Hiro Murai

Last updated

Hiro Murai
Born
1983 (age 40–41)

Tokyo, Japan
Alma mater University of Southern California
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active2005–present
Website hiromurai.com

Hiro Murai (born 1983) [1] is a Japanese-born American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He is best-known for music videos for Childish Gambino, Earl Sweatshirt, Chet Faker and others. [2]

Contents

He rose to prominence with his work on the FX series Atlanta (2016–2022), created by and starring frequent collaborator Donald Glover, on which he served as a director and producer. For his work on the series, he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He would also serve as a director on four episodes on the HBO comedy-drama series Barry (2018–2023), and as a director and executive producer on the HBO limited series Station Eleven (2021–2022), the latter of which also garnered him a further Primetime Emmy Award nomination. [3]

His music video and television work has received widespread acclaim, and garnered him a Primetime Emmy Award (for his work as an executive producer on the Hulu series The Bear ) and a Grammy Award (for his work on "This Is America").

Early life and education

Murai was born to Japanese popular music composer Kunihiko Murai. [1] He moved to Los Angeles when he was nine years old. He graduated with a degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. [4]

After graduation, Murai turned to freelance work as the director of photography for numerous music videos, as well as VFX and storyboarding, most notably for Ace Norton. After some time Murai began to direct low budget films.

Career

In 2013, he directed the short film Clapping for the Wrong Reasons , [5] [6] a companion piece for Childish Gambino's second studio album, Because the Internet , and its attached screenplay. In the same year, he created a multi-panel video set for Frank Ocean's performance at the Grammys. [7] [8]

Since 2016, Murai has directed several episodes of the comedy-drama Atlanta , collaborating again with Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino). [9] [10] For his work on the show, he has received three nominations for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. [11]

In 2016 he directed a Nike campaign starring Chance The Rapper. [12]

He directed the music video for Childish Gambino's "This Is America", released on May 5, 2018, which was described as "the most talked-about music video of recent memory", [13] and which Billboard critics ranked 10th among the "greatest music videos of the 21st century." [14] In 2019, Murai won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video for directing the video. [15]

In June 2018, it was announced that he would direct a science fiction feature film, Man Alive, written by David Robert Mitchell. [16]

In November 2018, the trailer for his debut feature film Guava Island , starring Donald Glover and Rihanna, premiered at the Pharos Festival in New Zealand. [17] Guava Island was released on April 13, 2019, by Amazon Studios through Amazon Prime Video. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 74% based on reviews from 43 critics, with an average rating of 6.60/10. [18] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 8 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [19]

In 2021, Murai directed the first and third episodes of the science fiction miniseries Station Eleven for HBO Max. [20]

Murai directed the first two episodes of the 2024 action comedy drama Mr. & Mrs. Smith starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. [21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleCreditsNotesRef
2013 Clapping for the Wrong Reasons DirectorStars Donald Glover [6]
2019 Guava Island DirectorStars Donald Glover & Rihanna [22] [23]

Television

YearTitle Director Producer Executive
producer 		NotesRef.
2016–2022 Atlanta YesYesYesDirected 26 episodes; produced/executive produced 41 episodes [9]
2017 Legion YesNoNoEpisode: "Chapter 6" [24]
2017Sea OakYesNoYes Amazon Prime Video pilot [25]
2017 Snowfall YesNoNoEpisode: "Trauma" [26]
2018–2019 Barry YesNoNo4 episodes; HBO comedy series [27]
2021–2022 Station Eleven YesNoYes2 episodes; HBO Max limited series [28]
2022 The Bear NoNoYes Hulu series [29]
2024 Mr. & Mrs. Smith YesNoYes2 episodes; Amazon Prime Video series [29]

Music videos

YearTitleArtist Director NotesRef.
2005"Small Apartment Party Epiphany" Make Believe YesCo-directed with Steve Drypolcher
Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer
2006"Crooked Teeth" Death Cab for Cutie Director of photography
"Someday You Will Be Loved" Death Cab for Cutie Director of photography
"Cobrastyle" Teddybears Director of photography
2007"Living a Lie" Aqueduct Director of photography
2009"Submarine Symphonika" The Submarines Director of photography
"Signs (Armand Van Helden Remix)" Bloc Party Yes
"Me-Time" Busdriver Yes
"Heartless" The Fray Yes
"Unbalanced Pieces" Soulsavers Yes
"Staying In Love" Raphael Saadiq Yes
2010"Airplanes" B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams Yes
"DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" Usher featuring Pitbull Yes
"The Show Goes On" Lupe Fiasco Yes
2011"Stereo Hearts" Gym Class Heroes featuring Adam Levine Yes
2012"Shady Love" Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy Yes
"Mind Control" Friends Yes
"It's Only Life" The Shins Yes
"She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)" David Guetta featuring Sia Yes
"Chum" Earl Sweatshirt Yes
"Cheerleader" St. Vincent Yes
2013"Hive" Earl Sweatshirt Yes
"High Road" Cults Yes
"3005" Childish Gambino Yes
2014"Smooth Sailing" Queens of the Stone Age Yes
"Sweatpants" Childish Gambino Yes
"Do You" Spoon Yes
"Gold" Chet Faker Yes
"#CAKE" Shabazz Palaces Yes
"Never Catch Me" Flying Lotus Yes
"Telegraph Ave" Childish Gambino Yes
2015"Sober" Childish Gambino Yes
"Grief" Earl Sweatshirt Yes
2016"Take It There" Massive Attack Yes
"Day Ones" Baauer Yes
"Black Man in a White World" Michael Kiwanuka Yes
2017"Dis Generation" A Tribe Called Quest Yes [30]
2018"This Is America" Childish Gambino Yes [31]
2020"sad day" FKA Twigs Yes
2024"Little Foot Big Foot" Childish Gambino Yes

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
Grammy Awards 2019 Best Music Video "This Is America", Childish Gambino Won [34]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards 2022 Best Directing in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie"Wheel of Fire", Station Eleven Nominated
Best Directing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy"New Jazz", Atlanta Nominated [35]
MTV Video Music Awards 2015 Best Direction "Sober", Childish GambinoNominated [36]
2018 "This Is America", Childish GambinoWon [37]
Primetime Emmy Awards 2017 Outstanding Comedy Series AtlantaNominated [38]
2018 Nominated [39]
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series "Teddy Perkins", AtlantaNominated
2022 "New Jazz", AtlantaNominated [40]
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie "Wheel of Fire", Station Eleven Nominated
2023 Outstanding Comedy Series The Bear Won [41]
UK Music Video Awards 2016 Best DirectorHimselfNominated [42]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Glover</span> American actor, comedian, singer, and filmmaker (born 1983)

Donald McKinley Glover Jr., also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is an American actor, comedian, singer, rapper, and filmmaker. While he studied at New York University and after working in Derrick Comedy, a comedy group, Glover was hired by Tina Fey to write for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock at age 23. He gained fame for portraying college student Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2014. From 2016 to 2022, he starred in the FX series Atlanta, which he created and occasionally directed. For his work on Atlanta, he won various accolades including two Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as two Golden Globe Awards.

Melina Matsoukas is an American music video, film, commercial and television director. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner and four-time MTV Video Music Awards winner for her "We Found Love" and "Formation" music videos. She was honored with the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal by the American Film Institute in 2019. Her directorial debut in film was Queen & Slim, starring Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya, and written by Lena Waithe. She then worked as executive producer and director for television series Insecure, being nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2020.

Glassnote Records is a record label that was launched by American music executive Daniel Glass in 2007. With a lineup of primarily indie rock and alternative rock artists, the New York-based independent label has an enviable roster, including Grammy Award winning acts Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino and Silvana Estrada, and standouts AURORA, Chvrches, Grouplove, Tors, bby, Jade Bird, Patrick Martin, Talia Rae, Gracey, Two Door Cinema Club. The label is distributed by The Orchard as of 2022. and partnered with How Good for Australian representation in 2024. Glassnote also has a strong Australian connection, having released recordings from the likes of Flight Facilities, The Teskey Brothers and The Temper Trap.

<i>Camp</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Childish Gambino

Camp is the debut studio album by American rapper Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Glassnote Records. After releasing four mixtapes and three independent albums, Gambino signed a deal to Glassnote, making Camp his first album on a major record label. The album was co-produced in its entirety by Gambino's longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludwig Göransson</span> Swedish composer (born 1984)

Ludwig Emil Tomas Göransson is a Swedish composer, conductor, songwriter, and record producer.

<i>"Awaken, My Love!"</i> 2016 studio album by Childish Gambino

"Awaken, My Love!" is the third studio album by American actor and rapper Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released by Glassnote Records on December 2, 2016. Consisting of tracks being sung rather than rapped, its fusion of psychedelic soul, funk and R&B influences was considered a bold departure from the predominantly hip hop style of his prior work. The album was produced by Glover and his longtime collaborator, Ludwig Göransson.

"Redbone" is a song recorded by American rapper Childish Gambino, the stage name of Donald Glover. It was released on November 17, 2016, and serves as the second single from his third studio album "Awaken, My Love!" The song received three Grammy Award nominations including Record of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, eventually winning the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance. In 2021, it was ranked No. 383 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"The Big Bang" is the pilot episode of American comedy-drama television series Atlanta. It originally aired on FX on September 6, 2016, back-to-back with the second episode "Streets on Lock". The pilot episode focuses on Earn Marks trying to convince his rapper cousin Alfred to let him be his manager. The episode was written by series creator Donald Glover and directed by Hiro Murai. On September 7, 2016, FX released the first two episodes of Atlanta on YouTube for free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is America (song)</span> 2018 single by Childish Gambino

"This Is America" is a song by American hip hop artist Childish Gambino. Written and produced by Gambino and Ludwig Göransson, with additional writing credits going to American rapper Young Thug, it was released on May 6, 2018, at the same time that Gambino was hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live. The song features background vocals from Young Thug alongside fellow American rappers Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd, BlocBoy JB, and Atlanta-based rappers 21 Savage and Quavo. The lyrics and accompanying music video, reflecting the core of the Black Lives Matter movement, confront issues of ongoing systemic racism, including prejudice, racial violence, the ghetto, and law enforcement in the United States, as well as the wider issues of mass shootings and gun violence in the United States. Originally, Gambino intended it to be a diss record towards fellow rapper Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like Summer (Childish Gambino song)</span> 2018 promotional single by Childish Gambino

"Feels Like Summer", also known as "42.26", is a song by American recording artist Childish Gambino. The song was released by Wolf+Rothstein, Liberator Music and RCA Records on July 11, 2018. It was written and produced by Gambino and his longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson. The song was made available for digital download and streaming along with "Summertime Magic" as a part of the extended play Summer Pack. It is featured on the FIFA 19 soundtrack. It later appeared on his fourth album, 3.15.20, under the title "42.26". The song received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Summer Pack</i> 2018 EP by Childish Gambino

Summer Pack is the third extended play by American actor and musician Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released by Wolf+Rothstein, Liberator Music and RCA Records on July 11, 2018. It contains only two songs, "Summertime Magic" and "Feels Like Summer". The EP was produced by Glover and his longtime collaborator, Ludwig Göransson. It was revealed to the public via social media shortly after its release in a surprise manner.

The This Is America Tour was the fifth concert tour by American recording artist Childish Gambino. The tour began in the summer of 2018, playing over 30 shows in North America and Europe.

<i>Guava Island</i> 2019 film directed by Hiro Murai

Guava Island is a 2019 American musical film directed by Hiro Murai with a screenplay by Stephen Glover written by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Ibra Ake, Jamal Olori and Fam Udeorji. It stars Donald Glover and Rihanna in the lead roles of Deni and Kofi, respectively, and was first exhibited at the Coachella Festival on April 11, 2019. It was then released on April 13, 2019, by Amazon Studios through Amazon Prime Video for anyone to watch without a subscription for 18 hours before being available to Prime subscribers only. In the final hour of the 18 hours, the film was streamed on the Coachella YouTube page and Twitch. Donald Glover was co-headlining at the event as Childish Gambino.

<i>Atlanta</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American television series Atlanta premiered on September 6, 2016. The season is produced by RBA, 343 Incorporated, MGMT. Entertainment, and FXP, with Donald Glover, Paul Simms, and Dianne McGunigle, serving as executive producers. Glover serves as creator and showrunner, and wrote four episodes for the season.

Ibra Ake is a Nigerian-American artist. He has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer, photographer, and creative director. He is best known for his work as a writer on the FX show, Atlanta, and director on Beyonce's visual album, Black is King. In 2019, he won a Grammy as a producer on Childish Gambino's music video, "This Is America".

<i>3.15.20</i> 2020 studio album by Childish Gambino

3.15.20 is the fourth studio album by American actor and rapper Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was initially uploaded to the website donaldgloverpresents.com on March 15, 2020, before being taken down 12 hours later. After a countdown, it was released to streaming and download services under the title 3.15.20 on March 22. It is therefore interchangeably referred to as both 3.15.20 and Donald Glover Presents.

"Time" is a song by American rapper Donald Glover, under the stage name Childish Gambino, from his fourth studio album 3.15.20 (2020). It was re-recorded and rereleased on the album Atavista (2024). The song features guest vocals by American singer Ariana Grande and background vocals by American gospel musician Brent Jones and his backing group The Best Life Singers. It was produced and written by Glover and Grande, along with DJ Dahi, Ludwig Göransson, and Chukwudi Hodge. Australian songwriter Sarah Aarons is also credited for writing and British producer Jai Paul provided miscellaneous production.

<i>Atavista</i> 2024 studio album (reissue) by Childish Gambino

Atavista is the reissue of American rapper Childish Gambino's fourth studio album, 3.15.20, described by Gambino as a "finished version". The album was released on May 13, 2024, five days after 3.15.20 was removed from streaming platforms. The album maintains the same guest appearances from the unfinished version, while incorporating new guest appearances from Young Nudy and Summer Walker.

<i>Bando Stone & the New World</i> Studio and soundtrack album by Childish Gambino

Bando Stone and the New World is the fifth and final studio album by American rapper Childish Gambino. Released on July 19, 2024, through RCA Records, it is also the soundtrack album to his upcoming film of the same name. The album was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised its eclectic production, mature songwriting and Glover's vocal performance, but were mixed on its lack of cohesiveness.

References

  1. 1 2 "Music video by Tokyo-born filmmaker wins Grammy". Japan News. February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Music Videos". www.hiromurai.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Hiro Murai - Emmy Awards, Nominations, and Wins". Emmy Awards . Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ "An Interview with Director Hiro Murai". www.booooooom.com.
  5. ↑ "Other Films". www.hiromurai.com.
  6. 1 2 "Music Video Director Hiro Murai Is Donald Glover's Secret Weapon - DJBooth Article". Djbooth.net. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  7. ↑ Murai, Hiro (February 27, 2013), Frank Ocean "Forrest Gump" Grammy Visuals , retrieved November 26, 2018
  8. ↑ "Behind the Scenes of Frank Ocean's Grammys Performance with Director Hiro Murai". The FADER. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Nguyen, Hanh (September 13, 2016). "'Atlanta': Hiro Murai Directs FX's Beautiful and Baffling Series | IndieWire". www.indiewire.com. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Atlanta (TV Series 2016–2023): Full credits: Series directed by". IMDb. May 7, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Hiro Murai". emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ Murai, Hiro (August 6, 2016), Nike x Chance The Rapper - We The People , retrieved November 26, 2018
  13. ↑ Kornhaber, Spencer (May 7, 2018). "Donald Glover Is Watching You Watch Him". The Atlantic. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ 'This Is America' Best Music Video 2019 Grammy Award Dedicated to Childish Gambino's Late Father, February 11, 2019, retrieved November 27, 2023
  16. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 13, 2018). "'This Is America' Director Hiro Murai In Talks For Fox Sci-Fi Thriller 'Man Alive'". Deadline. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  17. ↑ "'Guava Island' Trailer: Watch Donald Glover & Rihanna's New Movie Trailer". Stereogum. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Guava Island (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Guava Island". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  20. ↑ Greene, Steve (June 25, 2019). "'Station Eleven': Hiro Murai's Next TV Directing Gig Is Adapting a Post-Apocalyptic Novel". IndieWire. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  21. ↑ Kholsa, Proma (February 6, 2024). "'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' Showrunner Francesca Sloane Explains Those Amazing Guest Stars". IndieWire. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  22. ↑ Guava Island , retrieved November 26, 2018
  23. ↑ "Donald Glover and Rihanna to Star in New Movie: Watch the Trailer | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  24. ↑ "'Twin Peaks' to Akira Kurosawa: How FX's Most In-Demand Director Learned His Visual Storytelling Style". IndieWire . June 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  25. ↑ "'Sea Oak': Amazon Comedy Pilot Taps Hiro Murai To Direct; Evan Dunsky As EP/Co-Showrunner; Adds Cast". Deadline Hollywood . June 21, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  26. ↑ "The 25 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2017". Complex. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Hiro Murai Throws Out Rulebook With 'Atlanta', Delivers Visceral Action With 'Barry' & Wows With "This Is America"". Deadline Hollywood . June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  28. ↑ "'Station Eleven': Hiro Murai's Next TV Directing Gig Is Adapting a Post-Apocalyptic Novel". IndieWire . June 25, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  29. 1 2 "FX Orders Family Restaurant Pilot 'The Bear' From Christopher Storer, Hiro Murai to Produce". Variety . March 19, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  30. ↑ Blistein, Jon (March 30, 2017). "Watch A Tribe Called Quest's Gorgeous 'Dis Generation' Video". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  31. ↑ Kim, Michelle (March 6, 2018). "Watch Childish Gambino's Video for New Song "This Is America"". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  32. ↑ "NEWS: 2013 MVPA Award Nominees". VideoStatic. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  33. ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2014: Hiro Murai wins Best Director, DANIELS take Video Of The Year, Joseph Kahn accepts Icon Award on Promo News". PromoNews. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  34. ↑ Contreras, Cydney (February 10, 2019). "This Is America Best Music Video 2019 Grammy Award Dedicated to Childish Gambino's Late Father". E! Online. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  35. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (August 14, 2022). "HCA TV Awards: 'White Lotus,' 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Better Call Saul' Lead Winners". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  36. ↑ Lindner, Emilee (July 21, 2015). "2015 VMA Nominations: Get The Full List Now". MTV.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  37. ↑ Park, Andrea (August 20, 2018). "Full list of 2018 MTV Video Music Awards winners". CBS News . Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  38. ↑ "69th Primetime Emmy Awards". Primetime Emmy Awards . Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  39. ↑ "70th Primetime Emmy Awards". Primetime Emmy Awards . Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  40. ↑ "74th Primetime Emmy Awards". Primetime Emmy Awards . Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  41. ↑ "75th Primetime Emmy Awards" (PDF). Primetime Emmy Awards . Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  42. ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2016: here are the nominations..." www.ukmva.com. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.