Alex is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker who has been a creating his unique brand of cinematic, elevated comedy for almost two decades. His style spans genre and transcends format, working as comfortably in prestige television as in high profile documentary, commercials and branded films.
Alex began his career at Saturday Night Live, where he spent a decade with the SNL Film Unit, making hundreds of short films, including fan-favorites “Farewell, Mr. Bunting” and “The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders”. Alex left SNL to direct and produce the cult-hit mockumentary series “Documentary Now!”, starring his fellow SNL-alums Bill Hader and Fred Armisen. He has since directed every episode of the show’s four seasons and earned four Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Director for the episode “Waiting for the Artist”, starring Cate Blanchett. Other guest stars have included Helen Mirren, Michael Keaton, Owen Wilson and Alexander Skarsgård.
Alex most recently directed and executive produced two seasons of the hit crime-comedy series, “Based on a True Story”, for Peacock. He was also the director and executive producer of the critically acclaimed Netflix series “Russian Doll (Season 2)”, working closely alongside creator and star Natasha Lyonne. Alex has directed episodes of Hulu’s gonzo sci-fi/action comedy series, “Future Man”, starring Seth Rogen and Josh Hutcherson and Comedy Central’s comedy-nerd classic, “The Detroiters”, starring Tim Robinson and Sam Richardson. In addition, Alex has written several studio pilots for Netflix, Sony and Universal.
A filmmaker of many talents, Alex’s earlier years often involved donning multiple creative hats. He was the writer/producer of “Bigger Stronger Faster*”, a sport documentary that premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. In 2003, Alex received an Oscar nomination for the short boxing film “Johnny Flynton”, which he produced and also shot. Alex followed that by producing and shooting another cult-favorite, “Green Street Hooligans”, which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival.
Today, Alex lives in Los Angeles and is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, the Writer’s Guild of America, the International Documentary Association, and the International Cinematographer’s Guild.
