
Doug Pray
Directing
Biography
Doug Pray is an American documentary film director, cinematographer, and editor who often explores unique subcultures in his films. His work includes Surfwise (2008) a portrait of the nomadic, 11-member Doc Paskowitz family (often referred to as the "first family of surfing"); Big Rig (2008), a documentary about truck drivers; Infamy (2005), a documentary about graffiti culture; Red Diaper Baby (2004) a solo-performance film starring Josh Kornbluth; Scratch (2001), a documentary about turntablism and DJ culture; and his first feature, Hype! (1996), a documentary about the explosion and exploitation of the Seattle grunge scene of the early '90's. His most recent film Art & Copy, premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, is about advertising and creativity and was distributed by PBS. In addition to his documentaries, Doug Pray has directed a number of non-fiction style commercials and commissioned short films. In 2006, he won an Emmy award in for an advocacy campaign about HIV-AIDS awareness. Doug Pray was born in Denver, Colorado, he grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, has a BA in sociology from Colorado College, and an MFA from UCLA's School of Film and Television. He resides in Los Angeles and is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Known For

A four-part documentary series that tells the stories of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre -- one the son of a Brooklyn longshoreman, the other straight out of Compton - -- and their improbable partnership and surprising leading roles in a series of transformative events in contemporary culture.
The Defiant Ones

This intimate docuseries follows Arnold Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life and career, from bodybuilding champ to Hollywood icon to politician.
Arnold

Discover the groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories behind the world’s most imaginative dwellings. In this globe-spanning docuseries, meet the visionaries who are challenging conventional concepts of “home” and rethinking how we live.
Home

A film crew in search of a new documentary project determines to find a wrongfully imprisoned death-row inmate. Enter Chauncey Ledbetter, a quirky and potentially gay prisoner convicted of murdering his high school show choir teacher. As filming of the documentary progresses, evidence increases that Chauncey might be guilty after all.
The Thin Pink Line

Dive deep into the art of storytelling by examining the defining principles and inner workings of the greatest classic films from the past century.
The Power of Film

Honest, humorous and emotional, each episode features a famous performer and their mother, alongside Dave and Virginia Grohl, as they take an impassioned journey home and explore each artists' upbringing and the tools they received as a young talent to survive the turbulence of success.
From Cradle to Stage

Set in a world not unlike mid-20th century America, The Vandal centers on Harold, whose tormented search for peace from traumatic loss results in an unexpectedly destructive awakening after he undergoes a lobotomy. When the procedure “turns his mind inside out” and his great love is suddenly gone, Harold’s desperate search intensifies.
The Vandal

The personal odysseys of some of the most influential advertising visionaries of all time and the stories behind their campaigns.
Art & Copy

This documentary examines the Seattle scene as it became the focus of a merging of punk rock, heavy metal, and innovation. Building from the grass roots, self-promoted and self-recorded until break-out success of bands like Nirvana brought the record industry to the Pacific Northwest, a phenomenon was born.
Hype!

Street pimps, all of them African-American, discuss their lives and work: getting started, being flamboyant, pimping in various U.S. cities, bringing a woman into their group, taking a woman from another pimp, and the rules and regulations of pimping. The men are clear: it's about money.
American Pimp

The inspiring and tumultuous story of 85-year old surfer, health advocate and sex guru, Dr. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, his wife Juliette, and their nine children who were all home-schooled and raised in a small camper on the beach, where they surfed and had to adhere to the strict diet and lifestyle of animals in the wild.
Surfwise

A feature-length documentary film about hip-hop DJing, otherwise known as turntablism. From the South Bronx in the 1970s to San Francisco now, the world's best scratchers, beat-diggers, party-rockers, and producers wax poetic on beats, breaks, battles, and the infinite possibilities of vinyl.
Scratch

Follow pop star Lizzo and explore her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise with an intimate look into the moments that shaped her hard-earned rise to fame, success, love and international stardom.
Love, Lizzo

A documentary profiling new generation of filmmakers in this original documentary on the Sundance Institute's Filmmaker's Lab program. An inside look at the Sundance Filmmaker's Lab, which was founded 20 years ago. The chronicle follows three young filmmakers as they grapple with the challenges of filmmaking amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of Northern Utah. Among the many filmmakers and actors discussing their involvement with the Sundance Filmmakers
Sundance 20

Big Rig (2008) is a documentary film by Doug Pray about long-haul truck drivers. The film consists of a series of interviews with different drivers, focusing on both their personal life stories and also the life and culture of truck drivers in the United States.
Big Rig

Louder Than Guns is a journey through rural, urban, and suburban America that humanizes all sides of this country’s polarized gun debate through the power of music, civil discourse, and unexpected common ground. The film tackles the extremely complicated and sensitive subject of gun violence which has become politically divisive in an open and all encompassing approach, inviting people from all aspects of the country to join in a conversation and speak their peace.
Louder Than Guns

DJ Jazzy Jay starts the party off with old school jams that will slap you back to the Bronx. Z-Trip feeds you bangers and mash-up. The X-ecutioners, in their swan song performance, give you a three-man critical beatdown. Finally, Mix Master Mike unleashes monstrous beats and diabolical scratches.
Scratch: All the Way Live

The Hemingway is a visually striking short film that explores the complexities of living with ALS. As Patrick struggles with daily tasks, the narrative voice in his head offers insights into the peculiarities of life during his most intimate moments. Unexpected twists reveal the intricacies of relationships in the silent world of ALS. The film masterfully balances life’s beauty, dark humor, and poignant revelation, offering a touching exploration of the human experience through life, death, and shit.
The Hemingway
In 2017, 20 years after Hype! (1996), filmmaker Doug Pray made a new short documentary featuring updated conversations with some of the personalities and bands who participated in the original documentary about the Seattle music scene and the Grunge movement.
Hype! 20 Years After

A feature-length documentary about graffiti culture as told through the experiences of six well-known graffiti writers and a graffiti buffer.