Prod Company MAJORITY Launches with All-Female Roster

It’s about time really that a production company with a roster made up entirely of women directors launched, which is precisely the thinking behind M&C Saatchi Worldwide CEO’s Moray MacLennan’s latest venture.

MAJORITY, based out of LA, was announced to the world yesterday, revealing that it will have a female-toting roster made up of established and emerging directors, all of which will be revealed after the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, following its collaboration with the festival and decision to support its Women at Sundance programme.

Emmy-nominated director Senain Kheshgi, industry veteran Jonathon Ker and M&C Saatchi ECD Maria Smith are also behind this initiative, that strives to create more opportunities for women directors across commercials, music videos and branded spaces, as well as supporting them on their own filmic projects.

“Women drive the economy through our buying power and influence yet are only 10% of commercial directors,” says MAJORITY Partner and Managing Director, Senain Kheshgi. “We saw this as an opportunity to create a space for women directors to speak directly to consumers through their work and artistry. MAJORITY is a community of collaborators dedicated to cultivating and amplifying the careers of women in commercial and independent film.”

MacLennan and Smith are determined to address gender disparity in the commercial industry providing more opportunities for women directors.

“As the leader of the creative team in charge of hiring directorial talent, I’ve seen first-hand the disparity that exists in the ad industry,” says Smith. “MAJORITY was born out of a need. As advertisers, we can and need to do more to create an industry that’s inclusive and geared toward helping talent succeed. I’m excited to see all of our worlds come together to do this in a way the industry has never seen before.”

Although M&C Saatchi is supporting the venture, it will operate separately from the agency in a bid to establish relationships with brands and other agencies.

MAJORITY will also open a creative lab, designed to support and develop female directorial talent, by providing them with access to resource and commercial space.