Biography
Joel Edwards is the President and Executive Producer of Evolve Studios®, an independent full-service production company that produces a diverse range of content; from original feature films, episodic series, documentaries, branded & commercial content, promos, music videos and immersive VR content.
Evolve partners with the world's top networks, studios & brands including Disney, Netflix, National Geographic, ESPN, NBC Universal, HBO, Discovery, and many others.
Founded in 2010, what started out as an artist entrepreneurial dream, Evolve has grown to become one of the most discreetly influential original & branded content studios.
Raised in Los Angeles, and then moved across the country over 7 times, Joel was born for the hustle/bustle of entertainment & media. At 18, he passed up college to work freelance for ESPN & FOX Sports and form his first production company. Working in almost every below-the-line role in television, Joel's education was completed in the field and hands-on. In the early years, Evolve's small "band-of-brothers" crew traveled across all continents, filming documentaries, promos & branded content.
In 2011, Joel became one of the youngest ever National Television Emmy Award winners, at 26 years old. His subsequent craftsmanship in Cinematography, Directing, Editorial & VFX over the next few years has been recognized at the highest levels, including 6 total Emmy Awards and over 45 nominations from the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. Ultimately, his love for people over pixels began transitioning him from artist to executive and he pursued a bigger dream to build a new & unique, studio size organization.
In 2014 he set his sights on moving the company Nashville and empowered by incredible talent, team culture, and blue-collar creative work ethic, Evolve has been rapidly building a multifaceted company that now develops, produces & provides production services in three industry verticals.
Joel passionately believes in community stewardship & giving generously of his time, talents & resources to others. Along with spearheading strategic partnerships with Make-A-Wish, Helping Hands, and many others; he also serves on several non-profit committees and boards, including Tennessee Kid's Belong which champions local children's foster care & adoption efforts.
Joel lives in Franklin Tennessee, with his beloved high-school-sweetheart-now-wife, Erica & their 3 children.
