Richard Cranor was born in rural Alabama, but his childhood was marked by a significant move to the west coast. He spent most of his formative years growing up in this new environment, eventually making his way to Seattle, where he would face a unique set of challenges.
For a time, Richard found himself without a fixed address, struggling to make ends meet by taking on odd jobs in the hopes of earning enough to pay for tuition at the Art Institute of Seattle. His determination ultimately paid off, and he was able to secure the funds needed to attend classes.
Upon completing the multimedia program, Richard went on to direct several feature and short films that garnered international recognition, with some even securing national DVD distribution deals. One of his most notable projects was a web series titled "Katana", which premiered on Strike.TV's Internet television network in the summer of 2008. This groundbreaking series was the first martial arts-based Internet television series to debut on the world wide web.
The web pilot of "Katana" was co-written and produced by Richard's friend and mentor, Yuji Okumoto, who also starred in the show. Okumoto is a renowned actor, having appeared in films such as "Karate Kid 2" and hundreds of TV episodes. The two collaborators met while hanging out at Yuji's restaurant in Seattle, the Kona Kitchen.
In addition to his work in the film industry, Richard has spent several years working with Martin Design LLC, an advertising and marketing execution firm based in the Pacific Northwest. During his time with the company, he shot viral video campaigns for Microsoft and other clients, helping to pioneer the concept of the "Viral Ecosystem". This innovative approach involves seeding internet videos across multiple blog and social media outlets to sustain their presence and life cycle online.
Richard continues to write and direct feature films, as well as develop new technologies and marketing strategies that combine the art of Hollywood filmmaking with the interactive capabilities and potential of the internet.
