Michael D. Ratner

Michael D. Ratner is an American writer, director, and producer. He founded OBB Pictures in 2010 and as its President/ CEO, has grown OBB Pictures into a leading millennial-driven content production company.^[1]

Michael D. Ratner
Born	July 11, 1989
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts
Occupation	President & CEO of OBB Pictures
Website	OBB Pictures

Education

Ratner attended the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Film and minored in English. He then went on to graduate from NYU Tisch Graduate Film School where he received a Masters of Fine Arts in film directing, writing, and producing.

OBB Pictures

Founded by Ratner in 2010, OBB Pictures is a multimedia production company that produces film, television, music videos, commercials, and digital media, specializing in millennial-driven comedy, drama, sports, documentary and music related content. The company has since expanded and now includes a collective of producers, writers and directors.^[2] In October 2014, OBB Pictures signed a one-year, first-look deal with Relativity Sports.^[3]

In 2016, Ratner's company teamed with Mandalay Sports Media to develop and co-produce a series of sports-themed films, TV projects and multi-media programming. The company also formed a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group, owner of a global portfolio of iconic fashion, sports, celebrity and entertainment brands including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali, to develop content across their brands for digital and traditional platforms targeted towards millennials.^[4]

OBB has also created projects for ESPN, TNT, VICE, The Weinstein Company, Funny or Die, Dimension Films, AMC Networks, Tinder, Verizon's Go90, EPIX and many others.^[5] The company has earned seven New York Emmy Awards for its work ^[6] and showcased films in the Sundance Film Festival,^[7] South by Southwest Film Festival ^[8] and the Tribeca Film Festival.^[9]

OBB Pictures operates in Los Angeles and New York, and is based out of Beverly Hills, CA.^[10]

Filmography

One In A Billion (Upcoming) – Director, Producer, Writer^[11]

• Chronicles the journey of the NBA’s first ever Indian born player, Satnam Singh Bhamara.

Tinderin Foster: Tinder (2016) – Director, Producer, Writer^[12]

• Tinder’s first original series starring Youtube sensation Erin Foster.

The 5th Quarter: Verizon Go90 (2016) – Director, Producer, Writer, Creator^[13]

• The mockumentary series made in partnership with 3 Arts Entertainment and Kids at Play chronicles “the greatest untold and untrue stories in sports history”.

Gonzo @ The Derby: ESPN 30 for 30 Short (2016) – Director, Producer, Writer^[14]

• Part of the ESPN 30 for 30 Short series that revisits the lasting legacy of the 1970 Kentucky Derby and the reporter Hunter S. Thompson who introduced the world to Gonzo Journalism.

NCAA Final Four Activation: LG Branded Content (2016) – Director, Producer^[15]

• LG Branded Content for the 2016 NCAA Final Four

Ride Along: Vice Sports (2016)^[16]

• Digital series for Vice Sports featuring star players inside their cars as they head to their biggest games of the year.

In Football We Trust (2015) – Executive Producer^[17]

• Documentary that captures a snapshot in time amid the rise of the Pacific Islander presence in the NFL.

Mario Cuomo More Than Words (2015) – Director, Producer^[18]

• Mario Cuomo Tribute Documentary.

Dwight Howard documentary In The Moment: EPIX (2014) – Executive Producer^[19]

• Cameras follow Dwight Howard both on and off the basketball court in a revealing look at what it takes to become an NBA superstar.

The 30 Year Old Bris (2014) – Director, Producer, Writer^[20]

• A romantic comedy about an interfaith couple and the girlfriend’s demand that her 30-year-old boyfriend, Brad, complete his conversion to Judaism by getting a circumcision before they wed.

Wear The Hair: ESPN (2013) – Director, Producer, Writer^[21]

• Documentary about Chandler Parson's hair.

STAY SLEEPING’: HOT 97 (2012 - Music Video) – Director, Producer, Writer^[22]

• Music video short for Hot 97.

Piranha 3DD: Funny Or Die (2012) – Director^[23]

• The pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark and wreak havoc on the visitors.

Awards and honors

In the spring of 2012, Ratner was named as one of the “SUBWAY Fresh Artists Filmmakers” and awarded $50,000 to create a branded content mini-series which was featured at the South by Southwest Film Festival.^[24]

In early 2014, Ratner directed segments for the New York Emmy Award winning series "The Lineup: Sports Movies". As director, he won 3 New York Emmy’s for episodes he directed in the categories of “ENTERTAINMENT: PROGRAM/SPECIAL” for “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies – Baseball”, “SPORTS: INTERVIEW/DISCUSSION” for “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies – Boxing” and “SPORTS: ONE-TIME SPECIAL” for “The Lineup: Best Sports Movies – Football”.^[25]

In the spring of 2014, Ratner's short romantic comedy film “The 30 Year Old Bris" was an official selection at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, competing in the Short Narrative competition and screening in the “Totally Twisted” category. The film starred actor Nick Fondulis, Jaclyn Jonet, and Donnell Rawlings and featured a cameo from Chris Elliott.^[26]

References