David Koplan is a Film Producer and founder of Magnetic Fields Entertainment with over 25 years of experience in the film industry. His latest film, The Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, where it was awarded the Silver Lion for best director, and is slated for release by A24. Koplan produced the musical-comedy Spirited, starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer, directed by Sean Anders and distributed by Apple TV+. He served as an Executive Producer on Uncut Gems, directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, released by A24, which was named one of the National Board of Review’s Top Ten Films of 2019. He also holds Executive Producer credits on Daddy’s Home, directed by Sean Anders and released by Paramount Pictures, and Dumb and Dumber To, directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, distributed by Universal Pictures.

Koplan has also served as a Producer or Executive Producer on a wide range of award-winning independent films over the years, including Michael Noer’s Papillon, Stuart Blumberg’s Thanks for Sharing, Marc Lawrence’s The Rewrite, Tim Blake Nelson’s Leaves of Grass, Ray McKinnon’s Chrystal, and Adam Rapp’s Winter Passing. A graduate of the University of Virginia, he serves on the board of the Virginia Film Festival, the LA Advisory Committee for Americares, and is an active member of The Academy.

How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I am excited to support the Telly Awards as a vehicle for recognizing extraordinary work from new and established voices.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

Producer and writer of syndicated radio shows. It taught me to work on a team and to complete episodes meeting consistent deadlines for each show.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

A distinct and original point of view.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I produce films and support filmmakers throughout every stage of the filmmaking process. I love the collaborative energy amongst everyone involved in the process and the filmmaking family that can be formed along the way to producing a new work.