Billy Corben Joins Greenpoint Pictures

With credits that include a Peabody-awarded documentary (‘The U’ - teaser clip: http://bit.ly/nT2pl) and the distinction of being one of the youngest directors to have a film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (‘Raw Deal: A Question of Consent’), documentary filmmaker Billy Corben has enjoyed an incredibly diverse career that has included turns as a producer, director, actor and writer. Now, with his Greenpoint Pictures relationship, Corben is turning his storytelling sights on commercial directing for the first time.

 

Billy Corben’s life in film started early, first as a young actor and then as a director. His acting career, which he retired from at the ripe age of 15, saw him work with film greats such as Ron Howard, Roger Corman, Steve Martin, Hilary Swank, Cloris Leachman, Judd Hirsch, Corey Feldman, Alan Thicke, Joe Pantoliano and Christopher Meloni. Then, while still in high school, he began working on the other side of the camera, forming his first production company with producing partner Alfred Spellman.

 

Corben has a track record of creating highly commercially successful documentaries. ‘Cocaine Cowboys’ (trailer: http://bit.ly/fxulK), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, explores the rise of cocaine and resulting crime epidemic that swept the American city of Miami, Florida in the 1970s and 1980s. After a limited theatrical release in 2006, ‘Cocaine Cowboys’ became a worldwide success on DVD and is the highest-rated documentary ever on the Showtime cable network.

 

‘The U’, his Peabody Award-winning feature documentary about the championship history of the University of Miami football program, produced for ESPN's 30 for 30 series, became the highest-rated documentary in the network's 30 year history, when it debuted on December 12th, 2009, following the Heisman Trophy presentation. 

 

His feature documentary directorial debut, ‘Raw Deal: A Question of Consent’, which examines the alleged rape of an exotic dancer at a fraternity house at the University of Florida, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001, making him one of the youngest directors to have their film shown in Sundance history. 

 

"Since he burst onto the scene at a young age, Billy has been a very respected documentary filmmaker,” explains Michael Kuhn, Founder, Greenpoint Pictures. “We're excited and honoured to have such a vivid storyteller and artist join the Greenpoint Pictures family. We believe his unique style of work will quickly impact the commercial world."

 

Corben’s documentary filmography also includes ‘Square Grouper’, ‘Limelight’ (trailer: http://bit.ly/OD8Iv4) and ‘Dawg Fight’ (trailer: http://bit.ly/NuSglI). 

 

‘Square Grouper’, which premiered at the 2012 South By Southwest Film Festival, examines the freewheeling pot smuggling era of South Florida in the 1970s. ‘Limelight’, is about the rise and fall of Peter Gatien, New York City's biggest nightclub owner. Jen Gatien, Peter Gatien’s daughter, produced the film. Dawg Fight, a brutal exposé on underground backyard MMA fighting in one of Miami's toughest neighbourhoods, is having its debut this fall. 

 

Billy Corben was born and currently resides in Florida. He graduated with honours from the University of Miami where he majored in political science, screenwriting, and theatre.