Clay's academic journey began at the University of Southern California, where he earned graduate degrees while showcasing exceptional cinematography skills. His outstanding work earned him the prestigious Bush and Kodak Awards for Excellence in Cinematography, granting him an apprenticeship with esteemed members of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
During his apprenticeship, Clay had the privilege of learning from renowned cinematographers Francis Kenny, Vilmos Zsigmond, Emmanuelle Lubezki, and Dante Spinotti. He honed his skills in lighting and camera techniques through hands-on experience on set, observing and assisting these masters of their craft.
Upon graduating, Clay quickly made a name for himself in the industry by filming pilots for major networks, establishing the visual identity of popular series such as Life of Luxury, Gene Simmons: Family Jewels, Rattlesnake Republic, and Junk Gypsies.
Clay's creative experimentation continued as he ventured into music videos, directing award-winning projects like Nutty: Back in Black and the Grammy-nominated Johnny Cash's America.
In 2000, he founded Martini Crew Booking, a gear and service provider for television and film productions. While at Martini, Clay worked on the Emmy-winning documentary The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club.
As a director, Clay's work, thursday afternoon, won writing and directing awards and premiered on PBS, The Sundance Channel, and in film festivals around the world.
In 2003, Clay established Imaginaut Entertainment, Inc., producing and directing the award-winning series Storyline Online, featuring notable talents like Elijah Wood, Betty White, James Earl Jones, and Al Gore.
Through Imaginaut, Clay released the award-winning documentary Popatopolis and is currently producing a heartwarming documentary for HBO about a pageant for young disabled girls. His recent projects include Mr. Twister, a documentary about an autistic young man, produced by Academy Award-winner Mark Harris.
Clay is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and resides in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. He is currently developing multiple documentaries and pilots, while also writing two feature screenplays.
