Meet Dan
as a filmmaker
Dan A. R. Kelly is a screenwriter and filmmaker in Atlanta. A proud member of the Writers Guild of America, Dan earned multiple awards for his short films before moving into features. The film Susie's Hope, on which Dan worked as a screenwriter and producer, is available nationwide through Green Apple Entertainment, following its broadcast premiere on UPtv.
Currently, Dan is under contract as a screenwriter for Café Oscuro Films and with Historia, Inc. His screenplay Chattanooga was a Finalist in the Big Break Screenwriting Contest and a Quarter-Finalist in the Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship in 2015. The script, an historical drama, also placed in the Blue Cat Screenplay Competition, Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition and the Circus Road Screenplay Competition.
Dan co-wrote the script for Ocean Drive, based on the true story of Chicken Hicks, the father of "shag-dancing;" which is in development with the Academy Award-winning producer Fred Roos. Other screenwriting projects in development include Charlatan, a romantic comedy about faith and the sitcom pilot "Contempt of Court."
Dan is a full-time faculty member with the Georgia Film Academy, an exciting new program with the University System of Georgia, focused on creating the next generation of filmmakers for Georgia's booming industry.
An alumnus of UNC-School of the Arts for Film Directing (BFA, 2001) and Hollins University for Screenwriting (MFA, 2014), Dan has won awards and recognition with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; Scholastic, Inc.; the Cannes International Film Festival; the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival; Greenville International Film Festival; NBC/Universal's ChillerTV; the 48 Hour Film Project; Project Breakout; NewFimmakers NY; South Carolina Theater Association; Southeastern Theater Conference; and others.
Dan has also worked as a crew member on over forty television programs and feature films, such as Almost Friends (Production Coordinator), The Design Network's "Space Off" (Creative Producer), The Disappointments Room (2nd Accountant); Hallmark Channel's The Confession (APOC); Dark Awakening (Casting Director); The Taking of Deborah Logan (1st Accountant); The Disappointments Room (2nd Assistant Accountant); The 5th Quarter (Casting Associate); Stalemate (2nd AD); Beautifully Departed (Co-Editor); The History Channel's "Madhouse" (Script Logger), TruTV's "Southern Fried Stings" (Casting Associate), Old Post Films' "Starting Strong," WE Network's "Bridezillas," and on commercials for Home Depot, Wrangler, Gatorade, Nike and more.
Currently, Dan is under contract as a screenwriter for Café Oscuro Films and with Historia, Inc. His screenplay Chattanooga was a Finalist in the Big Break Screenwriting Contest and a Quarter-Finalist in the Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship in 2015. The script, an historical drama, also placed in the Blue Cat Screenplay Competition, Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition and the Circus Road Screenplay Competition.
Dan co-wrote the script for Ocean Drive, based on the true story of Chicken Hicks, the father of "shag-dancing;" which is in development with the Academy Award-winning producer Fred Roos. Other screenwriting projects in development include Charlatan, a romantic comedy about faith and the sitcom pilot "Contempt of Court."
Dan is a full-time faculty member with the Georgia Film Academy, an exciting new program with the University System of Georgia, focused on creating the next generation of filmmakers for Georgia's booming industry.
An alumnus of UNC-School of the Arts for Film Directing (BFA, 2001) and Hollins University for Screenwriting (MFA, 2014), Dan has won awards and recognition with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts; Scholastic, Inc.; the Cannes International Film Festival; the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival; Greenville International Film Festival; NBC/Universal's ChillerTV; the 48 Hour Film Project; Project Breakout; NewFimmakers NY; South Carolina Theater Association; Southeastern Theater Conference; and others.
Dan has also worked as a crew member on over forty television programs and feature films, such as Almost Friends (Production Coordinator), The Design Network's "Space Off" (Creative Producer), The Disappointments Room (2nd Accountant); Hallmark Channel's The Confession (APOC); Dark Awakening (Casting Director); The Taking of Deborah Logan (1st Accountant); The Disappointments Room (2nd Assistant Accountant); The 5th Quarter (Casting Associate); Stalemate (2nd AD); Beautifully Departed (Co-Editor); The History Channel's "Madhouse" (Script Logger), TruTV's "Southern Fried Stings" (Casting Associate), Old Post Films' "Starting Strong," WE Network's "Bridezillas," and on commercials for Home Depot, Wrangler, Gatorade, Nike and more.
as an actor
Dan's career as an actor has included lead roles in many short and independent films, television programs and commercials. He has been seen as a lead player in commercials for Auto Advantage, Snapper Lawnmowers, the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, and PawnSouth, and has appeared as a background performer in commercials for Subway and State Farm Insurance. Dan has had a speaking role in the feature films Fast, Foresight, Gigi: God's Little Princess, Hellphone, eXploder, Toasted Ants and Graveyard Love, as well as many award-winning short films, including "Last Call," "Milites Christi," "Fatal Flaw," "Jesus, Maria," "Versus," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Henchman," and "Hello, Sorry, Whatever." Dan played major roles in the television pilots Beautifully Departed and Baby Blues. Dan has a long list of professional theatrical credits.