Joel Gallen

Joel Gallen
Born
Detroit, MI
Alma materUniversity of Rhode Island
Occupations
TitleFounder and president, Tenth Planet Productions
Board member ofUniversity of Rhode Island Harrington School of Communications and Media Executive Advisory Board
Awards
  • Emmy award
  • DGA award
  • Peabody award
  • PGA award
Websitewww.tenthplanet.net

Joel Gallen is an American director and producer. He is the founder of Tenth Planet Productions, a Los Angeles-based film and television production company.

In 2001, Gallen produced and directed America: A Tribute to Heroes, a charity telethon and concert that raised money for victims of the 9/11 attacks. With no live audience, no celebrity introductions, and sparse staging, the production design became a template for charity concerts and events.

Gallen created the MTV Movie Awards and the comedic short films that became their signature. He produced and directed The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary Concert in addition to 20 of its induction ceremonies. He also produced and directed stand-up shows and comedy specials for Comedy Central and HBO, directed Not Another Teen Movie, and executive produced the film Zoolander, which was based on a VH-1 Fashion Awards short film.

Gallen has received 14 Primetime Emmy nominations over the course of his career, from a 2001 nomination for Ellen DeGeneres' HBO special, The Beginning, to two 2023 nominations for Chris Rock's livestreamed Netflix special, Selective Outrage.