About
Emma Needell is an award-winning writer and director whose work spans film, television, comic books, and digital media, crafting emotionally-driven narratives that resonate across platforms.
Emma's breakthrough came with The Water Man, an original screenplay that was produced by Oprah Winfrey, directed by David Oyelowo, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before global release on Netflix.
She followed that with Life Rendered, a hybrid live-action/virtual production short film that premiered at Tribeca, qualified for Academy Award consideration, and showcased her ability to merge cutting-edge technology with deeply human storytelling. Emma has since written and developed projects with major studios including Netflix, MGM, Apple, and Amblin, and was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment.
Outside traditional film and TV, Emma served as Head of Story at tech start-up Tally Labs, where she led world-building and narrative development for Azurbala, a jungle-punk fantasy universe. She’s also brought her storytelling expertise to brand campaigns and cause-based content, including creative work for the American Red Cross.
Whether building original IP, directing on set, or crafting emotionally resonant branded content, Emma’s work is defined by its ambition, emotional clarity, and ability to connect across platforms and audiences.
"Her 2015 Black List script 'The Water Man' sold to Disney, with Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films producing and David Oyelowo attached to direct. Her second screenplay, a prison break musical, sold to MGM/Orion, and she is also working on a feature project for Netflix with Oscar-winning director Patrick Osborne."
"For Needell, Oyelowo’s connection to [The Water Man] and his promise to keep her involved throughout the process was something she had to say yes to... She was also the one who encouraged him to take the director’s chair."
"It’s a tricky balancing act to take an audience from a terminally-ill mom to an avalanche of insects, but director David Oyelowo (working from Emma Needell’s Black List screenplay) gets all the tones just right in 'The Water Man.'"
"'I will never forget where I was and the profound effect Emma’s script [The Water Man] had on me, the day I first read it,' Oyelowo wrote in an email. 'The script took me back to my childhood while also evoking experiences I could relate to as a parent. I just knew I had to be part of making this film.'"
"'Life Rendered' succeeds in holding its audience’s attention while dazzling them with its modern take on technology as a form of communication, community and escapism."
Matthew Ball, Author of The Metaverse
"[Life Rendered] is a touching story on the humanity of technology and the many ways we find ourselves, our voice, and each other."
Work
Creative Strategy Meets Emotional Impact
