Seth Shapiro

Rhode Island native Seth Shapiro grew up learning to appreciate the art of performance, whether on the court, the field, the screen, or the stage. Pop culture influences both past and present now find their way into his work as a director, work best described as high-energy, polished, and always authentic.

Seth’s approach to filmmaking, be it commercial or documentary, comes from a place of organic storytelling. Whether working with high profile actors or athletes or “real” people, he is easy-going and personable but arrives extremely well-prepared, a combination that helps him connect with subjects and put them almost instantly at ease. From the titular subject of MATT, a special needs student who earns a spot on his high school’s football team, to interviews with the considerably more famous likes of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Super Bowl champ Russell Wilson, the camera almost fades away. What’s left is what should be: The subjects—and the story.

For more than 20 years, Seth has worked for and with some of the biggest brands in sports and entertainment, including Nike, the NFL, Major League Baseball, and Electronic Arts. Such projects as a feature-length documentary about tennis legend Vitas Gerulaitis for the Tennis Channel and The NFL Season: A Biography, a short form docuseries were met with critical and commercial acclaim. His short film MATT reached millions as a Vimeo Staff Pick and “Video of the Day.” He is a Emmy Award winner for his work with NFL Media. In 2021, Shapiro started a podcast called Beyond The Lens which pulls back the curtain on some of the most famous sports documentaries of all time.