Carly Usdin

Carly Usdin (born 1982)[2] is an American director, writer, and producer. Usdin is best known for directing the 2016 film Suicide Kale and co-creating the comic book series Heavy Vinyl with Nina Vakueva. In 2019, they received the Jury Prize for Best Director for the short film Misdirection at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.[3]

Carly Usdin
Born1982 (age 40–41)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Central Florida[1]
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, writer
Years active2016–present
Notable work
Websitecarlyusdin.com

Early life and education

Usdin was raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey.[4] They are Jewish.[3] Usdin began to identify as a lesbian at age 16 and came out at age 20.[3][5] They attended the University of Central Florida and received their bachelor's degree in film.[6]

Career

Film

Usdin's feature film directorial debut, Suicide Kale, was released in 2016. Written by and starring Brittani Nichols, it also starred Jasika Nicole, Brianna Baker, and Lindsay Hicks. Usdin received the Audience Award for Best First Dramatic Feature at 2016 Outfest.[7]

In 2017, they were the showrunner and director for a digital web series called Threads, which was distributed through Verizon's Go90 platform. The show was an anthology series that dramatized stories "inspired by real events." It was hosted by Milana Vayntrub and ran for 20 episodes.[8]

They were accepted into AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women's class of 2019 cohort, through which they wrote, produced, and directed the short film Misdirection starring Vico Ortiz.[9][10] The film tells the story of Cam, a college freshman struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a crush on their straight college roommate, who becomes interested in close-up magic. Usdin drew on their personal experience with OCD to portray the protagonist's symptoms of counting.[3] It was accepted as a 2019 Official Short Film Selection at the Bentonville Film Festival.[11]

In 2021 Usdin partnered with Reese Witherspoon's media company Hello Sunshine to produce a film sponsored by Bailey's and the social media site Bumble. The short film, First Date, starred Shalita Grant and Shannon Woodward.[12]

Comic books

Usdin co-created and wrote the comic book series Hi-Fi Fight Club in August 2017, published by Boom! Studios and illustrated by Nina Vakueva.[13] The series centers on a queer teenage girl who begins working at a record store where the employees have a clandestine, all-female vigilante fight club. In November 2017, it was announced that the series' name had been changed to Heavy Vinyl.[13] Thrillist named it one of the 25 best comic books of 2018;[14] SyfyWire selected Usdin as one of the 30 best writers for comics in September 2017 for her work on Heavy Vinyl.[15] The series was nominated for a 2018 Prism Award.[16] A follow-up called Heavy Vinyl:Y-2KO was released in March 2020.[17]

The first issue of Usdin's second comic book series, The Avant-Guards, was released in January 2019.[18] The series had 12 issues in total. Written by Usdin and illustrated by Noah Hayes, it tells the story of a transfer student at an all-girls performing arts college who joins the school's fledgling basketball team.[19]

Personal life

In 2012, Usdin married photographer and producer Robin Roemer.[20] Usdin is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[21]

Filmography
Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
2016 Suicide Kale[7] Yes No Executive Received Best First Dramatic Feature at LA Outfest 2016
2017 Threads[8] Yes No Executive Web series, directed 10 episodes
2019 Misdirection[3] Yes Yes Yes Short film
2019 Wizard School Dropout[22] Yes No No Web series
2021 First Date Yes Yes No Short film sponsored by Bailey's and Bumble

See also

References
  1. Anderson, Tre'vell (28 July 2016). "Drag goes big (think Broadway) in 'Le Bal' extravaganza at the Theatre at Ace Hotel". www.latimes.com. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. Farris, Annalise. "Interview: Talking Hi-Fi Fight Club with Writer Carly Usdin". Rogues Portal. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. Hogan, Heather (March 2, 2018). "Carly Usdin Is Making Hollywood Gayer Every Day (And You Can Help)". Autostraddle. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
  4. "Exclusive: BOOM! Announces Comic About Vinyl-Loving Teen Vigilantes, Hi-Fi Fight Club by Carly Usdin & Nina Vakueva". pastemagazine.com. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  5. Usdin, Carly (2019-10-11). "I came out as a lesbian 20 years ago (lol) but my identity in constantly in flux". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  6. Hamersly, Mike (2019-05-14). "At Reel Minds Miami film festival, a search for healing and answers". Artburst. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  7. Staff (October 24, 2016). "Dark Comedy 'Suicide Kale' Is A Must See Indie Film". Curve. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. Gutelle, Sam (25 July 2017). "New Form's Newest Addition To Go90 Catalog Explores The Mysteries Of The Internet". Tubefilter. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. N'Duka, Amanda (February 13, 2018). "AFI Directing Workshop for Women Unveils Eight New Trainees". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  10. Rebecca, Down (March 9, 2018). "The GLAAD Wrap: 'Vida' trailer, 'Love, Simon' sneak peek, 'Take My Wife' on iTunes and more!". GLAAD. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  11. Ramos, Dino-Ray (May 8, 2019). "Netflix's 'Good Sam' To Make World Premiere At Bentonville Film Festival; 'Blinded By The Light' Added To Lineup". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  12. Haring, Bruce (2021-08-31). "Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Teams With Baileys Irish Cream And Bumble For "Meet Cute" Short Films". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  13. Arrant, Chris (November 8, 2017). "Behind HI-FI FIGHT CLUB's Name Change to HEAVY VINYL". Newsarama. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  14. Khan, Joshua (2019-01-03). "The 25 Best Comic Books and Graphic Novels of 2018". Thrillist. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  15. Dorville, Matt (2017-09-01). "Power Report: The 30 best comic book writers for September 2017". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on 2019-07-01. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  16. "2018 PRISM AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED". Prism Comics. July 21, 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  17. Hogan, Heather (5 July 2019). "Exclusive: Carly Usdin's "Heavy Vinyl" Is Getting a New Original Graphic Novel!". www.autostraddle.com. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  18. Pulliam-Moore, Charles (January 25, 2019). "Twins Are Demonic and Jocks Are Theater Geeks in This Week's Best New Comics". io9. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  19. Foxe, Steve (September 28, 2018). "Exclusive: BOOM! Studios Hits the Basketball Court in The Avant-Guards". Paste. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  20. Carmen (December 17, 2012). "Carly and Robin's Wedding Was, In Fact, Too Adorable For Words". Autostraddle. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  21. "About". CARLY USDIN COMEDY DIRECTOR & WRITER. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  22. Haring, Bruce (9 November 2019). "Jovanka Vuckovic & Carly Usdin Sign With CAA; Aisling Chin-Yee Inks With WME". Deadline. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
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