Rory Kramer

Rory Kramer
Occupation(s)Photographer, Filmmaker
TelevisionDare to Live
SpouseAmy Disser
Parent(s)Tom and Susan Kramer
Websiterorykramer.life

Rory Kramer is an American photographer and filmmaker best known for directing music videos and his MTV show Dare to Live.

Early life

Kramer was raised in Tell City, Indiana.[1][2] His family owns a home in Clear Lake, Indiana.[1][2]

Career

When he was 25, Kramer moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in acting.[3] He began working as a content quality controller for streaming services.[3] After living in Los Angeles for about four years, Kramer began making small YouTube videos of his adventures.[3] A friend offered Kramer a job touring with 3lau and making videos of 3lau's performances.[3] Later, Kramer made a music video for Avicii for the song "The Nights" and toured with Martin Garrix.[3]

In 2016, Kramer directed the lyric video for The Chainsmokers' song "Closer". The video reached one billion views on January 10, 2017. On February 4, 2018, the video reached two billion views, making it the first lyric video ever to have this many views. By September 2021, it was the 30th most-viewed video of all time, and the most viewed lyric video of all time with over 2.7 billion views on YouTube.[4]

In 2017, Kramer starred in an MTV show, Dare to Live, which followed Kramer as he went with various celebrities on adventures.[3][5] In 2020, Kramer co-directed the music video for Stuck with U, a duet by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande that won an MTV Award.[1]

On January 14, 2021, Kramer took 3,500 photos of Justin Bieber in three locations across Los Angeles.[2] A photo showing Bieber crouched in Downtown Los Angeles' 2nd Street Tunnel became the cover photo for Bieber's 2021 album Justice.[2]

Awards

  • MTV's Moon Man Award for 2020 Best Music Video From Home[1]

Personal life

In July 2018, Kramer was driving his car and speeding on loose gravel when he lost control of the vehicle which spun out, hit a tree, and flipped upside down.[6][7] His car was totaled and Kramer stated that a speaker in his car prevented the car from crushing him and saved his life.[7][8] Following the accident, Kramer posted to his Instagram account, stating that he was struggling with anxiety, depression, and his father's diagnosis with cancer, which had led to Kramer's reckless behavior.[7]

Kramer married Amy Disser on August 22, 2020, in Clear Lake, Indiana.[1]

Videography

As television actor

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Dream Maker Jason Smith
2014 Tailgaters Rory 2 episodes
2017 Dare to Live Self 8 episodes [3]
2019 The Professionals Mikey 2 episodes
2021 Justin Bieber: Our World Self

Music videos

Title Year Artist Role Ref.
The Nights 2014 Avicii Director [9]
"Roses" (version 1) 2015 The Chainsmokers
"Don't Look Down" (Lyric video) Martin Garrix [10]
"Company" Justin Bieber [11]
"I'll Show You" [12]
"Somewhere to Run" Krewella [13]
"What Do You Mean?" (acoustic) Justin Bieber
"Closer" (lyric video) 2016 The Chainsmokers
"All We Know"
"Paris" (Lyric video) 2017
"You Owe Me" 2018
"Everybody Hates Me"
"Somebody" (version 2) [14]
"Family" 2019 The Chainsmokers & Kygo Self [6]
"Stuck With U" 2020 Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber Co-director
"Monster" Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber Behind The Scenes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Oberlin, Amy (September 12, 2020). "Star shines in summer lake retreat". Herald Republican. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Armstrong, Megan (March 19, 2021). "Justin Bieber's Justice album: How friends made the cover together with an Indiana twist". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bein, Kat (October 9, 2017). "'Dare to Live' Star Rory Kramer Tells How Videos of The Chainsmokers and Justin Bieber Saved His Life". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  4. ^ "The Chainsmokers – Closer". ChainsmokersVEVO. YouTube. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Clear Lake native Rory Kramer gets MTV show". WANE 15. August 18, 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b Mamo, Heran (December 12, 2019). "The Chainsmokers Honor Their Videographer Rory Kramer in Touching 'Family' Video With Kygo: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Khan, Alya (July 18, 2018). "EDM VIDEOGRAPHER RORY KRAMER GETS IN TRAUMATIC ACCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND". EDM. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  8. ^ Narozniak, Rachel (July 17, 2018). "Popular dance music videographer Rory Kramer severely injured in automobile accident". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. ^ Geller, Wendy (December 15, 2014). "Yahoo Music See It First: Avicii's Euphoric New Video, 'The Nights'". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  10. ^ Daw, Robbie (March 17, 2015). "Martin Garrix And Usher's "Don't Look Down" Lyric Video Will Lift Your Spirit: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Kickham, Dylan (June 8, 2016). "Justin Bieber shares documentary-style music video for 'Company'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  12. ^ Reed, Ryan (November 2, 2015). "Hear Justin Bieber's Introspective New Song 'I'll Show You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  13. ^ Meadow, Matthew (July 25, 2015). "Krewella Release Video To Newest Single "Somewhere To Run"". YourEDM. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  14. ^ ChainsmokersVEVO (2018-04-20). "The Chainsmokers – The Chainsmokers, Drew Love – Somebody". YouTube. Retrieved 2018-04-20.