M. H. Murray

Mathew Murray (born June 4, 1993), credited professionally as M. H. Murray,[1] is a Canadian writer and filmmaker. He is known for his work on the web series Teenagers (2014–2017).[2] He has also written and directed a number of short films.[3]

This article is about the Canadian filmmaker. For other people with similar names, see Matthew Murray (disambiguation).

M. H. Murray
Murray in 2017
Born
Mathew Murray

(1993-06-04) June 4, 1993
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationYork University
OccupationWriter, filmmaker
Years active2013–present
Notable work
Teenagers

Early life

Murray was born in Toronto and raised in the Port Credit area of Mississauga, Ontario.[4] In high school, he started a YouTube channel and created short videos with his friends.[5] He later graduated from film school at York University.[5][6]

Career

Teenagers
Main article: Teenagers (web series)

Murray began working on the concept for what would become his first web series, Teenagers, when he was 19 years old and in film school.[7] Upon release in early 2014, the series attracted media attention because its cast included former Degrassi stars Chloe Rose and Raymond Ablack.[8][9] Playback published a piece on the series, writing that "the young creators of Teenagers had to have plenty of luck, pluck, talent, and grit to get this far. And that portends a Hollywood ending".[8] Murray co-produced the first season alongside Emmanuel Kabongo, who also starred in the series.[9]

Since its release, Teenagers has received positive reviews from critics.[10][11] NOW Magazine called the series "sexy" and "provocative", concluding that "because it’s not held hostage by the same rules as big network television shows, it pushes the boundaries".[12] The first episode of the second season premiered online July 26, 2015, and subsequently went viral; it has since been viewed over 3 million times on YouTube.[12] The second season was nominated for various awards, including a Canadian Screen Award and four Indie Series Awards.[13][14] T. J. Scott served as executive producer of the second season.[4]

A third and final season, which consists of four episodes, was released online November 5, 2017.[15] The third season received six nominations from the International Academy of Web Television and three nominations at the 9th annual Indie Series Awards.[16][17]

Short films

Murray has written and directed a number of short films. In 2013, his 16mm experimental short film, titled e, premiered at the YoungCuts Film Festival in Montreal, where it won a People's Choice award.[18] His "first larger scale short film production" was a film titled Legs.[19] Another early film, Inside the Whale, follows a young gay man who struggles with a recurring dream in which he is trapped inside of a whale.[20] The film screened in Los Angeles at the Valley Film Festival in 2014 and, five years later, premiered online via the National Screen Institute's Online Short Film Festival.[21] In 2015, he wrote and directed a short thriller film, titled Stephanie's Room, which was created as part of the worldwide 48 Hour Film Project competition; the film ultimately won first place in Toronto and later screened at Filmapalooza in Atlanta.[22]

In 2020, Murray's short film, Ghost, which depicts a gay man who is "ghosted" by his lover,[23] premiered at the Inside Out Film Festival, Canada's largest film festival dedicated to LGBT cinema.[24]

Influences

Murray's work on Teenagers has frequently drawn comparisons to the Degrassi franchise and Skins.[25][26] In a December 2016 interview with CBC's q radio show, Murray refuted Degrassi comparisons, saying that while he "respects" the show, he believes that Teenagers is "a fresh take on that experience".[2] Murray has also stated that he was influenced by John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, Issa Rae's The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, and Larry Clark's Kids.[27]

Accolades

For his work on Teenagers, Murray has received several accolades. In 2014, he won two awards at the Los Angeles Web Series Festival. He has also won two awards at the Vancouver Web Series Festival; he won Best Screenplay in 2016 and Best Canadian Series in 2018.[28][1] In 2017, he was nominated for Best Director at the 5th annual IAWTV Awards.[16]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Type Director Writer Producer Cinematographer Editor Notes
2013 e Short film Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Film school project
Legs Short film Yes Yes Yes No Yes
2014 Inside the Whale Short film Yes Yes Yes No Yes Film school project
2015 Stephanie's Room Short film Yes Yes Yes No Yes 48 Hour Film Project winner
2020 Ghost Short film Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Web series
Year Film Director Writer Producer Cinematographer Editor Notes
2014–2017 Teenagers Yes Yes Yes No Yes Three seasons; 22 episodes

References
  1. Clay, Chris (May 11, 2018). "Mississauga-based web series 'Teenagers' earns pair of awards, racks up views". Mississauga News. Retrieved June 25, 2018. ...Port Credit director Mathew Murray, who now goes by M. H. Murray...
  2. "M. H. Murray doesn't gloss over the gritty details of being a teenager in his web series | CBC Radio". CBC. December 20, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  3. "Exclusive Interview with Teenagers Creator Mathew Murray". Talk Nerdy With Us. April 2, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. Clay, Chris (April 29, 2016). "Mississauga director's web series a raw take on teenage life". Mississauga News. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  5. "'teenagers' Enters its Final Season All Grown Up: an interview with creator M. H. Murray". Stareable Filmmaker Community. November 29, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  6. Mitchell, Ashlee (January 30, 2014). "A teenage dream". Excalibur. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. Greene, Steve (December 13, 2016). "Indiewire's Project of the Day: 'teenagers' | IndieWire". IndieWire. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  8. Chunovic, Louis (January 15, 2014). "New web series Teenagers attracts Degrassi alum". Playback. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  9. "Teenagers Web Series | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  10. "AS IF BEING A TEENAGER WAS EVER EASY : Teenagers Webseries | Starved Magazine". www.culturestarved.com. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  11. "Webseries Review: Teenagers". TalkNerdyWithUs. May 9, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  12. Durnford, Samie (August 17, 2016). "Binge-worthy Toronto web series". NOW Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  13. "Indie Series Awards: Nominations Announced For 7th Annual ISAs". www.indieseriesawards.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  14. Knegt, Peter (January 20, 2016). "7 reasons you should care about the Canadian Screen Awards this year". CBC Arts. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  15. Rose, Michelle (October 16, 2017). "Award-Winning Web Series 'Teenagers' Announces Final Season". netTVnow. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  16. "2017 Nominees". International Academy of Web Television. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  17. "9th Annual Indie Series Awards Nominations". INDIE SERIES AWARDS. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. "2013 YoungCuts Film Festival People's Choice Winners Announced". www.youngcuts.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  19. Chin, J. (April 2, 2013). "Film student jets off to Cannes". Toronto.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  20. "VFF: Film Profile: INSIDE THE WHALE". www.valleyfilmfest.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  21. "Inside the Whale (short film)". National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI). March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  22. "Toronto, Canada @ 48 Hour Film Project 2015 – Announcing the Winners". www.48hourfilm.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  23. "Inside Out — Shorts: Local Heroes". Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  24. Wilner, Norman (July 2, 2020). "Inside Out 2020 is happening (online) in October". NOW Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  25. "Sex, drugs & violence: Toronto's provocative Web Series "Teenagers" returns for Season Two". www.shedoesthecity.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  26. "Teenagers – The Canadian Skins – The Daily Spectacle". www.dailyspectacle.co.uk. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  27. "Exclusive Interview with Teenagers Creator Mathew Murray". TalkNerdyWithUs. April 2, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  28. Cummins, Julianna (March 23, 2016). "Riftworld, Sudden Master win at Vancouver Web Fest". Playback. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
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