We understand us better than other people would,” Brown said.
On their YouTube channel are teasers for several films and video series. There are also spotlights and collaborations with other Oklahomans and series about Black love stories. There is a promotional video for Douglass High School’s football team and clips from behind-the-scenes interviews with actors from their films.
Centering Black stories at Notis Studios
Shorts and trailers show the growth of their community relationships. Dr. Damon Anthony William acts in Neurosis (2024) and is the lead music coordinator for the Sessions series.
There’s a teaser of William’s podcast Modern Manhood featuring their episode “Focus on Neurosis.” William and co-host Dr. Donnelle Cole used their platform to promote the film while also highlighting men’s mental health.
Brown explained that the psychological thriller is about an “African American veteran and what you go through when you’re dealing with PTSD.” Entertainment is as important to Brown and Riggins as the lessons behind the stories.
“As Black men a lot of times we don’t get our mental health dealt with and especially veterans,” Brown said.
Building Oklahoma talent
The collaborators at Notis Studios are open about their process. On YouTube, they show detailed looks behind the curtain at the tools and strategies they use. A former collaborator Levonte Douglas can be seen showing off their work in progress at “The Spot” and teaching how to make beats. Douglas is a music producer who has done scoring for the studio’s films.
Riggins explained a bit about their distribution, saying their goals aren’t political or restrictive. “If it’s a platform that can generate revenue for us to where we can continue to hire Oklahomans to work, that’s what we wanna do,” Riggins said.
The studio “likes working with new talent and breaking them in.” Riggins discussed a future project that invites anyone interested in acting to join a portal of casting calls. “We like working with Oklahoma talent,” Brown said.
“We always love to really push the narrative and tell the story of what trusting God and what hard work can get you,” Brown said.
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