Paul Hunter is an Emmy-nominated American filmmaker and co-founder of commercial production company PRETTYBIRD, which represents directors including Melina Matsoukas and the Oscar-winning duo Daniels.
Career
Hunter has directed global commercial campaigns for Nike, Sony, Adidas, Apple, Audi, Microsoft, Bacardi, McDonalds, the Los Angeles Rams, and T-Mobile. In 2001, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Nike's Freestyle commercial.
In 2018, Billboard included four of Hunter's music videos on their list of "The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century: Critics’ Picks". In 2004, the Washington Post called Hunter one of the "most seminal names among black hip-hop directors."
Selected music video credits
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Artist
! Song
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1996
|Twinz
|"Eastside LB"
|
|-
|1996
|Keith Sweat
|"Twisted"
|
|-
|1996
|Keith Sweat
|"Nobody"
|
|-
|1996
|Keith Sweat
|"Just a Touch"
|
|-
|1996
|Snoop Dogg
|"Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto"
|
|-
| 1996
| Aaliyah
| "One in a Million"
|
|-
| 1996
| Aaliyah
| "Got to Give It Up"
|
|-
| 1996
| Erykah Badu
| "On & On"
|MVPA Award for Best Urban/R&B Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video
|-
| 1997
| Aaliyah
| "One in a Million" (Remix)
|Video features singers Ginuwine, Missy Elliott, and producer Timbaland
|-
|1997
|Snoop Dogg
|"Vapors"
|
|-
|1997
|Whitney Houston
|"Step by Step"
|
|-
|1997
|Zhané
|"Request Line"
|
|-
|1997
|Warren G
|"I Shot the Sheriff"
|
|-
|1997
|Heavy D
|"Big Daddy"
|
|-
|1997
|Adriana Evans
|"Seein' Is Believing"
|
|-
|1997
|Mary J. Blige and Nas
|"Love Is All We Need"
|
|-
|1997
|Brownstone
|"5 Miles to Empty"
|
|-
|1997
|Scarface featuring Makaveli and Johnny P
|"Smile"
|
|-
|1997
|Zhane
|"Crush"
|
|-
|1997
|Lauryn Hill
|"The Sweetest Thing"
|
|-
|1997
|Blackstreet featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard, Slash, and Fishbone
|"Fix"
|
|-
|1997
|Tamia
|"Make Tonight Beautiful"
|
|-
| 1997
| Mariah Carey
| "Honey"
|
|-
| 1997
| Mariah Carey featuring Puff Daddy, The Lox, and Mase
| "Honey" (Bad Boy Remix)
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
|-
|1997
|Puff Daddy featuring Mase
|"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down"
|
|-
|1997
|Pras featuring Mýa Ol’ Dirty Bastard
|"Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are)"
|
|-
|1997
|Puff Daddy featuring The Lox and Lil' Kim
|"It's All About the Benjamins"
|
|-
|1997
|The Black Eyed Peas
|"Joints & Jams"
|
|-
|1997
|Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase
|"Been Around the World"
|
|-
|1997
|The Notorious B.I.G.
|"Hypnotize"
|MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video
|-
|1997
|New Kids on the Block
|"What It Is"
|
|-
|1997
|LL Cool J
|"Phenomenon"
|
|-
|1997
|Boyz II Men
|"4 Seasons of Loneliness"
|
|-
|1997
|Mack 10 featuring Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube
|"Only in California"
|
|-
|1997
|Laurneá
|"Infatuation"
|
|-
|1997
|LSG featuring Busta Rhymes and LL Cool J and MC Lyte
|"Curious"
|
|-
|1997
|Salt-N-Pepa
|"Gitty Up"
|
|-
|1998
|Jermaine Dupri featuring Da Brat and Usher
|"The Party Continues"
|
|-
|1998
|Queen Latifah
|"Paper"
|
|-
|1998
|LL Cool J
|"Hot Hot Hot"
|
|-
|1998
|Joydrop
|"Beautiful"
|
|-
|1998
|Babyface
|"You Were There"
|
|-
|1998
|Brandy featuring Mase
|"Top of the World"
|
|-
|1998
|Boyz II Men
|"Can't Let Her Go"
|
|-
|1998
|Tamia
|"Imagination"
|
|-
|1998
|Ice Cube
|"We Be Clubbin'"
|
|-
| 1998
| Janet Jackson
| "I Get Lonely"
|
|-
| 1998
| Janet Jackson featuring Blackstreet
| "I Get Lonely" (TNT Remix)
|
|-
|1998
|Busta Rhymes
|"Turn It Up (Remix)/Fire It Up"
|
|-
|1998
|Usher
|"My Way"
|
|-
|1998
|Missy Elliott featuring Timbaland and Mocha
|"Hit Em wit da Hee"
|
|-
| 1998
| Marilyn Manson
| "The Dope Show"
|MVPA Award for Rock Video of the Year<br>MVPA Award for Best Direction of a Music Video
|-
|1998
|Marilyn Manson
|"I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)"
|
|-
|1998
|Everclear
|"Father of Mine"
|
|-
|1998
|A Tribe Called Quest
|"Find a Way"
|
|-
| 1998
| Hole
| "Malibu"
|
|-
|1998
|Lenny Kravitz
|"Fly Away"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video
|-
|1999
|Faith Evans featuring Puff Daddy
|"All Night Long"
|
|-
|1999
|Warren G featuring Mack 10
|"I Want It All"
|
|-
|1999
|Keith Sweat
|"I'm Not Ready"
|
|-
|1999
|Matchbox Twenty
|"Back 2 Good"
|
|-
|1999
|Will Smith featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee
|"Wild Wild West"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film
|-
| 1999
| Jennifer Lopez
| "If You Had My Love"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video
|-
|1999
|Lenny Kravitz
|"American Woman"
|
|-
|1999
|Enrique Iglesias
|"Bailamos"
|
|-
| 1999
| TLC
| "Unpretty"
|Nominated – Grammy Award for Best Music Video
|-
|1999
| Reel Tight
| "Reasons"
|
|-
|1999
| AMyth
| 1, 2, 3
|
|-
|1999
|Puff Daddy featuring Mario Winans
|"Best Friend"
|
|-
|1999
|D'Angelo
|"Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
|MVPA Award for Best Direction of a Male Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction
|-
| 2000
| Jennifer Lopez featuring Big Pun and Fat Joe
| "Feelin' So Good"
|
|-
|2000
|Will Smith
|"Freakin' It"
|
|-
|2000
|Brian McKnight
|"Stay or Let It Go"
|
|-
|2000
|Kelis
|"Get Along with You"
|
|-
|2000
|Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
|"The Next Episode"
|
|-
|2000
|Eminem
|"The Way I Am"
|
|-
|2000
|Christina Aguilera
|"Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)"
|
|-
|2000
|Lenny Kravitz
|"Again"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
|-
|2000
|Deftones
|"Back to School (Mini Maggit)"
|
|-
|2000
|Tamia
|"Stranger in My House"
|
|-
|2000
|A Perfect Circle
|"3 Libras"
|
|-
|2000
|Faith Hill
|"Where Are You, Christmas?"
|
|-
|2000
|Jennifer Lopez
|"Love Don't Cost a Thing"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
|-
|2001
|Jay-Z featuring R. Kelly
|"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"
|MVPA Awards – Hollywood Digital Award for Rap Video of the Year
|-
| 2001
|Aaliyah
|"We Need a Resolution"
|
|-
| 2001
| Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil' Kim, and P!nk
| "Lady Marmalade"
|MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year<br>MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video
|-
|2001
|Sunshine Anderson
|"Lunch or Dinner"
|
|-
| 2001
| Michael Jackson
| "You Rock My World"
| Video features actors Marlon Brando, Chris Tucker, Michael Madsen, Billy Drago and introducing Kishaya Dudley
|-
|2003
|Eminem
|"Superman"
|
|-
| 2003
| Britney Spears featuring Madonna
| "Me Against the Music"
|
|-
|2003
|Justin Timberlake
|"Señorita"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
|-
|2003
|Justin Timberlake
|"I'm Lovin' It"
|
|-
|2003
|Tamia
|"Officially Missing You"
|
|-
|2003
|Ashanti
|"Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video
|-
|2003
|Joe Budden featuring Busta Rhymes
|"Fire (Yes, Yes Y'all)"
|Co-directed with Kevin Hunter
|-
| 2003
| Mýa
| "My Love Is Like...Wo"
|
|-
| 2003
| Tyrese
| "Signs of Love Making"
|
|-
| 2003
| Pharrell featuring Jay-Z
| "Frontin'"
| Video features models Lanisha Cole and Lauren London
|-
|2004
|N.E.R.D
|"Maybe"
|
|-
|2004
|Van Hunt
|"Down Here in Hell (With You)"
|
|-
|2004
|Mos Def
|"Sex, Love & Money"
|
|-
|2004
|Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
|"Drop It Like It's Hot"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video
|-
|2005
|Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
|"Let's Get Blown"
|
|-
|2005
|Snoop Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson and Justin Timberlake
|"Signs"
|
|-
| 2005
| Gwen Stefani
| "Hollaback Girl"
|Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video<br>Nominated – MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video<br>Nominated – MVPA Award for Best Pop Video
|-
|2005
|Will Smith
|"Switch"
|
|-
|2005
|Will Smith
|"Party Starter"
|
|-
|2005
|The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
|"Don't Cha"
|
|-
|2005
|Stevie Wonder
|"So What the Fuss"
|MVPA Award for R&B Video of the Year
|-
|2005
|Common
|"Be"
|
|-
|2005
|Pharrell featuring Gwen Stefani
|"Can I Have It Like That"
|
|-
|2005
|Warren G featuring Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and B-Real
|"Get U Down"
|
|-
| 2005
| Mariah Carey
| "Don't Forget About Us"
|
|-
| 2006
| Mariah Carey featuring Snoop Dogg
| "Say Somethin'"
|
|-
|2006
|Jamie Foxx featuring Twista
|"DJ Play a Love Song"
|
|-
|2006
|Jamie Foxx
|"Extravaganza"
|
|-
|2006
|Mary J. Blige featuring U2
|"One"
|
|-
|2006
|Outkast
|"Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry 'Bout Me)"
|
|-
|2006
|Warren G featuring Nate Dogg
|"I Need a Light"
|
|-
|2006
|Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
|"My Love"
|MVPA Award for Best Direction of a Male Artist
|-
|2007
|Nicole Scherzinger
|"Whatever U Like"
|
|-
|2009
|Chester French
|"She Loves Everybody"
|
|-
|2009
|Mishon
|"Just a Kiss"
|
|-
|2009
|Jeremih
|"Birthday Sex"
|
|-
|2009
|Keri Hilson
|"Slow Dance"
|
|-
|2009
|The All-American Rejects
|"I Wanna"
|
|-
|2009
|Snoop Dogg featuring The-Dream
|"Gangsta Luv"
|
|-
|2010
|Kesha
|"Take It Off"
|Co-directed by Dori Oskowitz
|-
|2010
|Maroon 5
|"Give a Little More"
|
|-
|2010
|N.E.R.D
|"Hypnotize U"
|
|-
|2011
|Lenny Kravitz
|"Stand"
|
|-
|2011
|Nicole Scherzinger
|"Right There"
|
|-
| 2011
| Jennifer Lopez
| "Papi"
|
|-
| 2012
| Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull
| "Dance Again"
|
|-
| 2015
| Tyrese
| "Shame"
|
|-
| 2015
| Pharrell
| "Freedom"
|Nominated – Grammy Award for Best Music Video
|-
| 2018
| Justin Timberlake
| "Man of the Woods"
|
|}
Filmography
- Bulletproof Monk (2003)
- Government Cheese (2025)
Awards
Commercials
- 2010 - London International Advertising Awards - Bronze Television/Cinema/ Digital/Web/Mobile - Axe: "Destiny" (Director)
- 2010 - Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity - Bronze Award: Product & Service/Cosmetics & Beauty - Axe: "Destiny" (Director)
- 2013 - Samsung Galaxy Note 3 TV Commercial / Digital Short Film (Director)
References
External links
- PRETTYBIRD