MACRO, the next generation multi-platform media company founded by former WME Partner/Agent Charles D. King, announced today that Aaliyah Williams has been named Vice President of Digital Content and Production for the company. She curates and oversees MACRO’s slate of premium digital content and focus on storytelling that showcases multicultural talent in front of and behind the camera to create cinematic experiences for the digital generation.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have Aaliyah join us at MACRO. Her expansive knowledge of the digital arena, creative instincts and intelligence makes her a perfect addition to our team,” says King.
In addition, MACRO also announced today that “Gente-Fied” will be its first digital series. MACRO will finance seven episodes of this bilingual series that features an all Latino cast with a majority of Latino talent behind the camera. Described as a vivid, dramatic comedy web series, “Gente-Fied” follows seven characters as they deal with the effects of change in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Some are young Latinxs with bi-cultural tastes, hustling to create spaces in their community that celebrate their Chicanx identities. Others are old-school paisanos and business owners trying to make sense of the changes that are threatening their livelihoods—rent hikes, a housing crisis and a slow stream of outsiders whose fascination with their barrio has created a fertile ground for gentrification.
Each episode is seen through the point of view of a different character and explores the complications that arise around gente seeking to improve and
preserve their community. Complications that are rewarding in some situations and corrosive in others arise.
Executive Producers of “Gente-fied” are America Ferrera, Charles D. King and Marvin Lemus. Aaliyah Williams will produce the series. Lemus is also Creator, Director and Writer.
Linda Yvette Chavez co-wrote the series which stars Ferrera, Montse Hernandez, Brittany Ashley, Jenny Lorenzo, Rickey Thompson.
Soledad St. Hilaire, Alicia Sixtos, Art Bonilla, Edsson Morales, Rafael Sigler , Sal Velez, Jr., Victoria Ortiz and Yareli Arizmendi round out the series’ main cast.
Prior to MACRO, Aaliyah Williams created and produced branded content for both Fox Digital Studio and AOL. She also independently produced “Buppies,” BET’s first original web series. In addition, Williams ran the content division of Russell Simmons’ You-Tube channel, All Def Digital. While there, she conceived and produced comedy, music and pop-culture series’ and sketches that amassed over 54 million views and sustained over 280,000 subscribers in the channel’s first year. Williams later founded Just A Rebel, Inc., a digital production and creative strategy company. Her clients there included Judy McGrath’s company Astronauts Wanted, where she generated 1 billion impressions for Lilly Singh aka iiSuperwomanii’s “A Trip To Unicorn Island” documentary that is now available on YouTube Red.
“I am thrilled to join the stellar team that Charles has assembled and expand the MACRO brand in the premium digital space. We have a compelling slate of projects with incredibly talented and diverse creators that we are excited to bring to market,” says Williams.
America Ferrera is repped by CAA and Peikoff Mahan. Marvin Lemus is repped by Lisa Shapiro at Mosaic and Brian Agboh at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson.
Trailer for “Gente-fied” follows below:
