Starting out as an intern in the press department at Sony BMG, Dhanny quickly got a taste and passion for the entertainment business that fuelled his desire to make an impact on the industry, that not even a daily two and half hour commute from his hometown Herne Bay to Sony’s offices in Putney could stop.
Starting Big Deal out of his bedroom as a talent management company, Dhanny got his first major success having been the strategic brains behind public voting campaign for then client Adam Deacon’s victorious bid to win the BAFTA Rising Star Award ahead of Hollywood competition Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddlestone, Chris O’Dowd and Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne.
As well as managing the daily demands of Big Deal Films, Dhanny also manages comedy sensation Humza Arshad, strategizing his transition from being the most viewed British comedian on YouTube with over 85 million views to being a culture defining talent. Dhanny has also created partnerships for Humza with the UK Counter Terrorism Unit, YouTube, as it’s first global ambassador for social change and Penguin books as a children’s author.
When he’s not tied up in business, Dhanny can be found at Wembley cheering his beloved Tottenham or learning to cook Thai.
Thomas Stogdon is BDF’s Creative Director and co-founder. From a Princes Trust Enterprise course in Tottenham, Thomas has gone on to executive produce over forty original commissions for major UK broadcasters and digital platforms on behalf of Big Deal Films.
Having successfully delivered projects for BBC1, BBC3, C4, ITV2, Sky, Radio 1 and CBBC, Thomas has expanded the companies’ presence with bold ideas that have innovation and authenticity at their core.
Whether it is a scripted comedy series tackling race and identity, a live action invention format for children or a dramatised documentary from the point of view of someone living with a mental health condition, Thomas’ out of the box thinking has allowed Big Deal to produce an array of credible multi-genre content.
Featuring on the BBC New Talent Hotlist, a debut writer nomination at the Edinburgh TV Festival New Voices Awards and a National Diversity Award for entrepreneurship with Big Deal Films are just some of Thomas’ recent professional highlights.
When he isn’t brainstorming and creating, Thomas can be found at the Emirates or in front of a TV watching his beloved Arsenal FC or spending time with his nephew Zakariah.
RTS nominated and Broadcast winning director, Mustapha Kseibati, has made films with the UK Film Council, BBC, SKY and the BFI since being named Screen International Star of Tomorrow. He is now Big Deal Films’ scripted development producer, overseeing new comedy and drama projects.
Mustapha’s previous directorial work includes ‘Mohammed’ (Kayvan Novak, Sophie Thompson) which premiered at the London Film Festival and was made as part of the BFI Shorts Scheme and ‘Painkiller’ (Benedict Wong, Franz Drameh) which was made in conjunction with the BBC Writersroom.
Mus has also directed Big Deal productions including ‘Coconut’ (BBC3) and ‘Christmas Jumpers’ (Sky Arts) starring Humza Arshad, Mo Gilligan and Emily Atack and a half hour Sky Arts Playhouse, as part of Sky’s Physical Comedy Season starring Vic Reeves and Seann Walsh.
Mustapha is a commercial filmmaker passionate about Comedy, Drama and Action. His favorite film is ‘Back To The Future’.