Katie Dippold, the creator of Apple TV+’s horror comedy Widow’s Bay, didn’t write any of the show’s characters with specific actors in mind. Yet she knew exactly who she wanted to direct it: Hiro Murai.
“He was my dream director,” Dippold told TheWrap, referencing Murai’s Emmy-winning work on the FX comedy Atlanta. Murai directed nearly 30 episodes of the series, which profoundly influenced her approach to Widow’s Bay.
“I think Hiro is so brilliant at executing a very grounded world where you buy everything that’s happening, but then can really surprise you with something completely absurd. I just knew he would be perfect for our show.”
Dippold’s admiration reflects Murai’s standing in the television industry. Over the years, he has directed defining episodes of acclaimed, genre-bending series like Atlanta, Station Eleven, Barry, Mrs. Mrs. Smith, and Legion, earning a reputation as one of TV’s most esteemed and in-demand directors.
From Tokyo to Los Angeles: Murai’s Early Life and Education
Born in Tokyo to Japanese composer Kunihiko Murai, Hiro Murai moved to Los Angeles at age nine. “Where the movie business is just around,” he noted, reflecting on his early exposure to the industry.
Murai graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His passion for filmmaking ignited in high school, where he frequently visited Los Angeles’ Westwood Village Theatre with friends.
“I’m sure this is true for a lot of kids in the ’90s, but every weekend, no matter what, we would just go see a movie. Some of them were really terrible, but it was like an appointment on Fridays. Just show up and stand in line. I think the communal aspect of that really stuck with me.”
Music Videos to TV: Murai’s Rise to the Top
After graduating, Murai began working on music videos, first as a cinematographer and storyboard artist, then as a director. His entry into the field was partly inspired by his father’s career as a composer.
“Music was always around. But I never had any real talent for it,” he reflected, noting that a decade of piano lessons “never stuck.” Yet his love for music and its creators remained strong.
“I like the way they work. Many of my musician friends have this very organic, laid-back approach to making things,” Murai said. “They just get together and pass the thing around. See if something comes. And I think I thought at the time, ‘I want to get close to that in some way.’”
Directing Music Videos: A Foundation for Storytelling
Murai started directing music videos in the early 2010s. Reflecting on the lessons from that era, he told TheWrap, “I do think music videos, specifically, tell you how to build a story in
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