In March 2022, we welcomed Award-winning Director Alan J Levi as part of The 20/20 Series, created by NYFA’s Creative Director of Filmmaking and Cinematography, Liz Hinlein.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Alan J. Levi began his filmmaking career at fifteen years of age when he produced and directed a half-hour, black-and-white comedy, Keep Your Spirits High while as a high school sophomore. By the time he graduated high school, Alan – with his own company “Petite Productions” – made a total of 43 films.
A Northwestern University graduate with a degree in Radio, TV and Film with minors in Electrical Engineering and Psychology, Alan directed over 2000 hours of live television around the world, and functioned as Director of Photography/Director on over 450 primetime network commercials. He was cameraman/director for 67 ABC’s Wide World of Sports and the 1970 and 1974 Olympics’ “up close and personal” segment which focused on American Olympic athletes. Alan directed over 350 hours of network television in the past 45 years including Movies-of-the-Week, pilots and miniseries such as Scruples, Battlestar Galactica, The Incredible Hulk, Columbo, The Return of Sam McCloud, Legend of the Golden Gun, The New Invisible Man, and The Stepford Children.
Among the series he’s directed are NCIS, NCIS-LA, ER, JAG, Columbo, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Magnum, P.I., Miami Vice, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Hercules, The Fugitive, Lois & Clark – The New Adventures of Superman, The Cosby Mysteries, Simon & Simon, Airwolf, Bionic Woman, Fame, Six Million Dollar Man, and a bunch of unmentionable others!
His directing credits earned him a Cannes Film Festival Gold Lion, Western Heritage Award, two New York International TV and Film Festival Grand Awards, two Clio Awards, several Silver Spike Awards, an Idyllwild International Film Festival award, Mediterranean Film Festival Cannes award, 2019 Circle Festival of Shorts award, and Sapporo International Short Film Festival award.
Alan has guest lectured classes on filmmaking techniques at AFI, USC, UCLA and Brooks Institute of Photography, as well as numerous acting and filmmaking study groups.
The 20/20 Series is a pop-up event that takes us into the homes, hubs, and workspaces of an array of dynamic creative visionaries to allow for relaxed, engaging conversations on craft, creation, and artistic vision. Each conversation with a creative visionary features 20 minutes of discussion with a moderator and a 20-minute Q&A from YOU, the audience.
