Danny Lee is an Emmy-award-winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter from Los Angeles, California. His work is known for capturing culture and the human condition with a focus on authenticity and emotion. Lee received critical acclaim for his film Who is Stan Smith? (2024).
Danny Lee | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| Genre | Documentary, Drama, Inspirational, Black Comedy |
| Subject | Culture, Arts, Music, Sports, Fashion, Pop Culture |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Website | |
| dannyleeworks | |
Early life
editThe son of Korean immigrants, Lee grew up in the Hancock Park area in Los Angeles.[1] At the age of 10, Lee started making films with his family’s Hi-8 camera. As a teenager, Lee gravitated towards and participated in a variety of subcultures, including skateboarding, graffiti art, and hip-hop. Lee regularly attended the Project Blowed open mic events in Leimert Park, CA and eventually formed his own hip-hop music collective called Six Cents. Lee began his career with Lionsgate Entertainment.[2]
Career
editLee has directed and produced a variety of work including documentaries, scripted films, and commercials. He is most well known for directing the feature documentary Who Is Stan Smith?, which explores the story behind tennis and fashion icon Stan Smith. The film was released theatrically in over 70 markets across the United States,[3] and was executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter's Uninterrupted.[4][5] Lee is also known for the award-winning 30 for 30 documentary Friedman’s Shoes for ESPN,[6] about the storied shoe store in Atlanta, featuring Shaquille O'Neal.[7] In 2005, Lee released his directorial debut at the AFI Fest with Rock Fresh,[8] a candid documentary about graffiti artists taking their subversive art mainstream.[3][9] Lee's success with Rock Fresh led him to create CALICO, a production studio based in Los Angeles.[10]
In 2010, Lee created, wrote and directed The Clinic, a Hulu comedy series about a marijuana dispensary.[11][12] Lee also directed Road To Brooklyn, a documentary series executive produced by Jay-Z, which chronicled the story of the Brooklyn Nets relocating from New Jersey to Brooklyn; the series was a 2013 Webby Awards honoree.[13][14] Lee was a 2014 Webby Awards Honoree again in 2014 for his film Roll on Rockaway.[15] He directed the documentaries Midnight in Juarez and Skate or Die, the latter of which was inducted into the Smithsonian Institution.[16]
Lee also directed the Nissan-branded ESPN series With Dad featuring Clay Matthews Jr.,[17] which won the 2015 Cynopsis Best Branded Web Series award.[3][18] His television series After The Raves documents the history of dance music with Tommie Sunshine, and is available for streaming on Red Bull TV.[19][20][21] In 2018, Lee directed and produced Public Disturbance for Lionsgate. The feature comedy stars Mike Tyson, Skyler Samuels, Amber Stevens West, Bobby Lee, and Dillon Francis.[22][23][24]
In 2020, Lee partnered with Nike to direct and produce The Story of Air Max: 90 to 2090, a 24-minute documentary celebrating the history of the iconic sneaker.[25] Later that year, Lee continued his collaboration with Nike on The Story of Dunk, a six-part series tracing the story of the iconic Nike Dunk.[26] That same year, Lee directed and produced a pair of documentaries for Hulu, including one on transgender actress/model/activist Dominique Jackson,[27] and another on former NBA center Jason Collins, who made history in 2013 by becoming the first active openly gay player in any of the "Big Four" sports leagues in the United States.[28]
In 2024, Lee partnered with actor Dulé Hill (The West Wing) and PBS to direct and produce The Express Way with Dulé Hill, a docuseries which follows Hill as he explores the transformative power of the arts. Each episode offers a glimpse into the lives of American artists using their craft to catalyze change. The "Appalachia" episode, for example, introduces Amythyst Kiah, whose song “Black Myself” was nominated for a Grammy for Best American Roots Song in 2020.[29] as well as Doug Naselroad, a luthier based in Hindman, Kentucky who teaches individuals on the road to recovery from opioid addiction how to make stringed instruments using authentic Appalachian hardwood.
Lee was featured in Paper Magazine's 20th Anniversary Beautiful People issue in March 2007.[30] In 2008, the Filmmakers Lab within the Korean Film Council named Lee the recipient of the Best Project Award, along with a cash grant for his feature film script, Winter War.[9][31]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Rock Fresh | Yes | |
| 2010 | The Clinic | Yes | |
| 2012 | Road To Brooklyn | Yes | |
| 2012 | Skate or Die | Yes | |
| 2013 | Detroit Rubber | Yes | |
| 2013 | Road Trippp | Yes | |
| 2013 | Roll on Rockaway | Yes | |
| 2014 | Midnight In Juarez | Yes | |
| 2015 | With Dad | Yes | |
| 2015 | After The Raves | Yes | |
| 2016 | 30 For 30 Shorts: Friedman's Shoes | Yes | |
| 2018 | Public Disturbance | Yes | |
| 2020 | Defining Moments | Yes | |
| 2020 | The Story of Air Max: 90 to 2090 | Yes | |
| 2020 | The Story of Dunk | Yes | |
| 2024 | Who Is Stan Smith? | Yes | |
| 2024 | The Express Way with Dulé Hill | Yes |
References
edit- ^ "Durable Goods signs director Danny Lee". shots. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Danny Lee". Film Independent. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ a b c "Danny Lee Works". Dannyleeworks.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Stan Smith talks being more than just a sneaker in documentary". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Lawrence, Andrew (2024-05-01). "Who is Stan Smith? New film uncovers tennis and footwear legend". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "ESPN Gives an In-Depth Look Into the Iconic Retailer Friedman's Shoes". Hypebeast. 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "ESPN readies '30 for 30 Shorts' slate". Retrieved 2018-04-27.
- ^ "AFI FEST 2023 | Film Results". AFI FEST. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ a b "Kofic declares Lee's 'War' a winner". Variety.com. 9 December 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "CALICO | About". CALICO. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "'The Clinic' Blazes Across Hulu". Tubefilter.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "The Office + Weeds = The Clinic - PAPERMAG". Papermag.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Road to Brooklyn". Webbyawards.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Life + Times Continues The 'Road To Brooklyn' With "The Look"". Vibe.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "The Red Bulletin presents: Roll on Rockaway". Webbyawards.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service - Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America". Sites.si.edu. Archived from the original on June 29, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Friedman's Shoes - ESPN Films: 30 for 30". Espn.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "2015 Cynopsis Model D Awards - Results - Cynopsis MediaCynopsis Media". Cynopsis.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Tommie Sunshine Documents Dance Music History in 'After The Raves' Series". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Tommie Sunshine Travels the World for Red Bull TV's 'After the Raves'". Https. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Tommie Sunshine Explores Miami Dance Music in Red Bull TV's After the Raves". Miaminewtimes.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Mike Tyson Joins Prank-Comedy Pic 'Public Disturbance'". Deadline Hollywood. 19 July 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Mike Tyson Joins The Janoskians Film Public Disturbance". Indiewire.com. 20 July 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Mike Tyson on board for prankster comedy Public Disturbance". Ew.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ Deng, Victor. "Nike Celebrates Air Max Day With New Documentary". Complex. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Watch the Trailer to Nike's 'The Story of Dunk' Documentary". Hypebeast. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "'Pose's Dominique Jackson Tells Her Heartbreaking Story". www.out.com. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Reimer, Alex. "Watch: Jason Collins' historic coming out story is featured in new Hulu series". OutSports. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ Martin, Amy R. (2024-04-29). "Appalachian Music is Equalizer, Medicine, and Message in "The Express Way with Dulé Hill"". Southern Review of Books. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Beautiful People 2007: Danny Lee - PAPERMAG". Papermag.com. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "KOFIC Awards Danny Lee 2008 FDL Grant". Koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved September 25, 2016.