Michael D. Ratner

Michael D. Ratner is an American entrepreneur,[1][2][3][4] media proprietor, filmmaker, investor and philanthropist.[5][6][7][8][9][10] Ratner is the founder of OBB Media, the multimedia production company and studio with divisions in television, film, digital, podcasts,[11] branded content, and social good. Ratner directed and executive produced Justin Bieber: Seasons docuseries, which broke the record for YouTube Originals as the most-viewed premiere ever globally,[12] tallying over 32.65 million views in its first week alone. He is also the creator, showrunner, director and executive producer of Cold as Balls, starring Kevin Hart,[13] which has garnered over 1.6 billion viewers. In 2018, Ratner was honored on Variety Hollywood's Creative New Leaders and in 2019 Forbes Magazine named him to its “30 Under 30” list[14] in Hollywood & Entertainment.

Michael Daniel Ratner
Born (1989-07-11) July 11, 1989
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania, New York University Tisch Graduate Film
OccupationEntrepreneur, Media Propietor, Filmmaker, Philanthropist, Investor
OrganizationOBB Media, Myron Arthur Holdings
TitleFounder, President & CEO of OBB Media
WebsiteOfficial website

Early Career and Education

Ratner spent his early teens working at production companies. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Film and English,[15] he went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts in film directing, writing, and producing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.[16]

OBB Media

Ratner founded OBB Pictures in 2016 alongside co-founder and COO Scott Ratner with a focus on film, television and digital production. The company would later be rebranded to OBB Media to reflect the addition of podcast and audio production, branded content and social good divisions.[17]

In May 2016, Ratner directed and produced Gonzo @ the Derby for ESPN's 30 for 30 series, which followed Hunter S. Thompson's trip to the Kentucky Derby and is narrated by Sean Penn.[18]

Later that year, Ratner partnered with Mandalay Sports Media to co-produce a series of sports-themed films.[19]

In 2019, Ratner served as executive producer and director on OBB's Historical Roasts for Netflix.[20]

Ratner is also the creator, showrunner, director and executive producer of Cold as Balls, starring Kevin Hart.[21] The show features Hart interviewing different sports personality in each episode while they're immersed in ice baths. As of November 2020, the show has garnered over 1.1 billion viewers,[22] and its fourth season is currently airing.[23]

In early 2020, OBB premiered a docu-series titled: Justin Bieber: Seasons.[24] The 10-part series premiered two episodes weekly and sold for more than $20M. The series received more than 32 million views on its first week of airing with YouTube announcing it as the company's highest rated premiere in their history.[12][25]

Later that year, Ratner directed the music video for Justin Bieber's Intentions.[26] The video featured Bieber and Quavo. Within the first 19 hours of release, “Intentions” surpassed “Sorry” and became Justin Bieber's second most viewed music video as lead artist on YouTube in its first 24 hours. As of November 2020, the music video has over 275 million total viewers.[8][9]

Ratner executive produced The Harder Way for ESPN+ via his OBB Pictures banner alongside LeBron James and his Springhill Entertainment.[27]

As of 2020, Ratner is directing and producing an upcoming docuseries focused on Demi Lovato.[28][29][4]

Awards and Nominations

In 2014, Ratner's film “The 30 Year Old Bris” was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.[30] In 2016, Ratner's film Gonzo @ the Derby for ESPN's acclaimed 30 for 30 series was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.[31] The film follows Hunter S. Thompson's trip to the Kentucky Derby and is narrated by Sean Penn. In 2018, Ratner was honored on Variety Hollywood's Creative New Leaders. In 2019, Ratner was recognized by Forbes Magazine and named to its “30 Under 30” list in Hollywood & Entertainment. In 2020, Justin Bieber's Intentions featuring Quavo was nominted for “Best Pop” Video at the 2020 VMAS which Ratner directed and produced.[32]

Philanthropy

In 2016, Ratner co-chaired the NYU Scholarship Fund Gala alongside Jonathan Cohen and honorary chairs Martin Scorsese, Janice & Billy Crystal, which was hosted by Alec Baldwin & Spike Lee. The event raised more than $2,100,000 – a gala record. The NYU Scholarship fund provides the opportunity for all students with the requisite talent and passion to follow their dreams to come to NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

In 2019, Ratner directed the music video for Justin Bieber's single “Intentions” featuring Quavo which featured an impact component benefitting the women featured in the video as well as the Alexandria House organization. Ratner alongside Bieber, Scooter Braun Projects and Universal Music established the Intentions Fund with a $200,000 gift and encouraged fans of the video to contribute to the organization as well. With help from the Intentions Fund, women at the Alexandria House have been able to continue pursuing their college degrees, secure housing, secure much-needed transportation, and maintain a sense of normalcy and security.[6] As a result of the video, Alexandria House has seen an 800% increase in web traffic, more than 200 donations from around the world, and increased exposure due to the over 325 million total viewers as of November 2020.

Filmography
YearTitleNotesRole
2011SupermilkShortDirector, Writer, Producer
2014Dwight Howard: In the MomentExecutive Producer
2014The 30 Year Old BrisTest
2015In Football We TrustExecutive Producer
2015Mario Cuomo: More Than WordsDirector, Executive Producer, Writer
201630 for 30: Gonzo @ The DerbyDirector and Executive Producer
2016Ride AlongDirector and Executive Producer
2016One in a BillionDocumentaryExecutive Producer
2017Mini MarilynShortExecutive Producer
2018Comedy by BlakeTV Mini-SeriesDirector and Executive Producer
2018The 5th QuarterTV SeriesCreator, Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer
2018Kevin Hart's Cold as BallsCreator, Director, Showrunner, Executive Producer
2019Can I Steal You for a Second?TV SeriesExecutive Producer
2019Historical RoastsTV SeriesDirector and Executive Producer
2020Justin Bieber feat. Quavo: IntentionsMusic VideoDirector and Executive Producer
2020Justin Bieber: SeasonsTV SeriesDirector and Executive Producer
2020A Season with the Memphis TigersTV SeriesDirector and Executive Producer
2020&MusicTV SeriesDirector and Executive Producer
2020Justin Bieber: Next ChapterDocumentary
2021Demi Lovato: Dancing with the DevilDocumentary seriesDirector, Producer, Executive Producer

References
  1. Bova, Dan (22 February 2018). "This Man Started His Own Content Company and Got 20 Million YouTube Views With Kevin Hart". Entrepreneur.
  2. "This 29-Year-Old CEO Got His Big Break by Cold Calling Stars Like Kevin Hart and Blake Griffin. Here's His Secret to Success". Money.
  3. "Michael Ratner". Forbes.
  4. Staff, Entrepreneur (21 August 2020). "Lights, Camera, Disinfectant! Creating Great Content With Kevin Hart, Demi Lovato and Blake Griffin in the Age of Covid-19". Entrepreneur.
  5. "Videos". FOX 11 Los Angeles.
  6. Moorwood, Victoria (10 February 2020). "Quavo and Justin Bieber reportedly drive up donations to homeless shelter". REVOLT.
  7. "Justin Bieber & Quavo Team up For Powerful Music Video 'Intentions': Watch". Billboard.
  8. "How Justin Bieber's new song, 'Intentions,' helps women in L.A." Los Angeles Times. 7 February 2020.
  9. Legaspi, Claire Shaffer,Althea; Shaffer, Claire; Legaspi, Althea (7 February 2020). "Justin Bieber, Quavo Give Back in Heartwarming New 'Intentions' Video". Rolling Stone.
  10. Digital, Daymarker. "Our People". Fuck Cancer.
  11. "OBB Pictures Expands Into Podcasting, Branded Content | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com.
  12. Spangler, Todd (5 February 2020). "Justin Bieber's 'Seasons' Docuseries Sets YouTube Originals Viewing Record". Variety.
  13. Pedersen, Erik (16 June 2020). "Kevin Hart's 'Cold As Balls: Cold Calls': Premiere Date & Trailer For Homebound Version Of Web Series". Deadline.
  14. "30 Under 30 2019: Hollywood & Entertainment". Forbes.
  15. "This Millennial Filmmaker Is Riding the Digital Wave With His NBA Buddies". OZY. 23 August 2018.
  16. Bova, Dan (22 February 2018). "This Man Started His Own Content Company and Got 20 Million YouTube Views With Kevin Hart". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  17. Jarvey, Natalie. "OBB Pictures Expands Into Podcasting, Branded Content | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  18. "30 For 30's Gonzo @ The Derby brings Hunter S. Thompson masterpiece to life". Awful Announcing. 4 May 2016.
  19. Brien, Kyle. "Reaching millennials: producer Michael Ratner finds a 'snackable content' niche within his generation". The Drum.
  20. Hipes, Patrick (20 September 2018). "Netflix Lands Jeff Ross-Starring 'Historical Roasts' From OBB Pictures As Original Series". Deadline.
  21. Spangler, Todd; Spangler, Todd (8 February 2018). "Kevin Hart Gets 'Cold as Balls' in Ice-Bath Comedy Interview Series". Variety.
  22. Pedersen, Erik; Pedersen, Erik (16 June 2020). "Kevin Hart's 'Cold As Balls: Cold Calls': Premiere Date & Trailer For Homebound Version Of Web Series". Deadline.
  23. Staff. "Kevin Hart Returns with Fourth Season of COLD AS BALLS". BroadwayWorld.com.
  24. Hess, Liam. "The New Justin Bieber Documentary Series Is His Most Intimate Yet". Vogue.
  25. Petski, Denise (5 February 2020). "'Justin Bieber: Seasons' Premiere Is YouTube's Most-Watched Debut Episode Ever". Deadline.
  26. "Justin Bieber Drops New Single 'Intentions' Featuring Quavo with an Inspiring Music Video". PEOPLE.com.
  27. "Exclusive Premiere from UNINTERRUPTED and ESPN+: The Harder Way Featuring Penny Hardaway and Memphis Men's Basketball". ESPN Press Room U.S. 9 December 2019.
  28. "YouTube Announces Demi Lovato Docuseries". Billboard.
  29. White, Peter (25 June 2020). "YouTube Gets Back With Demi Lovato With Four-Part Documentary Series". Deadline.
  30. "The 30 Year Old Bris | 2014 Tribeca Film Festival". Tribeca.
  31. "Gonzo @ the Derby | 2016 Tribeca Film Festival". Tribeca.
  32. Hosken, Patrick. "Your 2020 VMA Nominations Are Here: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, And The Weeknd Lead The Pack". MTV News.


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