F. Gary Gray Is Next Subject of ‘Shooter Series’

By : Billy Gil | Posted: 14 Dec 2009
bgil@questex.com

Shooter Series Vol. Two: F. Gary Gray, from Vivendi Entertainment and Genius Products on DVD Feb. 16 (prebook Dec. 29) at $24.95, collects some of director F. Gary Gray’s most successful music videos as well as the documentary on Gray “Doing The Impossible.” The documentary includes interviews with actors who have worked with Gray as well as with artists such as Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Babyface.

“It’s a lot of fun because they go into their experiences not only working with me on the set but kind of what it’s like to work with a director who has experience in music videos,” Gray said. “And it becomes a roast after a while.”

Gray first came into notoriety with music videos such as TLC’s award-winning “Waterfalls,” which touched on issues such as HIV and gang violence, and urban films such as Friday and Set it Off. His success has taken him through directing such Hollywood films as 2009’s Law Abiding Citizen, with Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler.

“I look at it as kind of the first chapter,” Gray said. “A lot of people really don’t know that this is my body of work. A lot of people will say, ‘You did Waterfalls?’ Or, ‘You did The Negotiator?”

Music videos in the set include those by artists such as Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifa. The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes featurette on Law Abiding Citizen and trailers from some of his films.

Of his development from a director of urban music videos and films to directing more integrated casts in bigger-budget films, Gray said he never planned on making one specific type of film. Rather, he enjoys the challenges his success has brought him.

“I don’t look at color; I never have,” Gray said. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to tell different stories and have people see me as a filmmaker first.”

The DVD also includes a collectible booklet with rare photos.

The first “Shooter Series” DVD was on director Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand), who co-created the series.