Screenwriter / Director
EMMA
NEEDELL
THE LATEST
My original screenplay, THE WATER MAN, which was made into a film directed by David Oyelowo, is premiering at the
2020 Toronto International Film Festival!
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PRESS
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BIO
I am a filmmaker who champions original storytelling. I'm drawn to stories that are "evil with a heart" — dark in theme, story, or tone, but always with a throughline of hope.
I grew up on a solar-powered cattle ranch in rural Colorado. I didn’t have cable television, but thanks to my cinephile parents, I had a robust collection of films to watch growing up — and it was through these films that I first discovered the larger world. After graduating from the Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Film, Spanish, and Environmental Studies, I moved to LA to make movies of my own.
When I was 24 years old, my breakout script, The Water Man, caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo, who came on to produce the project. The Water Man was featured on the 2015 Blacklist, and in 2019 was made into a feature-length film. A-List actor David Oyelowo came on to direct, with Rosario Dawson, Alfred Molina, and Lonnie Chavis co-starring with Oyelowo.
I have since worked with Oscar-winning directors and producers, and on original projects in partnership with Netflix, Anonymous Content, MGM/Orion, Amblin, Apple, and Gaumont TV. Most recently, I was featured on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
