Joy Kecken is a showrunner, producer, and librettist, as well as a playwright and director, who has worked in television productions, films, and documentaries for over twenty years.
She has written and directed for the critically acclaimed HBO series, The Wire, and recently has finished an incredible season as an Executive Producer on Apple TV+’s Swagger. Her feature, All-In, is in development with Maven Pictures.
She has also served as a Co-Executive Producer on Nat Geo’s Genius series for the MLK/X season, FX’s Kindred, and Freeform’s Motherland: Fort Salem. She was a Consulting Producer on the critical darling feature documentary, The Biggest Little Farm, which got on the Oscar doc shortlist.
As a director, librettist, and Consulting Producer for Boston Lyric’s award-winning digital opera, desert in, Joy has fulfilled a lifelong dream of bridging her musical background with her love of cinema, all while on location in Palm Springs.
Her additional writing credits include Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, Tales, and Homicide: Life on the Street. Last year, she participated in the 24 Hour Plays visit to LA to support the Entertainment Fund for crewmembers affected by the strikes, and her play, Hollywood Invitation, was performed at the Hudson Theatre.
Her shorts and feature documentary that she wrote and co-directed screened at over 30 film festivals, and she has developed series at Amazon, ABC Signature, and FX.
She has taught at ArtCenter College of Design, Sundance Collab, and internationally for American Film Showcase, a USC School of Cinematic Arts/State Department program.
Joy lives with her husband and daughter in Los Angeles.
- Towson State University: Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication Magna Cum Laude
I view the classroom as a sacred, inspirational, and inclusive space, and I seek to make it safe for any student who chooses to join me on their journey to reach their potential. The students tend to teach me as much as I teach them, and I look forward to the exchange we will have each and every time the class gathers. I understand how brave it is to walk through the door or link onto Zoom because of economic and learning challenges, food insecurities, or psychological or community pressures.
My industry needs to make room for storytellers with diverse backgrounds, and in a way, this is me doing my part to ensure there are pathways for those storytellers. I make it a point to reach the students where they are and to provide them with any resources they may need. Ultimately, I want my students to feel seen and to be successful in their academic career and beyond.
- The Wire: The BookWriter Contributor to Novel, Cannongate Books
- Tribeca Film Festival, 2023 Official Selection of World Premiere, Swagger
- OPERA America, 2022 Finalist for Excellence in Digital Opera Awards
- Sundance Film Festival, 2018 Runner-up for the Festival Favorite Award
- American Film Institute, 2018 Audience Award for Best Feature
- 92nd Oscars, 2018 Shortlist – Documentary Feature
- Art Center College, 2016 Faculty Grant for Teaching Advancement Award
- WGA, 2014 Feature Access Project Award Honoree, 2013 Contributor Honor to 100 Top TV Shows
- Member of the Television Academy, Directors Guild West and Writers Guild West.