{{short description|American film director}} {{Infobox person | image = Ramaa Mosley.jpg | caption = Mosley in 2007 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|October 29, 1981}} | birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Cameron Gray|2004}} | occupation = {{hlist|Director|screenwriter|activist}} | notable_works = {{nowrap|''The Brass Teapot'' (director)}}<br>Grace (director)<br>''Girl Rising'' (producer, Afgan section)<br> ''Tatterdemalion'' (director) | education = Laurel Springs School | alma_mater = Bennington College }}
'''Ramaa Devi Mosley''' (born October 29, 1981) is an American filmmaker, director, and writer in Los Angeles. She began directing commercials, music videos, and documentaries at the age of 16.<ref name="theotherfiftypercent.com">{{Cite web|url=http://theotherfiftypercent.com/blog/2017/10/1/episode-67-ramaa-mosley-director-activist-entrepreneur|title = Episode 67: Ramaa Mosley, Director, Activist, Entrepreneur| date=5 October 2017 }}</ref> She is also an activist, known for raising national and international awareness about the global importance of education of girls.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://educategirlsnow.org/about-us/our-history/ | title=OUR HISTORY - Educate Girls Now | date=10 January 2019 }}</ref> She supported the victims of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in Chibok, Nigeria northwest of Abuja, by using social media to raise global awareness.<ref>{{cite news|title=CNN.com - Transcripts|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/cnr/date/2014-05-07/segment/02|access-date=30 September 2016|work=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=5 Things to Know This Morning: Keeping Her Clothes On|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/things-morning/story?id=23619034|access-date=30 September 2016|work=ABC News|date=7 May 2014}}</ref>
==Early life and work== Mosley was born in New Orleans the daughter of Marilyn Mosley Gordanier and Rick Mosley. She has two brothers, Raphael and Michael. She was born on an ashram and grew up in Ojai, California. She went to Laurel Springs School, a distance learning school based in Ojai. She is married to Cameron Gray (2004) and has two children.
Ramaa Mosley has directed three documentaries, ''We Can Make A Difference'', ''Two Seasons and Home'', and ''Girl Rising''.<ref name="theotherfiftypercent.com"/> She has written and directed two short films, ''The Brass Teapot'' and ''Grace''. She is considered to be one of the most successful female commercial directors in the industry, winning multiple awards including a Clio in 2018 for the Chevrolet "Goal Keeper" Campaign.<ref>[https://clios.com/sports/winner/events-experiential/chevrolet/goalkeepers-35510 "Chevrolet GoalKeepers"] ''Clios.com''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref> To date, Mosley has won for best director at the First Glance Film Festival for her short film ''Grace''. In 2011, she won the Audience Choice Award at Dance Camera West for her short film ''In Dreams I Run Wild''. She directed the Afghanistan segment of 10x10's feature film ''Girl Rising''.<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> She co-wrote and directed the feature film ''Tatterdemalion''.
==Commercials== At the age of 16, Mosley began directing music videos.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lbbonline.com/news/ramaa-mosley-is-turning-las-teens-into-tomorrows-filmmakers/ | title=Ramaa Mosley is Turning LA's Teens into Tomorrow's Filmmakers | LBBOnline }}</ref> By the age of 19, she was directing award-winning national and international commercials for clients including Adidas, ESPNW, and Powerade.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://directedbywomen.com/ramaa-mosley-folklore-and-family/ | title=Ramaa Mosley: Folklore and Family | date=12 October 2017 }}</ref> Most recently, she has directed commercials for ESPN, Levi's, and Nike. In February 2018, Mosley completed commercial campaigns for Southwest Airlines and Fuji Instax and won a Clio for her direction of the Chevrolet "Goal Keeper's" Campaign.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://clios.com/sports/winner/events-experiential/chevrolet/goalkeepers-35510 | title=Chevrolet - GoalKeepers | date=November 2024 }}</ref>
==Adolescent Content== In October 2013, Mosley launched Adolescent Content. Adolescent is a "GenZ Global Creative Youth Studio"{{clarify|date=May 2019}} with a think tank, production company, and digital platform dedicated to content made for youth by youth.<ref>[http://adage.com/article/agency-news/content-studio-adolescent-empowering-gen-z-creators/311982/ "LOOKING FOR AN 11-YEAR-OLD DIRECTOR? CALL ADOLESCENT"] ''AdAge''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref> The production company represents young directors ages 11 to 26 years old for work directing commercials, branded content, web series, television, and films. Their clients have directed campaigns for Beats Music Apps, Diesel, ESPN, American Girl, Vice, Toms Shoes, Disney, and Skype.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Power of Adolescent Directors {{!}} TEDxHollywood|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdb9F-x7u6k|publisher=www.youtube.com|access-date=30 September 2016|date=29 July 2014}}</ref>
Adolescent Content represents teen and young millennial directors, photographers and social media influencers (as young as 11 years old). She gave a Ted Talk about the advantages of being a teen director called "The Power of Adolescent Directors".<ref>[https://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/The-Power-of-Adolescent-Directo "The Power of Adolescent Directors"] TEDx Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-10-09.</ref> In December 2015, Adolescent Content launched an original scripted division, focused on the creation and distribution of entertainment content "created by youth for youth".<ref>[http://indie-mag.com/2017/08/adolescent-content/ "ADOLESCENT CONTENT IS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE CONTROL OF IMAGES OF YOUTH"] ''Indie''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref>
On September 16, 2016, Adolescent Content launched their digital platform [https://adolescent.net adolescent.net]. The company's recent Instagram series "The Out There" aired its second season in June 2018.<ref>[https://www.thevideoink.com/2017/09/21/new-scripted-drama-comes-instagram-teen/ ""Adolescent" Sets Up Slate of Scripted Instagram Series, "The Out There" Premiered Today"] ''Video Ink''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref>
==Feature films==
===''The Brass Teapot''=== Mosley's first feature film, ''The Brass Teapot,'' was based on a comic book series which Mosley and Tim Macy co-wrote.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/ramaa-mosley-brass-teapot-tiff-370110|title=Ramaa Mosley 'The Brass Teapot' TIFF 2012 - Hollywood Reporter|date=13 September 2012 |publisher=hollywoodreporter.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref> The film version stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano and was shot for a budget of $850k over 21 days in the summer of 2012.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/175952964/teapot-jackpot-newlyweds-feel-fiscal-hurt-in-dark-comedy "'Teapot' Jackpot? Newlyweds Feel Fiscal Hurt In Dark Comedy"] ''NPR''. Retrieved 2016-10-09.</ref> The movie premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival where it was warmly received. Magnolia Pictures, headquartered in NoMad in Manhattan inked a deal for ''The Brass Teapot'', which Mosley shot in upstate New York. The film was released on April 5, 2013.
In ''Movie Nation'', critic Roger Moore says of ''The Brass Teapot'', "Equal parts dark and comically disturbing, "The Brass Teapot" is a fantasy parable for our times, a film that literally equates pain with greed." In ''Variety'', chief international film critic Peter Debruge called the movie "a fresh riff on 'be careful what you wish for; fables". ''Film Journal'' said, "Few farces have started out with such an outlandish premise, but director Ramaa Mosley has complete conviction in it that, along with the engaging lead performances, keep the comedy percolating." and of Mosley's directing of the actor's, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' critic Frank Schenk says, "The two leads deliver highly appealing performances, with the comely Temple showing no reluctance to frequently doff most of her clothing and Angarano displaying an offbeat comic sensibility."
''Paste Magazine'''s film critic, Leland Montgomery says of Mosley, "Though ''The Brass Teapot'' is Ramaa Mosley's first feature, it feels as if it's steered by a much more experienced hand. The story is set up and unfolds in a very subtle, nuanced manner that enriches each reveal. Though the story is sweet, Mosley mostly avoids sentimentalism and keeps the plot grounded, despite the supernatural elements." Debruge of ''Variety'' said of Mosley, " Despite the inherent perversity of the concept, Mosley succeeds in maintaining a certain sweetness throughout. Even more impressively, she makes her low-budget enterprise look as slick as most midrange studio comedies, demonstrating herself a director with both imagination and technical ingenuity. If she wishes to work again, ''The Brass Teapot'' is likely to make it so."<ref name="variety">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-brass-teapot-1200332230/|title=Film Review: 'The Brass Teapot' {{pipe}} Variety|date=2 April 2013 |publisher=variety.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref><ref name="filmjournal">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3i852183df965012d45bae7641849042a0|title=Film Review: The Brass Teapot|publisher=filmjournal.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref><ref name="pastemagazine">{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/04/the-brass-teapot.html|title=The Brass Teapot :: Movies :: Reviews :: Paste|date=5 April 2013 |publisher=pastemagazine.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/brass-teapot-film-review-432352|title=The Brass Teapot: Film Review - The Hollywood Reporter|date=2 April 2013 |publisher=hollywoodreporter.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref><ref name="rogersmovienation">{{cite web|url=http://rogersmovienation.com/2013/03/30/movie-review-the-brass-teapot/|title=Movie Review: "The Brass Teapot" {{pipe}} Movie Nation|date=30 March 2013 |publisher=rogersmovienation.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref>
===''Lost Child''=== Mosley's second feature film was initially known as ''Tatterdemalion'', before being renamed ''Lost Child''. The dramatic thriller was shot in the Ozarks starring Leven Rambin, Taylor John Smith, and Jim Parrack.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title='True Detective' Star Leven Rambin Joins Drama 'Tatterdemalion'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/true-detective-leven-rambin-drama-boy-in-the-woods-1201577181/|access-date=30 September 2016|publisher=Variety|date=24 August 2015}}</ref> The film premiered at the Heartland Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, and the Florida Film Festival.{{which|it can only premiere once|date=May 2025}} It was screened in film festivals nationally and internationally to wide acclaim.<ref>[https://midwestfilmjournal.com/2017/10/11/tatterdamelion/ "TATTERDEMALION"] ''Midwest Film Journal''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref> The film was written by Mosley and Tim Macy<ref>{{cite news|title='Tatterdemalion' filming complete, ready for release|url=http://www.westplainsdailyquill.net/features/arts_and_entertainment/article_5ebf245e-3ca9-11e6-bc9c-133f1329b8e3.html|access-date=30 September 2016|publisher=West Plains Daily Quill}}</ref> and went on to win Best Narrative Film at the Kansas City Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kcfilmfest.org/awarded/best-narrative-feature | title=Best Narrative Feature | Kansas City FilmFest International }}</ref> Leven Rambin also won for Best Actress at the 64th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, Italy.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/taormina-film-fest-awards-polish-drama-refugee-doc-winners-1129196 | title=Taormina Film Fest Awards: Polish Drama, Refugee Doc Among Winners | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=23 July 2018 }}</ref>
The film was acquired for distribution by Breaking Glass as ''Tatterdemalion''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/breaking-glass-pictures-ptsd-thriller-tatterdemalion-release-date-1202377497/ | title=Breaking Glass Pictures Picks up PTSD Thriller 'Tatterdemalion' for Fall Release | date=26 April 2018 }}</ref> The name was changed to "Lost Child" and premiered September 14, 2018 in theaters across the U.S.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lost-child-trailer-leven-rambin-befriends-mysterious-abandoned-boy-thriller-1136933 | title='Lost Child' Trailer: Leven Rambin Befriends Mysterious Abandoned Boy in Thriller | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=23 August 2018 }}</ref> ''Lost Child'' is a dramatic thriller about an army veteran (Fern) who returns home to the Ozarks to look for her brother (Billy) and finds an abandoned boy in the woods. As she tries to find answers about the child's identity, she comes across a mysterious world of folklore, clan rules, and lies.<ref>[https://variety.com/2017/film/news/hunger-games-actress-leven-rambins-new-pic-tatterdemalion-1202584444/ "Watch: New Trailer for 'Hunger Games' Actress Leven Rambin's New Film 'Tatterdemalion'"] ''Variety''. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref> The film was produced by Gina Resnick along with Tim Macy, Ramaa Mosley, and Paul Cameron Gray. It was financed by Green Hummingbird Pictures.
===''Nelson''=== In January 2017, it was reported that Mosley would direct the supernatural thriller ''Nelson'' aka ''Hypergraphia'' which was to shoot in the Fall of 2018. The script is based on an original idea which Mosley and Tim Macy developed five years prior to their collaboration on ''The Brass Teapot''.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
===''Sometimes Thieves''=== In February 2015, it was reported that Mosley was attached to direct ''Sometimes Thieves'', a crime romance movie, written by Ryan Cannon, which she developed with producers Dallas Brennan and Jeff Elliot. The movie was set to begin principal photography in July 2015.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
===Other projects=== In October 2017, it was reported that Mosley is in development on the supernatural love story ''The Reason'', about a high school student who wakes up from a car accident with superhuman powers. She wrote the script to direct under her production company banner, Laundry Films, Inc.<ref>[http://directedbywomen.com/ramaa-mosley-folklore-and-family/ "Ramaa Mosley: Folklore and Family"] Directed by Women. Retrieved 2018-07-20.</ref>
Mosley co-wrote ''The Mommy Group'' with Jamie Pachino. The feature script is in development with Laundry Films set to produce and Mosley to direct. The premise of the film is a group of new moms who find their diverse lives intersecting. They form a 'Mommy Group' to help them survive the "war zone" of motherhood.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVCYgMIO6Uw "Bentonville Film Festival - Tatterdemalion - Ramaa Mosley & Kip Collins"] ''Arkansas CW''. Retrieved 2017-07-20.</ref>
==''Girl Rising''== In 2013, Mosley directed the Afghan segment of the documentary ''Girl Rising'' which follows the harrowing stories of girls around the world struggling to get an education. Girl Rising "is a global campaign for girls' education," which uses "the power of storytelling to share the simple truth that educating girls can transform societies. Girl Rising unites girls, women, boys and men who believe every girl has the right to go to school and the right to reach her full potential."<ref>{{cite web|title=Girl Rising|url=http://girlrising.com/about-us/index.html#what-is-girl-rising|website=Girlrising.com|access-date=30 September 2016}}</ref>
Mosley is one of five directors who were asked by 10x10 Documentary Group to direct a segment of the documentary and although she is not part of the Girl Rising organization, she has repeatedly spoken out in the news about the importance of educating girls and remains a supporter of the cause.<ref>[https://screen.yahoo.com/news/ramaa-mosley-social-media-one-234211152.html Katie Couric interview]</ref>
==Music videos== Mosley has directed over a dozen music videos since she began directing in 1998 for artists including Fizzy Bangers, Jill Sobule, Kristen Berry, The B-52's ("Debbie"), Creed, Brendan Benson, Tonic, and Five for Fighting ("Superman (It's Not Easy)."){{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
==#BringBackOurGirls campaign== In the wake of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in Nigeria, Mosley gained national recognition for raising awareness about the atrocity. Utilizing social media to support the Bring Back Our Girls movement in Abuja, Nigeria she re-tweeted #BringBackOurGirls, which became a prominent part of the hashtag activism surrounding the incident.<ref name=ABCNews>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/bring-back-girls-rallying-cry-kidnapped-nigerian-schoolgirls/story?id=23611012|title='Bring Back Our Girls' Becomes Rallying Cry for Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls|publisher=ABC News|date=May 6, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> In an interview with ABC News Mosley said she wept upon hearing of the kidnapping, and originally planned to travel to Chibok to cover the story, but later decided to campaign on social media instead, because of her young children.<ref name=ABCNews/> The corresponding ABC News story was originally titled "Los Angeles Mother of Two Creates Viral Hashtag", but was later updated when Mosley wrote a note to the producers complaining that she was not the first to tweet the hashtag.<ref name=WSJMay14>{{cite news|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304431104579550354216910992|title=In Push to Free Nigerian Girls, a Tangled Web|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=May 8, 2014|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref>
The hashtag had been started by Nigerian Ibrahim M. Abdullahi, echoing a phrase said by the former vice president of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili in a speech.<ref name=ABCNews/> Originally retweeted 95 times, including by Ezekwesili who has 125,000 followers on Twitter.<ref name=WSJMay14/> Mosley began tweeting the hashtag to her friends, and then to the President of the United States, Barack Obama.<ref name=ABCNews/> She described the hashtag as an "SOS to the world".<ref name=ABCNews/> A Facebook page about the kidnapping started by Mosley had more than 43,000 likes by early May and 230,000 by July.<ref name=ABCNews/> She said that the incident had "...consumed my life and I believe it will until the girls are rescued." Mosley organized and attended five protest rallies in Los Angeles, drawing hundreds of people who collectively chanted the slogan.<ref name=ABCNews/> ''The Guardian'''s story on the kidnapping was tweeted more than 3,500 times on April 23 and but received its largest boost from Chris Brown.<ref name=WSJMay14/> The majority of prominent uses of the hashtag was by accounts related to the news network CNN.<ref name=WSJMay14/> Next, Mosley co-organized a Mother's Day vigil. On May 22, she also held a global schoolgirl march, in which thousands of school girls in cities around the world marched to raise awareness about the Chibok girl's plight.
==Honors== *Audience Choice award at Dance Camera West<ref name="wegotthiscovered">{{cite web|url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/interview-ramaa-mosley-brass-teapot/|title=Exclusive Interview With Ramaa Mosley On The Brass Teapot|date=4 April 2013 |publisher=wegotthiscovered.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref> *Global 500 UNEP award "We Can Make A Difference"<ref name="studiodaily">{{cite web|url=http://www.studiodaily.com/2010/11/five-questions-director-ramaa-mosley/|title=Five Questions: Director Ramaa Mosley {{pipe}} Studio Daily|date=12 November 2010 |publisher=studiodaily.com|access-date=2014-02-01}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mosley, Ramaa}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American women activists Category:American music video directors Category:Mass media people from New Orleans Category:Film directors from Louisiana Category:Women music video directors Category:People from Ojai, California Category:Film directors from California Category:Bennington College alumni Category:Girls' education activists Category:American education activists Category:American documentary film directors Category:American women documentary filmmakers