Your Stage : The Collar (Côte d'Ivoire, 1980) – Seeking International Co-Producers and Financing Partners by Samuel Codjovi

While I can't help with any co-producing opportunities, I love your logline. A female reclaiming her voice is especially appealing to me so I hope it gets the funding and the team it needs to succeed. Best of luck!

Samuel, this sounds like a powerful and meaningful short film. The idea of language being tied to identity, shame, and reclaiming one’s voice really spoke out to me.

Wishing you the right partnerships, support, and distribution opportunities for this project. Stories like this deserve to be seen.

Thank you so much, Teresa Valiquette. I truly appreciate your encouragement. The journey of reclaiming one's voice is at the heart of The Collar, inspired by real practices that affected many children in West Africa. I hope the film will resonate with audiences far beyond its cultural context. Thank you for your support.

Thank you, Kiara Brown. I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback. The film is inspired by historical practices that discouraged children from speaking their mother tongues in school. I am currently seeking co-production, financing, and distribution partners to bring this story to international audiences. Thank you again for your encouragement and support.

Hey Samuel Codjovi, congratulations for your short film "The Collar". I am sure you will find your perfect packaging. I am Sandra Isabel, Stage 32 producing lounge moderator, and the best path to follow is to do pitch sessions or consulting. You have some options: You can pitch to any executive you choose if you feel it's aligned with your theme and genre: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/pitch-sessions

Also, you can buy a Script Consulting with an executive you choose. All of this is a paid option: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/consulting

But if you need advice, you can send an email to our Sucess Team: success@stage32.com asking for advice.

If you’re new to Stage 32, check out the last Open House webcast our Head of Community Ashley Smith did to help you understand how Stage 32 can help you in your career: https://www.stage32.com/education/collections/education-classes

Hope this will help you.

Samuel Codjovi Looks like a compelling project. What inspired you to choose this specific theme?

Thank you, Shadow Dragu-Mihai

The inspiration comes from a historical practice that existed in several West African countries, where children were punished for speaking their mother tongue at school. In Côte d'Ivoire, this punishment was commonly known as the "collar of shame."

The story is deeply connected to my own experience. As a child, I struggled with language and learning difficulties, and I experienced the feeling of not being understood. While The Collar is not autobiographical, it draws from emotions and questions that have accompanied me for many years.

What fascinated me was the connection between a personal wound and a collective memory shared by generations of African children whose languages and identities were devalued in the classroom.

Through Akissi's journey, I wanted to transform that memory into a story about dignity, identity, resilience, and the courage to reclaim one's voice.

Thank you for your interest.

Samuel Codjovi That's very interesting and I think a project with a lot of merit. I don't know how I can help, but if you would like to explore, add me here and then DM me and we can connect.

Thank you, Shadow Dragu-Mihai. I really appreciate your openness and willingness to connect.

I have just sent you a connection request and would be happy to continue the conversation by direct message.

I am currently looking for international partners, co-producers, distributors, and industry professionals who connect with the project's themes and potential audience.

Thank you again for your support and interest in The Collar. I look forward to speaking with you.

I would love to learn all about this. I have connections internationally that might be assets to this project, and unique qualification as a linguist working with recovering and revitalizing indigenous African languages.