ABOUT BILLY

Billy Rainey is a Clio-winning creative director, producer, and director whose work explores how people behave inside the worlds they’re placed in—media, brands, and culture—often using humor to surface what’s really going on.

His projects span branded entertainment, scripted programming, and social-impact work. Recent highlights include a year-long gun-violence campaign for Change The Ref, 60 hours of programming for Samsung/Netflix’s El Camino: A Breaking Bad Film (Clio Award), pioneering the first live-action, open-world game for Old Spice—where the internet controlled the player—shortlisted at Cannes and named Adweek’s Media Plan of the Year—and Unscripted Tide, a real-world comedy campaign that earned two Clio Awards in 2025.

As a commercial director, Billy has led campaigns for Aflac, American Express, Bacardi, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Gatorade, GMC, NCAA, Netflix/Samsung, Pepsi, and Tide.

Earlier in his career, Billy was a creator, executive producer, and director of MTV’s Punk’d, helping redefine unscripted television and usher a new word into the pop psyche. He also served as executive producer on Making the Video, producing over 300 episodes.

On set, his philosophy is simple: protect the quarterback. Create the conditions for people to do their best work—because performance is always contextual.

Billy holds a BS in Film from Boston University. His work has been recognized with three Clio Awards and a Cannes Lions shortlist.