Biography
A graduate of Syracuse University and Los Angeles native, Matthew Levin got his start working on HBO's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO, where he directed several multi-camera shoots, including Harry Shearer's "J. Edgar!" featuring John Goodman, Kelsey Grammer, and Christopher Guest.
Shortly after, Levin co-founded Captured Live Productions, where he produced the AdLib Comedy Series for Sony Entertainment, co-partnered with Sprint to launch the first ever 24-hour mobile comedy network and was brought on to produce X's, critically acclaimed 25th anniversary special, X: Live in Los Angeles. Levin directed multiple television specials while at Captured Live, including Pretty, Funny Women for WeTV, (Chelsea Handler); William Shatner's Has Been Live, (William Shatner/Ben Folds/Henry Rollins); Particle: Transformations Live, (Joe Satriani/Blackalicious/Robby Krieger); and interviews with Ann and Nancy Wilson for Heart: Dreamboat Annie Live.
Levin has produced and directed multiple television specials for multi-platinum recording artist, Yanni, including PBS's Yanni: Voices, Voices Live in Acapulco and A Living Legacy, the latter of which was the first television special produced under the Levin Productions banner. Live at El Morro, filmed with 22 cameras at Puerto Rico's historic 16th century fortress, debuted on PBS in Spring 2012. Levin worked with Disney/Hollywood Records recording artist, Nathan Pacheco, on his debut PBS special before re-joining Yanni on his 2013 world tour throughout Europe and Asia.
Levin was hired in late 2013 to help launch BiteSizeTV, where he co-created Hollywood Today Live for FOX Television and served as an Executive Producer on the show's initial 6-week run, ushering it to a full-year pickup. Levin also directed several specials in conjunction with Dave Stewart's Weapons of Mass Entertainment featuring live performances and interviews with Ringo Starr, Billy Ray Cyrus, Drake Bell and many others.
In 2014, Levin joined Harpo Productions for Oprah: Where are They Now on the OWN Network, conducting in-depth celebrity interviews with guests including Leah Remini, Leeza Gibbons, Master P and Lisa Rinna-- the latter of which earned him a guest appearance on Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Also in 2014, Levin released his 5th collaboration with Yanni and PBS, World Without Borders, which continues to enjoy worldwide success.
On January 1, 2015, The Oprah Winfrey Network aired an all-day series of civil rights specials, for which Levin's work was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Later that year, Levin collaborated with Yanni again for a massive production at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt, which will air on PBS stations throughout 2016. Levin also produced season 6 of Oprah: Where Are They Now, returning to OWN fall, 2016.
