Tamra Davis

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Tamra Davis
Born (1962-01-22) January 22, 1962 (age 62)
Studio City, California, U.S.
Alma materLos Angeles City College
OccupationDirector
Years active1986–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1993; sep. 2016)​
Children2

Tamra Davis (born January 22, 1962) is an American film, television and music video director.[1]

Early life[edit]

Davis was born the second out of four children in Studio City, California. She was exposed to the media industry at an early age by her grandfather, a comedy writer, and her grandmother, who was an actress at Fox. Davis and her family constantly watched films and she aspired to become an actress. In the 11th grade, Davis dropped out of high school and met Egyptian film producer Ibrahim Moussa. Ibrahim took Davis to Italy for six months to work.

Returning to the U.S., Davis worked at an art gallery but soon quit to work at American Zoetrope in an apprentice position. The studio was struggling to complete Francis Ford Coppola's Waterloo, One from the Heart; the hectic schedule allowed Davis to study Coppola's directing and the business. Coppola suggested to Davis that she go to school, at which point she then attended Los Angeles City College.[2]

Career[edit]

Davis first shot a film using a super 8 mm camera during her time at Los Angeles City College.[3]

As soon as she got out of school, Davis sent out a package of videos that she had done and was hired to do a video for the band Hüsker Dü. Davis states that music videos "played a huge role in developing my sensibility as a director. There's much less sexism in the video world and they're open to women. But more important, with video you're always being pushed to experiment and come up with something new."[2] During her career, Davis ended up directing over 155 music videos.[3] While working at MTV, Davis was encouraged to engage in her empathy towards multicultural and feminist issues.[3] Christina Lane stated in her book Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break that as a person who was knowledgeable towards feminist politics, Tamra Davis wanted to empower young women to feel good about their sexuality.[3] Lane also mentioned that Davis used her platform to voice feminist ideas and empower girls.[3]

A writer at the Los Angeles Times reported, "Over the past seven years, Tamra Davis has made a name for herself directing cutting-edge videos for some of the thorniest acts in popular music. As director of choice for performers such as N.W.A, Sonic Youth, and Black Flag."[2]

Davis participated in The Polygram Video's program called No Alternative: A benefit for AIDS, education and relief which had a section in their program where multiple independent film directors created a series of short films.[3] In this program, Tamra Davis directed a short film called No Alternative Girls which discussed gender inequality.[3]

Tamra Davis also directed Guncrazy (1992), a film which starred actor Drew Barrymore.[3][4][5] This film was a remake of the 50s film Gun Crazy. Many books and articles have stated that her film had similar elements to Bonnie and Clyde.[3][4][5] Christina Lane acknowledged the mixed reviews for Davis' film. Lane wrote that some thought the film was too violent and others said the violence was necessary for the story she was telling.[3] When asked about the violence of the film Davis said she did it because she wanted a strong emotional reaction from the audience.[3] In the book, Davis expressed that she was not cautious when it came to her audiences’ emotions.[3] Davis stated, "I wanted to say something about how our society abuses people and yet gives them violent possibilities to turn that abuse back onto society."[3] Before the production of the film, Davis researched reactions teenagers had to sexual abuse. Davis said that she also looked at how a teenage girl's everyday life changed after the abuse.[3]

Davis is also known for directing films such as Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, CB4, Billy Madison, and Half Baked and television shows such as My Name Is Earl and Everybody Hates Chris. She also directed the film Crossroads, starring Britney Spears.[6][7]

For the film CB4, Rupert Wainwright was originally asked to direct the film.[3] Davis was their second choice after Wainwright turned the project down.[3] According to Gwendolyn Audrey Foster, the comedy made fun of the seriousness and sexism of rap music videos while also taking a look at how Hollywood has misused African-American culture in the industry.[5] Foster also examined that Davis was not part of the writing of this film. However, it was noted that she did add her own knowledge of music videos, rap, and politics into the film.[5] Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break discussed difficulties Davis had with the production of the film.[3] These difficulties included a limited time to film, the filming conditions due to the heat was difficult, and the script was changed often.[3] The book also mentioned that Tamra Davis speaks highly of her time working on CB4.[3] Foster wrote in her book, Women Film Directors: An International Bio-Critical Dictionary, that this film proved Davis’ skills as a comedy director.[5]

According to an article in The New York Times, Tamra Davis had trouble finding a good location for the Western film she was originally supposed to direct, Bad Girls (1994).[8] Many sources state that the studio disagreed with the feminist approach Davis was taking for the film Bad Girls (1994).[3][5] According to multiple sources, many producers were in disagreement with what Davis wanted within the film.[3][5] Lane revealed that the budget given was not enough to provide Davis with the equipment she needed.[3] In the end, Davis was replaced with director Jonathan Kaplan.[3][5] With the new director, the script was rewritten and the earlier footage was abandoned.[3][5]

Currently, Davis has a cooking show showcasing vegetarian fare called Tamra Davis Cooking Show accessible on her website www.tamradaviscookingshow.com. She also wrote a cookbook titled Make Me Something Good to Eat.[6]

Personal life[edit]

Davis married Mike D of the Beastie Boys in 1993.[9][10] They are now legally separated.[11] They have two children, Skyler and Davis.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Make Me Something Good to Eat (2009)

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Ref.:[12][13][14][15][16][17][5][3][18][19][20][21][7][22][23][24][25]

Documentary film

Year Title Director Producer
2002 Keep Your Eyes Open Yes No
2006 A Conversation with Basquiat Yes No
2010 Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child[26][27][28] Yes Yes
2013 The Punk Singer No Yes

Television[edit]

Year Title Notes
2004 Method & Red 1 episode
2005 My Name Is Earl 1 episode
2006 Everybody Hates Chris 1 episode
Love Monkey 2 episodes
Men in Trees 1 episode
2007 Ugly Betty 1 episode
Grey's Anatomy 1 episode
2008 The Ex List 1 episode
2010 Sons of Tucson 1 episode
2011 Single Ladies 21 episodes (Also executive producer)
2013 Hit the Floor 5 episodes
2015 Odd Mom Out 2 episodes
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 1 episode
Younger 4 episodes
2016 Still the King 3 episodes
Mary + Jane 2 episodes
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency 2 episodes
2017 Santa Clarita Diet 1 episode
Star 2 episodes
Daytime Divas 1 episode
You're the Worst 3 episodes
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World 1 episode
2018 Alone Together 5 episodes
Empire 1 episode
God Friended Me 1 episode
2019 Future Man 2 episodes
Valley of the Boom 1 episode
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series 3 episodes
2020 Miracle Workers 1 episode 
Dead to Me 2 episodes
The Politician 1 episode 
Stargirl 1 episode 
P-Valley 1 episode[29]
2022 Good Sam 1 episode[30]
2023 The Afterparty 2 episodes

Music video[edit]

Year Title Artist Notes
1986 "But Not Tonight" Depeche Mode
"Baby Ran" 54-40
1987 "Shoplifters of the World Unite" The Smiths
"Sheila Take a Bow"
1988 "Anne's Song" Faith No More
"In Your Room" The Bangles
"Wild Thing" Tone Lōc
1989 "Closer to Fine" Indigo Girls
"It's Funky Enough"[31] The D.O.C.
"The D.O.C. & The Doctor"
"Cha Cha Cha" MC Lyte
"Bust a Move" Young MC
"Principal's Office"
1990 "From a Distance" Bette Midler
"Kool Thing" Sonic Youth
1991 "Call It What You Want" New Kids on the Block
"Dirty Boots" Sonic Youth
1992 "Netty's Girl" Beastie Boys
"100%" Sonic Youth with Spike Jonze
"Daughters of the Kaos" Luscious Jackson
1993 "I Got You Babe" Cher with Beavis and Butt-Head
"It's About Time" The Lemonheads
1994 "Big Gay Heart"
"Bull in the Heather" Sonic Youth
"Citysong" Luscious Jackson
1995 "I Dig You" Boss Hog
"Pacer" The Amps
"Away with the Pixies" Ben Lee
"All Hail Me" Veruca Salt
"Kiss and Tell" G. Love & Special Sauce
1997 "MMMBop" Hanson
"Drawer" Summercamp
"Where's the Love" Hanson
1998 "Boy You Knock Me Out" Tatyana Ali
1999 "Ladyfingers" Luscious Jackson
2001 "Movies" Alien Ant Farm

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tamra Davis". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  2. ^ a b c McKenna, Kristen. "This Young MC Is a Movie Mixmaster Film: Tamra Davis combines her experience making cutting-edge videos with Hollywood's past to get the gritty 'Guncrazy.'" (Document). Tribune Publishing Company. ProQuest 281814491.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Lane, Christina. Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break.Contemporary Film and Television Series. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2000
  4. ^ a b Levy, Emanuel. Cinema of Outsiders: The Rise of American Independent Film.New York: New York University Press, 1999
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Foster, Gwendolyn Audrey. Women Film Directors: An International Bio-Critical Dictionary. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1995.
  6. ^ a b "Tamra Davis Cooking Show". tamradaviscookingshow.com. 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  7. ^ a b Wagmeister, Elizabeth (2022-02-15). "Britney Spears' 'Crossroads' Turns 20: Director Tamra Davis Shares Memories on Working With Pop Star (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  8. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (May 3, 1993). "Hollywood Recycles the Western to Offer New Heroes: Women". New York Times.
  9. ^ "Mike D's Endless Summer: How Ex–Beastie Boy Found New Peace in Malibu". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  10. ^ Levy, Joe (1998-08-06). "The Beastie Boys Are Back in Town". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  11. ^ Marchese, David (2018-03-26). "Mike D on His New Life, NYC Versus L.A., and How Rap Has Changed". Vulture. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  12. ^ "'Guncrazy'". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  13. ^ "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Guncrazy' Young Lovers on the Road to Armageddon". Los Angeles Times. 1993-01-20. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  14. ^ McCarthy, Todd (1992-05-19). "Guncrazy". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  15. ^ Travers, Peter (1993-01-20). "Guncrazy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  16. ^ Wilmington, Michael (1993-03-12). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'CB4' Hips, Hops and Just Bounces Too Much". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  17. ^ Variety Staff (1993-01-01). "Cb4". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  18. ^ Rainer, Peter (1995-02-11). "MOVIE REVIEW : No New Lessons When 'Billy' Goes Back to Public School". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  19. ^ Fear, David (2015-04-21). "Why 'Billy Madison' Is Still Adam Sandler's Best Movie". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  20. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1998-01-16). "'Half Baked' Review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  21. ^ Gelder, Lawrence Van (1998-01-17). "FILM REVIEW; Marijuana Moments, Many of Them". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  22. ^ Bucksbaum, Sydney. "Justin Long shares sweet #TBT memories of working with Britney Spears on 'Crossroads'". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  23. ^ Holden, Stephen (2002-02-15). "FILM REVIEW; A Britney Spears Vehicle That Bypasses the Bumps". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  24. ^ Horst, Carole (2022-08-15). "How '13: The Musical' Mixes Broadway Energy With a TikTok Vibe". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  25. ^ Kroll, Justin (2022-04-27). "Netflix Announces Summer Slate Including Dates For Jamie Foxx's 'Day Shift' And Kevin Hart's 'Me Time'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  26. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (2010-08-19). "Movies: 'Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  27. ^ "Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child Is Boom for Real". Vanity Fair. 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  28. ^ AP; AP (2010-10-14). "Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child — Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  29. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (2020-07-09). "'P-Valley': Down and Out in the Mississippi Delta". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  30. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2021-12-12). "'Good Sam' Trailer: Sophia Bush & Jason Isaacs Are At Odds In CBS Medical Drama". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
  31. ^ "On the Job Training: Part Nine". Wax Poetics. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-12-24.

External links[edit]


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