Kelly Needleman
MA Media Producing Class of 2026
Hometown: Sonoma, California
Kelly Needleman is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and producer with degrees from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Pepperdine University. His work blends cinematic storytelling with emotionally grounded narratives, spanning narrative films, branded campaigns, and commercial productions for major companies including Gold’s Gym, Sotheby’s and Albertsons. He is currently developing feature projects while supporting film and television production at Wayfarer Studios.
Website: https://www.kellyneedleman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyneedleman/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9637880/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyneedleman/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyneedleman/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/kellyneedleman
Why did you pursue the MA Media Producing?
I pursued the MA Media Producing program to deepen my understanding of the business side of the entertainment industry while continuing to work professionally in Los Angeles. I wanted to strengthen my skills in budgeting, scheduling, development, and entertainment law so I could better navigate both the creative and operational sides of filmmaking and television production.
Please tell us about your real-world application of the learnings and skills you developed in the MA Media Producing program?
The MA Media Producing program gave me practical experience in budgeting, scheduling, entertainment law, and managing productions from development through delivery. I apply these skills daily in my work.
What are you working on now/what's coming up for you?
Supporting film development and production at Wayfarer Studios. Current projects include a biopic on Audrey Hepburn filming in Budapest, and Hello Darkness, directed by Tony Goldwyn, inspired by The Sound of Silence, currently shooting in New York City. Also developing the feature adaptation of my proof-of-concept short film, Web of Deceit.