Commercial production house kin has opened in Los Angeles under the aegis of founder/executive producer Jacki Sextro who’s over the years been with such leading companies as The Directors Bureau, Biscuit and Hungry Man. The latter had been Sextro’s most recent roost as EP prior to her going entrepreneurial with kin.
The directorial roster at woman-owned kin–a moniker chosen to reflect the studio’s familial spirit–includes Ric Cantor, Minhal Baig, JD Dillard, Liza Mandelup, Ryan Reichenfeld and Jeff Baena.
Cantor was previously repped by Hungry Man for spots and branded content in the U.S. Internationally Cantor is handled by Friend in the U.K., Scoundrel in Australia/New Zealand, and Moonwalk in France. Cantor is a D&AD, British Arrow and Cannes Lions-winning director who is known industry-wide for elevating lifestyle, auto and comedy campaigns with a cinematic eye
Baig had been represented by Strange Love in the U.S. A writer (Bojack Horseman, Dune: The Sisterhood) and director, Baig turned out the film Hala, a Vimeo Staff Pick, which centers on a Muslim teenager coping with the unraveling of her family as she comes into her own. Hala will be released by Apple.
Dillard has landed his first representation by coming aboard the kin roster. Dillard’s penchant for emotional, character-driven stories is showcased in his Sundance-premiering features Sleight and Sweetheart.
Mandelup also had no representation prior to joining kin but she worked with Caviar on the feature Jawline, which won a U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award at Sundance identifying her as a Breakthrough Filmmaker.
Baena had been previously repped by Slim Pictures for commercials and branded content. He is a Cannes Lions-winning comedy filmmaker whose features have starred Alison Brie, Thomas Middleditch and Aubrey Plaza.
Reichenfeld was earlier repped by Ruffian and Caviar. His short films Sean and Skateboarding in Oakland were both Vimeo Staff Picks. He currently maintains music video representation in the U.S. via Labuda Reps.
Comprising the kin sales team are Lauren Schuchman of Diplomat who handles the West Coast, Kitty Monaghan at Monaghan Talent Rangers who reps across the Midwest, and Carolyn Hill and Amanda Rosenberg of Carolyn Reps cover the East.
