{{short description|American film director}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Jay Bulger | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|08|19}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = |alma_mater = Fordham University | other_names = | occupation = Film director | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Jay Bulger''' (born August{{nbsp}}19, 1982) is an American film director and writer from Washington, D.C.
==Biography== Bulger attended Fordham University in the Bronx, where he boxed in several New York Golden Glove tournaments. Photographs of his fighting launched him onto the cover of ''Vogue'' and then modelling for brands such as Armani, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole, and Hermès.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|last=Coronado|first=Kris|title=Washington native Jay Bulger's first documentary film, about drummer Ginger Baker, will premiere at South by Southwest Film Festival|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/washington-native-jay-bulgers-first-documentary-film-about-drummer-ginger-baker-will-premiere-at-south-by-southwest-film-festival/2012/02/06/gIQAB7EgkR_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=26 March 2012|date=3 March 2012}}</ref>
He has directed music videos for bands such as The Hold Steady, Nightmare of You, Permanent Me, and Playradioplay, and commercials for brands such as Pepsi and Disney.<ref name="Washington Post" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Blog |first=Vman |title=Rising Above |url=http://www.vman.com/blog/rising-above |publisher=VMAN |accessdate=26 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829104608/http://www.vman.com/blog/rising-above/ |archivedate=29 August 2011 }}</ref>
Bulger wrote an article for ''Rolling Stone'' entitled "The Devil and Ginger Baker",<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Bulger|first=Jay|date=August 20, 2009|title=The Devil and Ginger Baker|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/the-devil-and-ginger-baker-197154/|access-date=September 18, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> which became the premise for his documentary ''Beware of Mr. Baker''. In the spring of 2010, Bulger returned to South Africa with a small film crew to finish making the film.<ref name="Washington Post" /> ''Beware of Mr. Baker'' premiered at the 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary.<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news|last=Murphy|first=Mekado|title='Beware of Mr. Baker' and 'Gimme the Loot' Win Grand Jury Prizes at SXSW|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/beware-of-mr-baker-and-gimme-the-loot-win-grand-jury-prizes-at-sxsw/|work=New York Times|accessdate=26 March 2012|date=14 March 2012}}</ref>
In 2018, Bulger played the lead role of Hunter S. Thompson in the film ''Freak Power'', directed by Bobby Kennedy III.
In 2017, Bulger directed the Netflix documentary feature ''Counterpunch'', which premiered on June 16, 2017 and chronicles the trials and triumphs of three promising boxers navigating a sport in decline.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trailer: Unflinching Look at the World of Amateur Boxing in Netflix Original 'Counterpunch' |url=https://blavity.com/entertainment/trailer-unflinching-look-at-the-world-of-amateur-boxing-in-netflix-original-counterpunch |website=Blavity |access-date=16 February 2026 }}</ref>
Bulger is also the founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit boxing gym Bronx Legends in the South Bronx, which he opened to provide youth with community, discipline and an alternative to street violence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boxing builds strong bodies, characters |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/09/03/boxing-builds-strong-bodies-characters/ |work=New York Daily News |date=September 3, 2025 |access-date=16 February 2026 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/action-battle-for-aspen-finally-in-production/article_29ccd918-b942-11e8-83d6-3366c6fc8c58.html https://www.vice.com/en/article/guitar-moves-with-doueh-master-guitarist-of-morocco/ https://www.ringtv.com/534801-boxing-documentary-counterpunch-vies-sports-emmy https://www.musictimes.com/articles/14225/20141103/tale-chad-smith-jon-batiste-john-zorn-dave-lombardo-miles.htm {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bulger, Jay}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Fordham University alumni Category:Film directors from Washington, D.C.