{{short description|American film director (born 1969)}} {{Infobox person | name = Greg Whiteley | image = GregWhiteley.jpg | alt = Whiteley smiling | caption = Whiteley in 2019 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|11|11|mf=y}} | birth_place = Provo, Utah, U.S. | alma_mater = Brigham Young University | occupation = Film director, producer, and writer | years_active = 1999–present | spouse = Erin Jeanne Whiteley (m. 1999) | children = 2 | website = {{url|onepotatoproductions.com}} }}
'''Greg Beck Whiteley''' (born November 11, 1969) is the creator, executive producer, and director of the Netflix documentary series ''The Clubhouse: A Season With the Red Sox'' (2025), ''America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders'' (2024), ''Wrestlers'' (2023),<ref name=":0">Vognar, Chris (2023-09-13). [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/arts/television/wrestlers-netflix-greg-whiteley.html "'Wrestlers' Is Greg Whiteley's Latest Underdog Tale."] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved 2024-02-04.</ref> ''Cheer'' (2020–2022)<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jan/16/cheer-netflix-breathtaking-bone-crunching-nerve-racking-magic|title=Cheer: breathtaking, bone-crunching, nerve-racking magic|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=2020-01-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-03|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and ''Last Chance U'' (2016–2020). His films include ''New York Doll'' (2005), ''Resolved'' (2007), ''Mitt'' (2014), and ''Most Likely to Succeed'' (2015).
Whiteley's documentaries have received two IDA awards,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Winkelmeyer|first1=Matt|title=32nd Annual IDA Documentary Awards|url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Greg+Whiteley/32nd+Annual+IDA+Documentary+Awards/5DckcBwn0RM|website=Zimbio|accessdate=11 March 2018}}</ref> four Emmy Awards and had three premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleischer|first1=Victoria|title=Filmmaker Greg Whiteley goes backstage with the Romneys in 'Mitt'|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/filmmaker-greg-whiteley-gets-personal-romneys-mitt|website=PBS Newshour|date=6 February 2014|access-date=6 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Our Films|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/ourfilms|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=4 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126223811/http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/ourfilms|archive-date=26 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="thebiglead.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/sports-emmy-winners-2020-list-espn-fox-01efha82e1da|title=Here Are Your 2020 Sports Emmy Winners|date=12 August 2020 }}</ref><ref name="emmys.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/cheer#awards|title = Cheer}}</ref>
==Background== Whiteley was born in Provo, Utah<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|title=New York Doll|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/NewYorkDoll/castcrew.html|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=4 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227030751/http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/NewYorkDoll/castcrew.html|archive-date=27 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> to Jessie and Kent Whiteley. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington where he attended Interlake High School and became a two-time debate state champion.<ref name=bach>{{citation |last=Bach|first=Deborah |title=Tender film on former 'Doll' has Seattle roots|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Tender-film-on-former-Doll-has-Seattle-roots-1188446.php|newspaper=The Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=2005-11-25}}</ref>
He served for two years, from 1989–1991, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo in 1995 with a BA in film<ref>{{cite web|title=Greg Whiteley|url=http://history.cfac.byu.edu/index.php/Greg_Whiteley|website=BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications|publisher=Brigham Young University|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> and received an MFA in film from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 2001.<ref name=autogenerated3 />
== Career == After winning two Clio Awards during graduate school at Art Center, he was hired by Populuxe Pictures to direct commercials.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lehrer|first1=Jeremy|title=Greg Whiteley Pops Into Spots With Populuxe Pics|url=http://shootonline.com/node/32648|website=Shoot|accessdate=5 February 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/about|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref> He named the company in an homage to his recently deceased father, who grew up on an Idaho potato farm.
Whiteley wrote, filmed, and directed ''New York Doll'' in 2005. The 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Doll Synopsis|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/NewYorkDoll/synopsis.html|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=4 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209101938/http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/NewYorkDoll/synopsis.html|archive-date=9 February 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Whiteley created ''Resolved'' in 2006, which follows the story of a high school debate team.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Documentary Film Series: Resolved|url=http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/resolved#/|website=HBO}}</ref> From 2006 to 2012 he filmed ''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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Filmmaker Greg Whiteley goes backstage with the Romneys in 'Mitt'|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/filmmaker-greg-whiteley-gets-personal-romneys-mitt|website=PBS Newshour|date=6 February 2014|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> From 2012 to 2014, he created ''Most Likely To Succeed'', which is about the education system in the United States and proposes ideas for its reform.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Heath|first1=Glenn|title='Most Likely to Succeed': Sundance Review|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/succeed-sundance-review-767812|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=27 January 2015|accessdate=4 February 2015}}</ref>
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 program and ultimately to the NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hedash |first=Kara |date=2020-08-05 |title=Every Player From Last Chance U That Made It To The NFL (So Far) |url=https://screenrant.com/last-chance-u-netflix-football-nfl-players/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> A basketball spin-off, ''Last Chance U: Basketball'' (2021-present) soon followed. ''Cheer'' (2020–2022)<ref name=":1" /> examines Navarro College's cheer team, a community college team in rural Corsicana which is northeast of Waco, Texas. The cheer team were 14-time NCA National Collegiate Champions. ''Wrestlers'' (2023) follows Ohio Valley Wrestling headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.<ref name=":0" /> His most recent work, ''America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders'' (2024) premiered on Netflix on 20th June 2024.
==Personal life== Whiteley married Erin Bybee in 1999. The couple lives in Laguna Beach, California with their son, Henry, and daughter, Scout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765581513/Filmmaker-continues-building-on-big-break-from-2005s-New-York-Doll.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613183638/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765581513/Filmmaker-continues-building-on-big-break-from-2005s-New-York-Doll.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2012|website=Deseret News|accessdate=6 February 2015|title=Filmmaker continues building on big break from 2005's 'New York Doll'|date=7 June 2012}}</ref>
==Filmography== * ''New York Doll'' (2005) * ''Resolved'' (2007) * ''Mitt'' (2014) * ''Most Likely to Succeed'' (2015) * ''Last Chance U'' (2016–2020) * ''Cheer'' (2020–2022) * ''Last Chance U: Basketball'' (2021) *''Wrestlers'' (2023–present) *''America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders'' (2024) *''The Clubhouse: A Year With the Boston Red Sox'' (2025)
==Awards and honors== * 1999 Clio Student Awards: ''Pepsi'' and ''Krazy Glue''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lehrer|first1=Jeremy|title=Greg Whiteley Pops Into Spots with Populuxe Pics|url=http://shootonline.com/node/32648|website=Shoot|accessdate=5 February 2015}}</ref> * 2005 nomination, Satellite Award: ''New York Doll'' (2005)<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|title=Our Films: New York Doll|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/new-york-doll|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230002234/http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/new-york-doll|archive-date=30 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2005 nomination, Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival: ''New York Doll'' (2005)<ref name=autogenerated2 /> * 2007 Audience Award, Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival: ''Resolved'' (2007)<ref name="autogenerated1"/> * 2009 nomination, Emmy Award for Best Documentary: ''Resolved'' (2007)<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|title=Our Films: Resolved|url=http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/resolvedfilm|website=One Potato Productions|accessdate=6 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230001426/http://www.onepotatoproductions.com/resolvedfilm|archive-date=30 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2009 nomination, Emmy Award for Editing: ''Resolved'' (2007)<ref name=autogenerated1 /> * 2014 Opening Gala Film, Sundance Film Festival: ''Mitt'' (2014)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mitt Romney attends Sundance premiere of campaign film|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/mitt-romney-sundance-article-1.1584139|website=NY Daily News|date=18 January 2014 |accessdate=6 February 2015}}</ref> * 2016 Best Documentary Series, International Documentary Association: ''Last Chance U'' (2016) *2020 Best Nonfiction Sports Documentary Series, Realscreen Award: ''Last Chance U'' (2019) *2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary : ''Last Chance U'' (2020) <ref name="thebiglead.com"/> *2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: ''Cheer'' (2020)<ref name="emmys.com"/> *2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program: ''Cheer'' (2020)<ref name="emmys.com"/> *2021 IDA Award for Best Episodic Series: ''Last Chance U'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2021-01-17 |title=IDA Documentary Awards: ‘Crip Camp’ Nabs Best Feature |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ida-documentary-awards-2021-winners-list-4117139/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1789501}}
{{EmmyAward RealityDirecting}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whiteley, Greg}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American documentary filmmakers Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:Writers from Provo, Utah Category:People from Bellevue, Washington Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners Category:Filmmakers from Utah