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Ryan G. Kelly is a writer and director whose most recent work includes a short film, Cameo.
How long have you been a part of the industry?
I completed my first short film in 2016, so about 6 years.
What inspired you to pursue acting?
I consider myself a lover of movies first and foremost, and my desire to create simply came out of a love of the medium. I was exposed to American classic movies like Singin’ in the Rain and North by Northwest from a young age, and my curiosity about movies expanded from there. The real lightning rod, though, was when I first watched GoodFellas at an arguably too young age – not just because it’s a great movie, which it is, but it was also the first time I recognized an authorial voice in a film. Before that moment, I never really understood that a movie was really made by someone, and I knew from that moment that was something I wanted to do with my life. In my early 20s, I decided to pursue this ambition in a serious way, and I enrolled in film school and started my journey as an artist there.
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What work are you most proud of recently?
At the end of 2021, I completed my latest short film, the proof-of-concept horror short “Cameo”. It was 3 years in the making and faced numerous delays and obstacles along the way, including obviously the pandemic. It was surreal to finally get it completed, and it’s starting to get out in the world which is deeply gratifying.
What advice would you give to folks in the industry?
As a director, you’re only as good as those you are surrounded with. Find people you are creatively and professionally aligned with and the sky’s the limit.
How do you stay motivated and active in your career?
There are certainly difficult moments that come with pursuing a career as a filmmaker, but I try to remind myself that anything worth doing is, by its very nature, difficult. Ultimately, to be able to build a career in the arts is an incredible privilege.
What are you working on now?
I’m mostly concentrating my energy on writing, as well as expanding my latest short “Cameo” into my first feature as director.
