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American film director From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Greg Beck Whiteley (born November 11, 1969) is the creator, executive producer, and director of the Netflix documentary series Wrestlers (2023),[1] Cheer (2020–2022)[2] and Last Chance U (2016–2020). His films include New York Doll (2005), Resolved (2007), Mitt (2014), and Most Likely to Succeed (2015).
Greg Whiteley | |
|---|---|
Whiteley in 2019 | |
| Born | November 11, 1969 |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, producer, and writer |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse | Erin Jeanne Whiteley (m. 1999) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | https://onepotatoproductions.com |
Whiteley's documentaries have garnered two IDA awards,[3] four Emmy Awards and three premieres at the Sundance Film Festival.[4][5][6][7]
Whiteley was born in Provo, Utah[8] to parents Jessie and Kent Whiteley. He was raised in Bellevue, Washington where he attended Interlake High School and became a two-time debate state champion.[9]
He served for two years, from 1989–1991, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. He then graduated from Brigham Young University in 1995 with a BA in film[10] and received an MFA in film from Art Center College of Design in 2001.[8]
After winning two Clio Awards during graduate school at Art Center, he was hired by Populuxe Pictures to direct commercials.[11]
From 1996 to 2000, Whiteley served as the head of Film Actors Theater in Los Angeles. While beginning work on New York Doll in 2005, he launched One Potato Productions with his wife, Erin.[12] He named the company in homage to his recently deceased father, who grew up on an Idaho potato farm.
Whiteley wrote, filmed, and directed New York Doll in 2005. This documentary explores the history of the punk rock band New York Dolls, focusing on the life of bassist Arthur Kane after he converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[13] He then created Resolved in 2006, which follows the story of a high school debate team.[14] Whiteley spent 2006 to 2012 filming Mitt, having gained access to the Romney family, though not his campaign staff, during both of governor Mitt Romney's campaigns for the United States presidency.[15] From 2012 to 2014, he created Most Likely To Succeed, which discusses the education system in the United States and proposes ideas for its reform.[16]
From 2016 onwards, he worked on various sports docuseries for Netflix. Last Chance U (2016–2020) followed football players at junior colleges attempting to move to a Division I NCAA programme and ultimately the NFL.[17] A basketball spin-off, Last Chance U: Basketball (2021-present) soon followed. Cheer (2020–2022)[2] examined Navarro College Cheer - a community college team in rural Texas who were 14-time NCA National Collegiate Champions. Wrestlers (2023) follows Ohio Valley Wrestling.[1] His most recent work, America's Sweethearts Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (2024), is set to premiere on Netflix on 20th June 2024.
Whiteley married Erin Bybee in 1999. The couple lives in Laguna Beach, California with their son, Henry, and daughter, Scout.[18]
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