Conversations with Noah Kelly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Kelly

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Oh you know, the usual…

I grew up in Charleston, SC. From a very young age, I wanted to act and make movies. At 12, I asked my mom if we could go to Hollywood to audition for roles, which she always laughed off.

In high school, when I would express my dreams and goals, it was often met with the rhetoric of “you should come up with a real plan” or “what’s your back up?” I was also told I should be a teacher – mostly by teachers – because “I loved art.” One of those teachers – my drama teacher – also said I’d never be a lead in her plays my freshman year. Well, I ended up sporting lead roles in 4 of her plays, one of which – an adaptation of Singin in the Rain – I learned to sing, tap dance and do a backflip.

All of that, may seem pointless in a backstory, but one thing you should know about me before I tell the rest of my story is I’m not a fan of being told what I can or can’t do.

Just before my 19th birthday, I moved halfway across the country to the great city of Chicago where I attended Columbia College of Chicago. In Chicago, I was able to evolve my love for filmmaking, where I discovered my passion for directing and cinematography. For the first time, I was introduced to a network of people and resources where I could grow my experience and skillset. There I worked on my first Feature film, an independent production titled ‘Range Runners’ which undoubtedly was one of the hardest experiences of my life. Although it was exhausting and intimidating it was then I knew I was where I wanted to be.

In 2018, just before my 23rd birthday, I took the leap to finally make that move to good ole Hollywood. It was a gamble. I lived on two of my closest friends’ couch for 45 days (not a typo), and after buying an old car and finding an apartment with two other friends also new to town, I was left with a whopping total of $33 dollars to my name (again, no typo).

It took time, drove postmates, worked on live shows and conventions as a stage hand, and worked on student films for free just to meet whoever I could. I’m very grateful for those people I met early on, some connections from my college, some from happenstance.

Over that year, I struggled but grew, slowly replacing gig jobs with consistent work on set. After working on numerous music videos, commercials and too many Lifetime movies, I finally was given the opportunity to work on my first union TV show as a Set Lighting Technician. There I met, one of my mentors, Mike Murray, who saw something in me. Over that year, I saw myself go from a permit member to the 2nd Unit Gaffer of a major network TV series.

All of that was cool, but my life was changed when I met my life and creative partner, Elise Felber. I had the dream and Elise had the direction. Sharing a love for independent filmmaking, Elise and I have worked tirelessly to develop our own creative projects.

In 2021, Elise and I began developing and producing our first pilot series. In 2023, we took a bigger leap, producing our first short film, ‘Dead Body’ which was lucky enough to collect a few awards in the US and internationally in the festival circuit, two more separate pilots, and a music video which also was lucky enough to receive recognition and awards at various festivals. This year we completed our second short, ‘Spritz’ which recently had its world premiere at the Highland Park Independent Festival.

Listen, everything I’m saying isn’t necessarily a success story, my life is still a work in progress. But I love to share my story, because I know I’m not the first person who has travelled across the country to LA in order to pursue a career in filmmaking, and I know I won’t be the last. So whoever reads this, I hope you can find the hope to believe in yourself and do what other people say you can’t. If this poor boy from South Carolina can do it, so can you.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest obstacle I’ve run into is primarily financial. I was lucky enough to have two parents who loved me very much, but we weren’t in the best economical situation. I payed for college on my own (really just took on a lot a debt that I’ll pay for the rest of my life).

I got my first job and 14, and throughout college I often had 2 if not 3 jobs in order to pay rent.

As I mentioned, when I moved to LA, I had only had $33 left to my name once everything was said in done. I wasn’t able to go out and buy a camera like some people could do my age, which is why I steered toward a career in lighting instead of just going out and shooting what o wanted too.

I’ve always hated using money as an excuse though, so where it was a challenge, it gave me a lot of survival skills that I’m extremely grateful for and I believe that has given me the advantage to grow quickly in my young career.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a proud member of IATSE local 728. I work full time as a Set and Chief Lighting Technician.

I am also a working as a director of photography and a producer for my independent film production company, Rubber Baby Films, with my Partners Elise Felber and Tai Pham

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I mean movies are a given, but I love to experience time with various friends. And who doesn’t love a good road trip? Oh right, and basketball. For me… ball is life

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahckelly?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@noahkelly4498?si=5IaOE7zVRQV8NXzr