From Masterclass to Netflix: How One Kusp Session Kickstarted Jessica Directing Career

Before directing for Sky Arts and working on Netflix’s Supacell, Jessica Magaye was a first-time scriptwriter attending a masterclass with The Kusp. In 2019, Jessica joined a masterclass led by Joel Wilson, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Eleven Film. After receiving positive feedback from Joel during the session, she was offered a two-week work experience placement at Eleven Film. This opportunity quickly turned into a role as an office runner.

What followed was a steady climb through the industry.

Jessica went on to work as a script reader at Elixir Pictures, gaining valuable insight into storytelling and development before securing representation with Curtis Brown as a writer/director. Since then, her work has continued to grow in both scale and ambition.

Her short film, Daddy’s Girl, produced with DBK Studios and Sky Studios, aired on Sky Arts in 2022. The film follows Sade, a young carer facing eviction who enters the Influencer Olympics, a global competition promising internet fame and a life-changing cash prize. What begins as an opportunity quickly spirals into something darker. The film succeeded in capturing our current digital culture. It demonstrated the pressure of online visibility, the allure of influence, and the extremes people may go to in pursuit of opportunity. Beneath its dark premise, however, the story remains grounded in emotion and humanity.

Jessica’s perspective as a filmmaker is shaped not only by her own experiences, but also by the creatives around her. In a conversation with The Kusp, she shared that she is inspired by creators who are at similar stages as her in their careers. In an industry that can be difficult to break into, seeing others continue to put in the work, grow, and succeed motivates her to keep pushing forward as well.

Today, Jessica continues to expand her work as a filmmaker. She recently served as second-unit director on Supacell, the Netflix superhero series created by Rapman.

From attending a Kusp masterclass as a first-time scriptwriter to directing work for television and contributing to major productions, Jessica’s journey shows how early opportunities can evolve into lasting careers!

Don’t delay, if you are a creative, join The Kusp community today. Click here for more.

Words by Ivy Atem (Community Specialist Intern)