May 1, 2017

Meet Mary & Karim Moutry of House of MVT in Mid City

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary & Karim Moutry.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Mary & Karim. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2008, I had left my job as an insurance agent and launched my own insurance agency. After becoming one of the top 10 Health insurance agencies in California, I grew board with my career and decided to switch direction. I wanted to create a business I was in love with. The thing at this time I loved the most was vintage shops so I decided I would open my own boutique with no retail experience in 2010 and dead in the middle of an economic depression, I was advised against doing so by everyone including my mother. I opened House of MVT on Melrose 4 shops and 5 years later, I met my now husband Karim Moutry who was a filmmaker.

Ca$hOut was born on a day like any other. Karim casually asked me if I could write a film. I simply replied sure, and 4 months later the duo produced Ca$hOut – a ground breaking piece of art born from Mary’s own insecurities and told through the eyes of an African American woman who is subjected to the dangerous effect of powerful images that counter the images of herself and many within her community. Ca$hOut is an intimate, honest and in depth look at aesthetics within the black community.

Ca$hOut won the Best Narrative Short in the Pan African Film Festival 2017. While most budgets for short films at the PAFF were a minimum of $12,000, some as high as $50,000, Ca$hOut had a $400.00 budget and represents what an enormous amount of drive; passion and creativity captured on film will do.

Has it been a smooth road?
Money has always been a struggle. However, lack of funds is gift in disguise. Lack of money means you need to be that much more creative and strategic.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with House of MVT – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
House of MVT Productions is an independent film production company that specializes in low budget financing to push their creative limits the furthest. They present issues that particularly affect women and the African American community. Always looking to bring diversity to the big screen, as it is important to the art, the duo seeks to captivate their audience with people that look like them; yet, create story telling that is universal enough that everyone regardless of race, gender or creed can fall in love with each social narrative. House of MVT Production’s vision is simply to bring forth truthful narratives, to capture the voice of those who have none and to tell the stories that otherwise may have never be told. House of MVT Production’s mission is to create social awareness, provoke dialogue and ignite change.

House of MVT Productions is comprised of husband and wife art duo Mary and Karim Moutry who team up as the ultimate power house to create statement films that not only entertain but spark thought provoking discussion. Both Mary and Karim are self-taught with no formal film training. The most important skills that they possess are the ones that money can’t buy which are drive and passion.

As part of the dynamic duo, Mary writes; directs and handles sound, wardrobe, hair and makeup. With Mary being a first-time screenwriter, she simply looks to real life experiences and real people to tell the stories and be the voice of those who have been shamed; tossed away and forgotten. Karim also wears many hats as he acts as Director of Photography, Co-Director, Key Grip and Editor. Karim got his start in film when he was a skateboarder who began filming skate videos for friends and from there ventured into directing music videos; six short films; one documentary and one independent feature film

Primarily, I am first known for vintage clothing and fashion. For five years, I owned and operated five vintage fashion houses from west LA to Mid-City to Lancaster. Two on Melrose one on each end one on Fairfax and one on Wilshire and my baby in Lancaster. What sets me apart from others is I am fearless I’m not scared to change directions start new business endeavors I embrace new opportunities instead of harboring shame of starting again!
I am most proud of my film Ca$hOut.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love most about LA is there is always a plethora of artists willing to collaborate with for free. I dislike all the false reality and alternate facts of LA that Hollywood represents.

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