Circle Blue Media has announced the start of principal photography on writer/director Stella Meghie’s feature film debut, from her award-winning screenplay, "Jean of the Joneses."

Starring Taylour Paige, Sherri Shepherd, Gloria Reuben, Michelle Hurst, Mamoudou Athie, Erica Ash and Francois Arnaud, the comedy-drama follows 25-year-old Jean (Paige) and her multi-generational dysfunctional, middle-class Jamaican-American family of strong-minded, stubborn yet incredibly loving women. When an estranged grandfather dies on the doorstep of the family’s brownstone during Sunday dinner, tensions rise, old conflicts come to a boil, and things come to an arresting stop as Jean uncovers the family’s buried secrets. The Jones women face their divorces, infidelities, and past transgressions, while Jean faces the tough truths of her failing career and her crippling ability to move on from a past relationship to the love staring her right in the face.

Circle Blue Media’s Amos Adetuyi is producing with Floyd Kane. Poke Prod principals Sean Dwyer and Elizabeth Cullen are executive producers.

“I’m excited to be bringing such an acclaimed property as ‘Jean of the Joneses’ to the screen. Stella is an incredible rising talent," said Circle Blue Media President and Producer, Adetuyi.

Writer/director Meghie added, “It’s exciting to be directing a film so close to me. I grew up around a lot of women, a lot of dry humor. I couldn’t imagine a funnier, more talented cast to play the Joneses.”

Toronto-born filmmaker Stella Meghie is the recipient of Showtime’s Tony Cox Award in Screenwriting, an alumna of Berlinale Talents, The Screenwriters Colony, and Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriters Program. "Jean of the Joneses" was one of ten filmmaking teams selected to participate in Tribeca Film Festival’s 2014 Tribeca All Access Program. Stella has a blind script deal with Warner Bros. and a comedy pilot optioned by BET Networks.

The film was made possible with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada and T Tenth Productions Inc., a subsidiary of Radio One. Search Engine Films will distribute the film in Canada.

Shooting is underway in New York and Toronto.