M. H. Murray

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This article is about the Canadian filmmaker. For other people with similar names, see Matthew Murray (disambiguation).

M. H. Murray
M. h. murray at teenagers premiere.png
Murray in 2017
Born
Mathew Hubert Murray

(1993-06-04) June 4, 1993 (age 28)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationYork University
OccupationWriter, filmmaker
Years active2013–present
Notable work
Teenagers
Websitemathewmurray.ca

Mathew Hubert Murray[a] (born June 4, 1993), credited professionally as M. H. Murray,[1] is a Canadian writer and filmmaker. He is known for his work on the web series Teenagers (2014–2017),[2] and has also written, directed, produced, and edited several short films.[3][4]

Early life[]

Murray was born in Toronto to a French Canadian mother and a Scottish Canadian father.[4] He was raised in the Port Credit area of Mississauga, Ontario.[5] In high school, he started a YouTube channel and began creating "little slasher films" with his family and friends.[4][6] He later graduated from film school at York University.[6][7]

Career[]

Teenagers[]

Main article: Teenagers (web series)

Murray began working on what would become his first web series, Teenagers, when he was 19 years old.[8] Upon release in early 2014, the series attracted media attention because its cast included former Degrassi stars Chloe Rose and Raymond Ablack.[9][10] Playback wrote that "the young creators of Teenagers had to have plenty of luck, pluck, talent, and grit to get this far. And that portends a Hollywood ending".[9] Murray co-produced the first season alongside Emmanuel Kabongo, who also starred in the series.[10]

Since its release, Teenagers has received positive reviews from critics.[11][12] Now called the series "sexy" and "provocative", concluding that "because it’s not held hostage by the same rules as big network television shows, it pushes the boundaries".[13] The first episode of the second season premiered online July 26, 2015, and subsequently went viral; it has since been viewed over 3 million times on YouTube.[13] The second season was nominated for various awards, including a Canadian Screen Award and four Indie Series Awards.[14][15] T. J. Scott served as executive producer of the second season.[5]

A third and final season, which consists of four episodes, was released online November 5, 2017.[16] The third season received six nominations from the International Academy of Web Television and three nominations at the 9th annual Indie Series Awards.[17][18]

Short films[]

Murray's first short films to screen at film festivals were produced in 2013 while he was in film school.[19][20] One of his student films, Inside the Whale, premiered at the Valley Film Festival in 2014.[21] The film follows a young gay man who struggles with a recurring dream in which he is trapped inside of a whale.[21] Inside the Whale later premiered online in the National Screen Institute archives.[22] In 2015, he wrote and directed a short thriller film, titled Stephanie's Room, which was created for the worldwide 48 Hour Film Project competition; the film won first place in Toronto and later screened at Filmapalooza in Atlanta in 2016.[23]

Following the conclusion of Teenagers, Murray shot another short film, titled Ghost, in December 2018.[4] The film stars as Benjamin, a gay man who is "ghosted" by his lover.[24][25] In October 2020, Ghost premiered at the 30th annual Inside Out Film and Video Festival.[26] Ghost subsequently had its U.S. premiere at the 47th annual Seattle International Film Festival in April 2021.[27][28] It also screened at film festivals in Paris and Connecticut.[3][25] In June 2021, Murray released Ghost online.[3] It has since accumulated more than 100,000 views on YouTube.[29]

Influences[]

Murray's work on Teenagers has frequently drawn comparisons to the Degrassi franchise and Skins.[30][31] In a December 2016 interview with CBC's q radio show, Murray refuted Degrassi comparisons, saying that while he "respects" the show, he believes that Teenagers is "a fresh take on that experience".[2] Murray has stated that he was influenced by Issa Rae's The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, and Larry Clark's Kids.[32]

Murray has also said that he is influenced by American actor and filmmaker John Cassavetes and "people who use their own resources and money to get their projects going when studios or other people ignore them."[33]

Personal life[]

Murray has spoken publicly about being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.[24][27]

Accolades[]

For his work on Teenagers, Murray has received several accolades. At the Vancouver Web Series Festival, Murray won awards for Best Screenplay in 2016,[1] and Best Canadian Series in 2018.[34] In 2017, he was nominated for Best Director at the 5th annual International Academy of Web Television Awards.[17]

Ghost was nominated for a Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 47th annual Seattle International Film Festival in 2021.[35]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Clay, Chris (May 11, 2018). "Mississauga-based web series 'Teenagers' earns pair of awards, racks up views". Mississauga News. Retrieved June 25, 2018. ...Port Credit director Mathew Murray, who now goes by M. H. Murray...{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b "M. H. Murray doesn't gloss over the gritty details of being a teenager in his web series | CBC Radio". CBC. December 20, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Toronto filmmaker explores 'ghosting' and modern dating in new short film". CBC News. Retrieved June 5, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "Filmmaker M.H. Murray Tackles Modern-Dating Anxieties in 'Ghost'". Occhi Magazine. May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Clay, Chris (April 29, 2016). "Mississauga director's web series a raw take on teenage life". Mississauga News. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "'teenagers' Enters its Final Season All Grown Up: an interview with creator M. H. Murray". Stareable Filmmaker Community. November 29, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Ashlee (January 30, 2014). "A teenage dream". Excalibur. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Greene, Steve (December 13, 2016). "Indiewire's Project of the Day: 'teenagers' | IndieWire". IndieWire. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Chunovic, Louis (January 15, 2014). "New web series Teenagers attracts Degrassi alum". Playback. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Teenagers Web Series | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "AS IF BEING A TEENAGER WAS EVER EASY : Teenagers Webseries | Starved Magazine". www.culturestarved.com. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  12. ^ "Webseries Review: Teenagers". TalkNerdyWithUs. May 9, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Durnford, Samie (August 17, 2016). "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". NOW Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "Indie Series Awards: Nominations Announced For 7th Annual ISAs". www.indieseriesawards.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  15. ^ Knegt, Peter (January 20, 2016). "7 reasons you should care about the Canadian Screen Awards this year". CBC Arts. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  16. ^ Rose, Michelle (October 16, 2017). "Award-Winning Web Series 'Teenagers' Announces Final Season". netTVnow. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "5th IAWTV Awards 2017 – IAWTV Awards". Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "9th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominations". INDIE SERIES AWARDS. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  19. ^ "2013 YoungCuts Film Festival People's Choice Winners Announced". www.youngcuts.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "Film student jets off to Cannes". Mississauga.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "VFF: Film Profile: INSIDE THE WHALE". www.valleyfilmfest.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  22. ^ "Inside the Whale (short film)". National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI). March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "Toronto, Canada @ 48 Hour Film Project 2015 – Announcing the Winners". www.48hourfilm.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  24. ^ a b "'Ghost'". CTVNews. May 30, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Short film 'Ghost' is a character study of a gay man getting ghosted". etalk. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  26. ^ Wilner, Norman (July 2, 2020). "Inside Out 2020 is happening (online) in October". NOW Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Tatum, Erin (May 5, 2021). "Filmmaker M.H. Murray Examines The Anxiety of Modern Dating in New Short Film, "Ghost"". Cliché Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ "Ghost". www.siff.net. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  29. ^ GHOST (Gay Short Film) directed by M. H. Murray, YouTube, retrieved September 25, 2021
  30. ^ "Sex, drugs & violence: Toronto's provocative Web Series "Teenagers" returns for Season Two". www.shedoesthecity.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  31. ^ "Teenagers – The Canadian Skins – The Daily Spectacle". www.dailyspectacle.co.uk. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  32. ^ "Exclusive Interview with Teenagers Creator Mathew Murray". TalkNerdyWithUs. April 2, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  33. ^ "M.H. Murray Talks GHOST, What Audiences Can Glean From It and More". Geek Girl Authority. May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  34. ^ Cummins, Julianna (March 23, 2016). "Riftworld, Sudden Master win at Vancouver Web Fest". Playback. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  35. ^ "Seattle International Film Festival (2021)". IMDb. Retrieved May 16, 2021.

Notes[]

  1. ^ Murray's full name is listed on his website

External links[]

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