Tamra Davis

Tamra Davis, born on January 22, 1962, is a renowned American director, distinguishing herself significantly in the film, television, and music video industry. Hailing from Studio City, California, she developed a passion for the media industry quite early, fostered by her actress grandmother and comedy writer grandfather. She even dropped out in her 11th grade to join the film world in Italy. On her return, she opted for an apprenticeship at American Zoetrope which introduced her to Francis Ford Coppola's work. It was his advice that prompted Davis to attend Los Angeles City College.

In her early career, Davis executed her first film using a super 8 mm camera during her stint at college. Her work garnered attention and she received an opportunity to create a music video for the band Hüsker Dü. In her own words, music videos played an instrumental role in shaping her directorial sensibilities. Throughout her career, she has directed over 155 music videos. Apart from her impactful video work, she also delved into films and directed the well-known Guncrazy (1992) featuring Drew Barrymore, with elements likened to Bonnie and Clyde. Other commendable works included Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, Billy Madison, CB4, and Half Baked to name a few. Despite some struggles and disputes over direction style and approach, Davis left no stone unturned in expressing her knack for comedy direction. She is also known for taking up feminist causes in her work. Amid her directorial pursuits, she explored culinary arts and launched a vegetarian cooking show - the Tamra Davis Cooking Show.