Last updated: 2026-08-27 · Published: 2026-08-27
Tyler Perry Studios has launched Maxscene, a new specialty label built to help independent filmmakers get their finished movies into theaters, with longtime executive Antoinetta Stallings overseeing the division.
The announcement came through Variety on August 26. Maxscene is named after Perry’s mother, Maxine, and is designed as a home base where filmmakers who have completed films but struggled to reach audiences can find distribution support.
| What happened | Tyler Perry Studios launched Maxscene, a new specialty distribution and support label for independent filmmakers. |
| Name origin | The label is named after Perry’s mother, Maxine, whom he credits with believing in him early. |
| Who leads it | Antoinetta Stallings, Head of Development and Acquisitions at Tyler Perry Studios, oversees the division. |
| What it does | Provides distribution pipeline and studio resources to help completed indie films reach theatrical audiences. |
| Where | The studio is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| Track record | Tyler Perry Studios has produced dozens of feature films and thousands of hours of television. |
| Prior role | Stallings previously launched the studio’s joint venture with Pantheon Media Group. |
Why the label matters
Independent films often reach a dead end after wrapping: the movie is done, but the path to a theatrical release is missing. Maxscene is meant to close that gap by providing studio backing, resources and a distribution pipeline that can take a completed film to the big screen.
“Everything I’ve built in my career carries my mother with it, and Maxscene is named in her honor,” Perry said. “My mother, Maxine, believed in me before anyone else did, and that belief is the reason I never stopped chasing this path. Maxscene exists to be that same source of belief for the next generation of storytellers.”
Who is leading the division
Antoinetta Stallings, who is Head of Development and Acquisitions at Tyler Perry Studios, will oversee Maxscene. She previously launched the studio’s joint venture with Pantheon Media Group.
“I’ve spent my career working alongside filmmakers and watching incredibly talented storytellers struggle to find distribution for films that deserved to be seen,” Stallings said. “Maxscene gives creators the resources, support, and a path to distribution so their films have every opportunity to reach the audiences who may not have otherwise discovered them.”
Watch: What the Videos Show
Inside Tyler Perry’s 300-Acre Studio Compound in Atlanta
An Architectural Digest tour walks through Tyler Perry Studios’ 330-acre Atlanta campus, the former Fort McPherson army base that now houses the production company behind the new Maxscene label.
Tyler Perry Studios Announces Virtual Production Partnership
In a related expansion of the Atlanta campus, Tyler Perry Studios announced a multi-year partnership with Synapse Virtual Production to build a next-generation virtual production facility, giving filmmakers access to real-time digital backgrounds and visual effects.
Confirmed vs speculation
Some details about Maxscene are clear, while others will not be known until the label announces its slate.
| Confirmed by the studio and press | That Maxscene is a newly created specialty label focused on independent film distribution. |
| Confirmed by the studio and press | That Antoinetta Stallings will oversee the division. |
| Confirmed by the studio and press | That the label is named after Perry’s mother, Maxine. |
| Not specified in the announcement | The specific titles or slate of films Maxscene will release first. |
| Not specified in the announcement | Financial terms, budgets, or the exact theatrical release strategy behind the label. |
Note: Early online claims about specific first titles or budgets have not been confirmed by the studio.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tyler Perry’s Maxscene label?
Maxscene is a new specialty division of Tyler Perry Studios focused on distribution and support for independent filmmakers whose completed films struggle to find theatrical audiences.
Why is it called Maxscene?
It is named after Tyler Perry’s mother, Maxine. Perry says she believed in him before anyone else, and the label is intended to carry that belief forward for new creators.
Who runs Maxscene?
Antoinetta Stallings, Head of Development and Acquisitions at Tyler Perry Studios, will oversee the division.
Where is Tyler Perry Studios located?
The studio is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, where it has produced dozens of feature films and thousands of hours of television.
How does Maxscene help independent filmmakers?
It provides studio resources, support and a distribution pipeline so completed indie films can reach a theatrical audience rather than going unseen.
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Sources: Variety, IMDb, Blex Media
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