
MICHAEL HOY
Director. Writer. Editor. Producer.
I got my start on the set of Donnie Darko (now a celebrated Indie-cult movie) as the assistant to director Richard Kelly, and producer Sean McKittrick (Get Out, BlacKkKlansman, Us). After being on a movie-set, I simply just didn't want to do anything else. The fall after we shot Darko, I dropped all my classes at The University Of Southern California and started chasing the dream.
I have directed over a dozen feature-length scripted movies, including ten feature-length Vertical Micro-Dramas made for mobile, which are currently available for viewing on various downloadable vertical entertainment apps such as ReelShort, KalosTV, and DramaBox to name a few.
I am honored to be the director of one of the first original feature-length micro series for the new micro series entertainment app aTwist coming this Summer 2026. aTwist is lead by Jana Winograde (former President of Entertainment for Showtime), Susan Rovner (former Chairman of Entertainment Content for NBCUniversal TV+Streaming, former President of Warner Bros. TV), and Chris McGurk (former President and COO of Universal Pictures, CFO and President of The Walt Disney Motion Picture Group).
I have directed TV-Movies for Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, and the Lifetime Movie Club App, most recently KIDNAPPED IN A SMALL TOWN now available for rental and purchase on Amazon Prime and most paid streaming services.
I have directed hundreds of scripted short-form entertainment-driven videos released on digital social channels, including award-winning branded content for top brands with media companies like BuzzFeed, and NBCUniversal.
To learn more about me, click "read more" below.
Content
I am an award winning branded video creative. I have worked with over 100 top brands and have amassed 300+ million branded content views. I have created branded content across multiple categories including: food, fitness, lifestyle, automotive, pets and animals, consumer packaged goods, pharma, finance, and tech.
AWARDS
BEST
WEB
SERIES
BEST VIDEO
CREATIVE
BEST
BRANDED
CONTENT
2023 Daytime EMMY® Awards |
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
for contributions as a Senior Digital Video Editor,
The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC
2022 Daytime EMMY® Awards |
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
for contributions as a Senior Digital Video Editor,
The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC
2020 Commercial Director's Diversity Program | Semi-Finalist
2018 ThinkLA IDEA Awards |
Best Video Campaign
BuzzFeed + Hyundai - Better Drives Us / Young Entrepreneur Series
2017 Summit Emerging Media Visionary Award | Best TV / Internet Video Campaign
BuzzFeed + Hyundai - Better Drives Us / Young Entrepreneur Series
2017 Ad Week Reader's Choice Poll Winner | Hottest In Native Advertising
BuzzFeed Native Advertising
2015 Webby Award | Best Branded Content
"Dear Kitten" - BuzzFeed
2014 Digiday Award | Best Video Creative
"Dear Kitten" - BuzzFeed
2014 #1 Top Ad By A YouTube Content Creator | Google YouTube
"Dear Kitten" - BuzzFeed
YouTube Ads Leaderboard | Google YouTube
Over 20 top ten leaderboard mentions, showcasing ads that people choose to watch each month | BuzzFeed
Favorite YouTube Ad Of The Past Decade
| Google YouTube
"Dear Kitten" - BuzzFeed (nominated)
2014 Stage Alliance Ovation Award |
Best Video / Projection Design
"The Wrong Man" - Skylight Theatre Company
2013 LA Weekly Web Awards |
Best Web Series
"The Best Of Craigslist" (nominated)






