Bradley Beesley

Bradley Beesley thrives on documenting the strange, nearly forgotten recesses of Americana. His career directing documentaries began by drinking moonshine with R.L. Burnside in 1999. Beesley has since directed 9 feature-length films. His documentaries--which include Hill Stomp Hollar (SXSW), Okie Noodling (PBS), Summercamp! (Sundance Channel), The Creek Runs Red (Independent Lens), Okie Noodling II (PBS) and Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (HBO) and Fathers of Football (Amazon). Born and raised in Oklahoma, Beesley is also known for having a close working relationship with the Oklahoma-based band The Flaming Lips. In addition to directing Fearless Freaks (2005), an intimate documentary covering 15 years of their career, he also co-directed the concert film UFOs at the Zoo (2007) and the sci-fi frolic Christmas in Mars (2008) with the band's lead singer, Wayne Coyne. Between film projects, Beesley turns his eye for to the small screen, directing a number of television series including Paranormal State (A&E), Storm Chasers (Discovery Channel), Rollergirls (A&E), and Quints by Surprise (TLC). He is also the creator and executive producer of Mudcats (History Channel/Nat Geo.), which focuses on the noodlers he brought to the public eye over a decade ago. Beesley has recently directed commercial spots for such clients as Yeti, Costa, Jameson and Facebook.