Voyager kicks off its collaboration with newly signed Director Spencer MacDonald through the launch of the latest commercial campaign for Rao’s Homemade. A filmmaker whose work bridges the gap between documentary and fiction, MacDonald’s narrative style often explores where humanity intersects with the mysteries of the natural world. His collaborations span high-profile clients such as Airbnb, Lyft, and Volkswagen, with work featured in The Atlantic, Director’s Library, and Vimeo’s “Best of the Year.”
Working closely with Voyager EP and Co-Founder Andrew Hutcheson, Spencer recalls Andrew’s thoughtful approach to every aspect of production on set for Rao’s, “Andrew’s ability to balance creative integrity with genuine care for everyone involved—the client, agency and crew—left a lasting impression on me,” shares MacDonald. “It’s rare to find that level of kindness and support paired with such a strong commitment to storytelling and it’s a big reason why I felt drawn to Voyager. I’m incredibly excited to see the work we create together.”
Spencer’s filmmaking journey was shaped by a unique blend of artistic and functional influences, growing up as the son of an oil painter and an architect. His global travels sparked a passion for storytelling, leading him to pick up a camera and embark on a career in filmmaking. A pivotal moment came when his first Vimeo Staff Pick gained recognition, opening the door to a role at Avocados and Coconuts, the production company he credits with shaping much of his directorial voice. In the last four years, the Berlin-based filmmaker has crafted two short films including his debut short film “Scarlet Medusa” and the Academy Award-qualified “A Body Called Life,” which has won various awards, including Best Documentary Short at Raindance, and screened at over 30 film festivals. He is currently developing his first feature, a fiction titled “Passengers.”
“It makes perfect sense to me that we discovered Spencer at a film festival; he’s an artist and storyteller first and you can feel that across his short films and advertising work,” shares Director and Co-Founder of Voyager, Charles Frank. “He’s a director that inspires me personally and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to support his unique vision.”
“When we saw “A Body Called Life” at Big Sky earlier this year, I remember turning to Charles afterward and saying, ‘We have to work with this guy,’” adds Hutcheson. “In that film, and across Spencer’s body of work in general, I saw a rare blend of curiosity, impeccable taste, and a wry sense of humor. In person, he’s an utter delight to work with and embodies all of the values we admire most at Voyager. I’m thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
About Voyager:
Voyager is a Brooklyn-based production company that tells stories of all sizes for agencies, brands, and audiences everywhere. Founded in 2015, Voyager quickly established itself as an incubator for new talent, garnering awards at D&AD, One Screen, YDA, Young Guns, and CLIOs for collaborations with collaborated with clients such as Adidas, Facebook, Kia, McDonald’s, Nike, and Planned Parenthood, among countless others. Their documentary and narrative films are available for streaming on Hulu, HBO, and Apple TV+, being recognized at such prestigious festivals as SXSW, Tribeca, and DOC NYC. Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
Spencer Macdonald Bio:
Spencer MacDonald (he/him) is a director born in NYC, raised in San Francisco, and currently based in Berlin. His work resides at the intersection of documentary and fiction, exploring the space where humanity meets environmental mysteries. His debut short film, Scarlet Medusa, follows an aging Japanese scientist’s quest to unlock a tiny jellyfish’s secret to immortality. After premiering online through Nowness, the film went on to screen at numerous international festivals, including Palm Springs International ShortFest and the Atlanta Film Festival, where it received an honorable mention in the documentary shorts competition. His second short film, A Body Called Life, remains active on the festival circuit, having screened at over thirty festivals and picking up ten awards, including Best Documentary Short at Raindance and qualifying for the 2025 Academy Awards. Other works of his have been featured by publications including The Atlantic, National Geographic, Director’s Library, and Vimeo's "Best of the Year." He regularly directs commercial projects for brands such as Airbnb, VW, Lyft, Allbirds, and Alltrails, and he is currently in development on his first feature; a fiction titled Passengers.
