Kely McClung is a multifaceted individual, exceling as an award-winning director, writer, and actor. His journey into the film industry began after winning the brutal World Championship in Full Contact Stick-Fighting.
With expertise in nearly every aspect of filmmaking, McClung is also a skilled artist and photographer, with his artwork and photographs exhibited in various galleries around the country. His portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi is prominently displayed at the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Change in Atlanta, Georgia.
As an actor, McClung is known for being a generous yet demanding "actor's director," with a keen eye for bringing out the truth in performances from his actors. His martial arts background, with black belt ranks in multiple disciplines, has also influenced his cinematography and post-production skills.
McClung's martial arts studies under top teachers have led to him being twice inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Honours in Munich, Germany. He has also taught martial arts in the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Discovered by martial arts legend Mike Stone, McClung was initially brought to LA to replace Jean-Claude Van Damme. Although Van Damme renegotiated his contracts, McClung was signed by Stone and spent time in Africa and the Philippines working on films and learning to apply his martial arts techniques to the screen.
McClung was then signed to a multi-picture deal with Menahem Golan, and later became Head of Production for Pan Am Pictures, helping to complete four films for Sam Lupowitz before starting his own production company, Media Arts International Film Corporation.
As a film director, McClung's feature debut, Blood Ties (2007),was a critically acclaimed film that won numerous awards, including "Action Film Of The Year" and "Best Visual Fx" at the Action on Film Festival.
McClung's subsequent films, Kerberos and Altered, continued to push the boundaries of filmmaking, incorporating visual effects and working with top professionals in the industry. Both films won multiple awards for artistic and technical achievement.
In addition to his feature films, McClung has also directed several short films, including A.M. Session, which was nominated for the Short Film Awards at the American Black Film Festival and sold to HBO.
McClung's latest short film, Loop (2016),has garnered numerous awards for "Best Film" and "Best Director," including the prestigious "Indie Adler" at the Austrian Film Festival.
Despite his busy schedule, McClung still trains and teaches martial arts, and conducts workshops for advanced skills around the world. He is also in development on several documentaries focusing on diverse topics such as poverty, violence, and climate change.
