Michael D. Ratner

Ratner grew up in Long Island, New York. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and English. He also received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2014.

After receiving his Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University, Ratner founded OBB Pictures, a film, television, and digital production company.

In 2016, Ratner directed and produced the documentary film Gonzo @ the Derby as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. The film focused on author Hunter S. Thompson’s trip to the Kentucky Derby and was narrated by Sean Penn. Ratner partnered with Mandalay Sports Media to direct and co-produce sports-related projects. In addition, Ratner served as co-chair of the NYU Scholarship Fund Gala alongside Jonathan Cohen and honorary chairs Martin Scorsese, Janice Crystal, and Billy Crystal. The event was a fundraiser for scholarships for NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and raised $2.1 Million, a gala record.

Ratner is also the creator, executive producer, director, and showrunner of the show Cold as Balls, starring Kevin Hart. The show features Hart interviewing different sports personalities while immersed in ice baths; season six will premiere in May 2022. In 2019, Ratner served as executive producer and a director for the comedy show Historical Roasts, which aired on Netflix.

In early 2020, Ratner directed and produced the docuseries Justin Bieber: Seasons, which became the most-watched premiere at the time of its release. Later that year, Ratner directed the music video for “Intentions” featuring Quavo and announced The Intentions Fund, which was established to support the women of Alexandria’s House, a non-profit transitional housing organization in Los Angeles, CA.

Ratner also served as executive producer for the ESPN+ docuseries The Harder Way, produced in collaboration with LeBron James’s company Uninterrupted. In June 2020, it was announced that Ratner would direct a docuseries centered on pop singer Demi Lovato titled Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil. The documentary had its world premiere as the 2021 SXSW Film Festival opening night headliner, and the series was released on March 23, 2021. The film explores the events leading to Lovato’s near-fatal overdose in 2018 and their life changes afterward. In October 2020, Ratner directed, and executive produced Justin Bieber: Next Chapter, a documentary event that was a follow-up to his previous docuseries, Justin Bieber: Seasons.

In March 2021, Ratner and Hailey Bieber partnered to create a YouTube channel featuring beauty tutorials, lifestyle tips, and mental health awareness videos. Ratner co-created and directed episodes of Hailey's hit series Who’s In My Bathroom? In April 2021, Ratner co-directed alongside Demi Lovato the music video for Demi Lovato’s single “Dancing with the Devil”, which reenacted the night of their overdose as told in the docuseries of the same name. In July 2021, Ratner directed Inside Kylie Cosmetics, starring Kylie Jenner. Finally, in October 2021, Ratner directed and executive produced Justin Bieber: Our World, a concert film released on Amazon Prime.

As of 2022, Ratner is partnering with Kevin Hart to executive produce Storytown, a hip-hop animated series set to premiere on HBO Max. [6]

Ratner is also a board member of “F*** Cancer,” an organization that seeks to raise awareness, education, and funding for cancer treatment and prevention.[7]

• "Michael D. Ratner". IMDB.
• "Michael D. Ratner". OBB Media.