Carly Usdin got her start in the visual arts as a kid growing up in New Jersey when, instead of writing papers, she’d turn in poorly-made videos for school assignments. After getting a film degree from the University of Central Florida she moved to New York City, where she spent several years with Viacom Media Networks. During that time she created award-winning promo campaigns for RuPaul’s Drag Race and produced an on-air music series called NewNowNext, interviewing nearly 200 artists including Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, Courtney Love, Robyn, Sia, Tegan and Sara, Scissor Sisters, Adele, Kylie Minogue, Florence + the Machine and Lady Gaga.
Carly relocated to sunny Los Angeles in 2012 with her wife Robin and their miniature schnauzer Arthur. Together they formed Scheme Machine Studios, a full-service creative agency and production company. Carly's freelance clients include Funny or Die, Vice, CollegeHumor, Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, World of Wonder, CBS, Viacom, Fullscreen, Studio71, Portal A, Astronauts Wanted, New Form and Magical Elves. She spent most of 2014 producing and directing YouTube Nation (the official daily show of YouTube), a joint venture from Google and DreamWorks Animation. In 2015 she and her best friend/co-producer Cesar Hawas began a live event series with the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles called Le Bal. Carly is a proud member of the Los Angeles chapter of Film Fatales, the Alliance of Women Directors and the Academy of Magical Arts.
Carly's first feature, an award-winning no-budget indie called Suicide Kale, is now available on iTunes, Vimeo and Amazon Prime after a whirlwind tour on the festival circuit. Her first comic book, Hi-Fi Fight Club, comes out in August from Boom! Studios. She is also the showrunner and one of the directors of a new digital anthology series called Threads, streaming now on Verizon's go90 platform.
Carly has done branded work for clients including Absolut Vodka, Buick, Cadillac, Chase, Garnier, Hershey’s, Lionsgate, L’Oreal, Microsoft, Orbitz, Smashbox, Southwest Airlines, Stride and Verizon. Awards and honors include a One Show Entertainment Award, several Promax BDA Awards, a CTAM Mark Award, a few Creativity Media and Interactive Awards, and a spot in the 53rd Communication Arts Awards Design Annual.
Carly is a huge nerd, French fry connoisseur, and aspiring close-up magician. She hates snakes and is making an effort to read more books this year.