Walking into the room to do the interview with an auburn brown afro and giving off a calming and laid back impression , Melanie Dunning, the CEO of Major Motives, did not live up to that impression. Being very cheerful and playful, Dunning began to tell the story of how it all began. From a conversation in high school with her current roommate and production manager, Maya Goudeau, a seed was planted in Dunning’s mind to start her own production company.
Growing up in Laurel, Md., Dunning was a fan of 1990’s television shows and movies such as “Sister, Sister,” “Kenan and Kel,” “All That,” and other shows that displayed different perspectives and cultures as main characters. As reality television began to take over, her interest was lost due to the lack of positive African-American roles in television and movies.
“Everybody sees Tyler Perry films and they think that is black people,” says Dunning referring to “The Madea” series where she believes almost every African-American stereotype is represented. “I think Tyler Perry only sees things from one point of view. There are multiple African-American stories that need to be told."
Growing up in Laurel, Md., Dunning was a fan of 1990’s television shows and movies such as “Sister, Sister,” “Kenan and Kel,” “All That,” and other shows that displayed different perspectives and cultures as main characters. As reality television began to take over, her interest was lost due to the lack of positive African-American roles in television and movies.
“Everybody sees Tyler Perry films and they think that is black people,” says Dunning referring to “The Madea” series where she believes almost every African-American stereotype is represented. “I think Tyler Perry only sees things from one point of view. There are multiple African-American stories that need to be told."
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