Doug Pray is a renowned American documentary film director, cinematographer, and editor, recognized for his captivating portrayals of unique subcultures in his films. His extensive body of work encompasses a diverse range of subjects, including Surfwise (2008),a thought-provoking documentary that delves into the extraordinary life of the nomadic Doc Paskowitz family, often referred to as the "first family of surfing".
In addition to this captivating film, Pray has also explored other fascinating subcultures, such as the world of truck drivers in Big Rig (2008),the vibrant culture of graffiti in Infamy (2005),the life of a solo-performance artist in Red Diaper Baby (2004),and the dynamic art of turntablism in Scratch (2001). His directorial debut, Hype! (1996),is a gripping documentary that examines the meteoric rise and subsequent exploitation of the Seattle grunge scene in the early 1990s.
Pray's most recent film, Art & Copy, premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and delves into the world of advertising and creativity. This thought-provoking documentary was distributed by PBS and further solidified Pray's reputation as a masterful documentary filmmaker.
Beyond his work in feature-length documentaries, Pray has also directed a variety of non-fiction style commercials and commissioned short films. His exceptional skill in this realm was recognized with an Emmy award in 2006 for an advocacy campaign promoting HIV-AIDS awareness.
Born in Denver, Colorado, Pray grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Colorado College and a Master of Fine Arts degree from UCLA's School of Film and Television. He currently resides in Los Angeles and is an active member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
