We were lucky to catch up with Majiye Uchibeke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Majiye, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’m a film director and producer, and a movie streaming content strategist. My journey began when my older brother gave me a camera in high school. I joined the entertainment club and started experimenting by taking photos of my classmates, editing videos and learning the basics of storytelling through images. That camera opened up a whole world for me. In college, I majored in Communication Studies because my school didn’t have a film program, but I made my first four short films there. That’s when I realized I needed to go deeper.

I applied and was accepted into the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, School of Cinematic Arts MFA program in Film and Television Production, which was transformative. At USC, I learned how to direct and produce on a professional level, from screenwriting and story development, to cinematography, sound design, editing, and post-production workflows. I also learned how to work collaboratively with other artists and lead a set. I was also mentored by an Oscar Award winning filmmaker, Mark Harris to make my award-winning work.

While at USC, I also pursued internships that led me into working for streaming services like Free Movies+ and Pluto TV. That hands-on experience taught me the ins and outs of content strategy; programming, curation, analytics, content acquisition, distribution and platform growth. It’s how I learned to think beyond just making films, and toward how people watch and discover them.

Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
Learning takes time, and more importantly, it takes experience. There’s no shortcut for developing your voice as a filmmaker or strategist. I had to grow through each stage, learning by doing, failing, making better decisions, watching other people work, and figuring out what I value. If anything, I’d say I would’ve spent less time worrying about “catching up” and more time trusting that my path was valid.

More than any technical skill, the most essential thing has been the mindset: being open-minded to learn, letting the journey find me, and never quitting even when I wanted to. That curiosity and resilience has mattered more than knowing the perfect camera settings or editing software. Of course, practical skills matter, directing actors, managing budgets, building pitch decks, understanding audience data, but you only get to practice and refine those when you’re willing to stay the course through uncertainty. A lot of opportunities weren’t handed to me, I had to knock on doors, and when that didn’t work, kick them down. I didn’t have an industry network or family in film, so I had to build relationships from scratch, often starting at the margins. There were also cultural and systemic challenges, being a Nigerian immigrant, navigating institutions that weren’t built for someone like me, convincing people that my stories mattered. Still, every obstacle gave me a sharper edge and a clearer voice. I wouldn’t trade that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Majiye Uchibeke (I go by Maj), an award-winning filmmaker and streaming content strategist, based in Los Angeles. I work professionally as a Director and Producer in both narrative and documentary filmmaking, and as a strategist specializing in OTT, VOD, and FAST streaming technologies. Over the last decade, I’ve built a multifaceted career at the intersection of creative storytelling, tech-powered distribution, and social impact.

My journey began in high school, when my older brother gave me a camera. I started filming my friends in the entertainment club and teaching myself how to shoot, edit, and tell stories. From there, I earned my BA in Communication (Digital Media & Video Production) at St. Andrews University, and later, my MFA in Film & TV Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the top-ranked film school in the U.S. where I directed and produced my first award-winning documentaries and narrative shorts.

Today, I direct and produce films, TV shows, branded content, and music videos across genres and platforms. I’m especially drawn to stories that explore identity, justice, migration, and resilience. Projects like I Am More Dangerous Dead (2023), Shepherd’s Calling (2024), and my upcoming feature Farming Season (2026) are deeply personal and globally conscious narratives that challenge the boundaries of traditional documentary.

At the same time, I’ve worked behind the scenes as a Streaming Content Strategist, programming thousands of titles and managing over 250 FAST channels for platforms like Pluto TV (Paramount Global), OTT Studios, and Free Movies+. I’ve helped launch niche services like Black Movies+, Dog House TV, and AfroBeats TV+, driving content discovery for underserved audiences. I also contributed to the Netflix docuseries Arnold (2023), working in post-production to archive, transcribe, and streamline thousands of assets for editorial.

What sets my work apart is the range of impact. Whether I’m curating titles on a FAST channel or directing a narrative short, my goal is the same: to empower underrepresented voices, shift dominant narratives, and spark real-world change.
One of my proudest achievements is launching TAILORED (TLRD – www.tlrdofficial.com), a fashion label that funds education through style. For every custom outfit we sell, we donate two school uniforms to kids in underserved regions of Nigeria. TAILORED combines high-end fashion with a “one-for-two” model, ethical production, and a digital platform that makes luxury accessible and empowering complete with 3D outfit previews (in the words) and an Uber-style app connecting users with local tailors (in the works).

Giving back has always been a part of my practice. I’ve volunteered with youth mentorship programs like the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) Dream Team, where I cycled and filmed with young riders overcoming adversity. In Los Angeles, I’ve worked with Hollywood Rescue Grooming to direct the Dog Makeover Show and bring mobile grooming to unhoused communities in Skid Row restoring dignity for both people and their pets.

I’m also active in film education and advocacy, having spoken on over 30 panels globally including the Directors Guild of America, USC, Amnesty International, and the Pan African Film Festival on topics ranging from storytelling and justice to fashion and innovation. I’ve judged for the AFI Film Festival, Micheaux Film Festival, March on Washington Film Festival, and several others, always with a commitment to uplifting emerging and marginalized voices. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that media, film, fashion, streaming isn’t just about content or consumption. It’s about connection. About reminding people that they matter. That their stories deserve to be told.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the core of my work is the belief that art and storytelling aren’t just for entertainment, they’re powerful tools for social change. My mission is to empower underrepresented voices, challenge the status quo, and foster real-world impact through creative expression. Whether I’m directing films, strategizing streaming content, or launching a fashion brand like TAILORED (TLRD – www.tlrdofficial.com), I strive to create work that not only resonates emotionally but also sparks tangible change, be it in education, community upliftment, or cultural dialogue. Ultimately, I want my creative journey to help build a more inclusive and just world, where every voice is heard and every story matters. I’m driven by the belief that storytelling isn’t just art, it’s infrastructure. It shapes how people see themselves and how the world sees them. And my mission is to build that infrastructure in a way that includes all of us.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene has been one of the most influential resources in shaping how I think. Coming from a background where nothing was handed to me, the book gave me a framework to understand the unspoken rules of power, leadership, and strategic thinking. It taught me how to have a strong and determined mind and how to always find my way in the world, no matter the situation I’m put in.

Two laws in particular stood out: Law 28 – Enter action with boldness, and Law 29 – Plan all the way to the end. These principles reminded me that hesitation breeds doubt and failure, while bold, decisive action creates momentum and confidence. At the same time, knowing where I want to end up and reverse engineering the path to get there has been critical in both my filmmaking and my work in streaming and fashion.

What this book gave me was more than tactics; it gave me mental clarity and the ability to navigate systems that weren’t built for me. It continues to remind me that I don’t need permission to lead, I just need vision, courage, and a plan.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.majiyeuchibeke.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majshotit/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majiye/