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Phil Traill
Phil Traill
Phil Traill
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Phil Traill (born June 6, 1973) is a British television and film director. Phil was born in New Jersey, but had moved to London, England at the age of six. There he attended and graduated from Newcastle University, with a degree in English and Film Studies. Phil started his career in the UK by directing short films, TV shows, and music videos for leading production companies. In 2006, Phil had moved back to the United States, currently living in the city of Los Angeles. Since moving to the US, Phil has directed over 100 episodes of American television.[1]

Key Information

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Film Position
2006 Opal Dream Writer
2009 All About Steve Director
2011 Chalet Girl Director
2023 Good Burger 2 Director[2]

Television

[edit]
Year Show Notes
2009–2010 10 Things I Hate About You 2 episodes
2009–2011 Men of a Certain Age 3 episodes
2009 Cougar Town Episode: "Two Gunslingers"
2012–2018 The Middle 25 episodes
2014 Selfie Episode: "Un-Tag My Heart"
2015 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Episode: "The Chopper"
Black-ish Episode: "Andre From Marseille"
The Last Man on Earth Episode: "Sweet Melissa"
The Grinder Episode: "Dedicating This One to the Crew"
Modern Family Episode: "Thunk in the Trunk"
2016 The Real O'Neals Episode: "The Real Spring Fever"
2018 Alex, Inc. Episode: "The Internet Trolls"
I Feel Bad Episode: "We're Not Fun Anymore"
2019–2020 Good Girls 3 episodes
2022–2023 Single Drunk Female 3 episodes
American Auto 2 episodes
2025 Grosse Pointe Garden Society 2 episodes

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Phil Traill

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Phil Traill is a British film and television director, , and renowned for his work in genres, having helmed over 100 episodes of primetime American series and several feature films. Born in , , he relocated to , , at the age of six and later earned a first-class honors degree in , English, and from . Traill launched his career in the UK during the 1990s and early 2000s, producing and directing segments for the breakfast television program The Big Breakfast, helming the Channel 4 comedy series Spoons, and creating commercials for brands like Sony PlayStation, music videos for artists such as The Bees, and award-winning short films. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the 2006 Australian family drama film Opal Dream. In 2006, Traill moved to Los Angeles, California, where he established himself as a prolific director of U.S. network television, contributing episodes to acclaimed comedies including Modern Family (ABC), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox/NBC), and The Last Man on Earth (Fox). His directorial film credits include the All About Steve (2009), starring and ; the sports drama Chalet Girl (2011), featuring ; and the family comedy sequel Good Burger 2 (2023). Traill has also directed television pilots such as Enlisted (Fox, 2014) and Uncle Buck (ABC, 2016), and he co-wrote and directed the 2018 Freeform holiday film No Sleep 'Til . As an executive producer and director, he oversaw the Hulu/Freeform series (2022–2023), which earned critical acclaim with a 96% Tomatometer score for its first season on . Traill resides in , with his wife and three children.

Early life and education

Early years

Phil Traill was born on June 6, 1973, in , . At the age of six, Traill's family relocated to , , where he spent the remainder of his childhood and formative years. This early move from the to the shaped his dual British-American identity, blending influences from both cultures throughout his personal and professional life.

Academic background

Phil Traill graduated from Newcastle University in 1995 with a first-class honours degree in Film, English, and Philosophy. During his time at the university, he participated in student film projects and theater productions, including "ropey productions of The Tempest," which provided early hands-on experience in directing and storytelling. These academic endeavors, combined with bonding with peers over a shared passion for British comedy, ignited his ambitions in film direction and shaped his focus on narrative-driven comedic work.

Career

Beginnings in the United Kingdom

Following his graduation from with a first-class honors degree in , English, and in 1995, Phil Traill entered the film and television industry in the mid-1990s, initially working on the popular morning show . This early role provided hands-on experience in television production and helped him transition into directing. Traill's directorial debut came around 1998 with the Hiccup, which he also wrote, starring and in a comedic tale of a thief discovering a winning ticket he cannot claim due to an inconvenient affliction. From 1998 to 2003, he wrote and directed four s—Hiccup (1998), Flipped (2001), Post (2002), and Dangle (2003)—that garnered recognition for their witty, inventive storytelling and humor. These works screened at international film festivals, including the Short Shorts Film Festival in , where they won awards and highlighted Traill's emerging talent in blending comedy with visual ingenuity. In parallel, Traill directed music videos for acts like The Bees and commercials for major clients such as Sony Playstation, collaborating with prominent UK production companies like Partizan and Believe Media. These projects, alongside his shorts, solidified his reputation as a versatile and promising filmmaker in the British industry, paving the way for larger opportunities.

Transition to the United States

In 2006, Phil Traill relocated to from the , drawn by the expansive opportunities in American prime-time television production. Born in and having returned after two decades in the UK, Traill leveraged his established directing background to pivot toward the higher-volume demands of U.S. network and cable series. This move marked a significant shift from the shorter-form British television format to the multi-episode structures prevalent in American broadcasting. Traill's transition was characterized by rapid integration into the industry, where he directed over of prime-time U.S. series, building a prolific career amid the competitive landscape of Los Angeles-based production. While adapting to the distinct pacing and collaborative dynamics of American TV—contrasting the more contained shoots—he achieved notable successes through consistent work on established shows, establishing himself as a reliable director. His output during this period underscored a successful , transforming prior experience into a springboard for sustained U.S. employment. By 2023, Traill's involvement had evolved to include executive producing alongside directing, as seen in his role on the Freeform/ series , where he oversaw creative and production aspects. This progression highlighted his deepening influence in American television, blending hands-on direction with broader oversight responsibilities.

Notable directing projects

Phil Traill made his feature film directorial debut with (2009), a starring as an eccentric puzzle constructor who becomes obsessed with a cameraman played by , alongside . The film employs a zany, comedic style, blending over-the-top antics with elements of romance, though it received mixed-to-negative reviews for its uneven tone and execution. Despite the critical response, the project marked Traill's entry into Hollywood feature , showcasing his ability to handle high-profile comedic ensembles. In 2011, Traill directed Chalet Girl, a UK-produced featuring as a former skateboarder turned instructor at an elite Austrian resort, with as her love interest. The movie combines lighthearted romance with action sequences centered on competitions, emphasizing themes of class differences and personal growth, and was praised for its energetic, feel-good vibe targeted at younger audiences. Jones's performance as the lead highlighted Traill's skill in directing charismatic, relatable protagonists in genre-blending narratives. Traill returned to feature directing with (2023), a nostalgic sequel to the 1997 comedy, starring and reprising their roles amid a plot involving a failing invention and a burger joint's survival. Filmed primarily in locations such as Providence and , the film leans into throwback humor with absurd scenarios and cameos, while Traill also took on a small as customer Mark Machray. Critics noted its playful, family-oriented comedy as a diverting update, though it occasionally falters with modern elements like AI subplots. Traill expanded into television movies with No Sleep 'Til (2018), which he directed and co-wrote, centering on two insomniacs ( and ) who discover they can only sleep together during the holiday season. The Freeform production embraces festive rom-com tropes, focusing on serendipitous romance and light drama, with Traill's dual involvement ensuring a cohesive blend of humor and heartfelt moments. Throughout his career, Traill has directed over 100 episodes of U.S. primetime television, demonstrating a directing style attuned to fast-paced and efficient management of large ensemble casts in shows like , The Middle (25 episodes), and . More recently, he directed episodes of St. Denis Medical (2024) and Grosse Pointe Garden Society (2025). His approach emphasizes timing in dialogue-driven scenes and visual gags, allowing multiple character arcs to unfold seamlessly within formats.

Filmography

Feature films

Phil Traill made his feature film directing debut with All About Steve (2009), a written by and starring as a puzzle constructor who becomes obsessed with a TV cameraman played by , alongside . His second feature, (2011), is a sports comedy-drama scripted by Tom Williams and directed by Traill, featuring as a British teenager who takes up while working at an Austrian , with supporting roles by , , and . Traill returned to feature directing with (2023), a family comedy sequel to the 1997 film, written by , starring and reprising their roles from the original sketches and film, alongside and .

Television episodes

Traill's early work in American television included directing two episodes of the ABC Family series 10 Things I Hate About You during its 2009–2010 run. He also helmed one episode of in 2009, titled "Two Gunslingers." Additionally, Traill directed two episodes of in 2009–2010, including "Mind's Eye." In his mid-career phase, Traill contributed extensively to several prominent sitcoms. He directed 25 episodes of The Middle from 2012 to 2018. His credits include various episodes of Modern Family, such as "Thunk in the Trunk" in 2016. Similarly, he directed episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, notably "The Chopper" in 2015. Traill's recent television directing encompasses both comedies and dramas. He directed three episodes of Good Girls between 2019 and 2020, including "Not Just Cards" and "Nana." For Single Drunk Female, Traill served as executive producer and director during its 2022–2023 run, overseeing three episodes. In 2024, he directed multiple episodes of St. Denis Medical's first season, such as "Pests" and "Some Famous Internet Guy." Traill also directed two episodes of American Auto from 2021 to 2023. In 2025, he directed two episodes of Grosse Pointe Garden Society. Among his television movie credits, Traill directed and co-wrote No Sleep 'Til in 2018. Over the course of his U.S. career, Traill has directed more than 100 episodes of prime-time television.

References

  1. http://www.philtraill.com/biog
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1288766/
  3. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/single_drunk_female/s01
  4. https://elcinema.com/en/person/2103139/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1288766/bio/
  6. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/78562-phil-traill?language=en-US
  7. https://chaletgirlfilm.wordpress.com/interviews-cast-crew/
  8. https://www.independenttalent.com/directors/phil-traill/
  9. https://www.roadmapwriters.com/executive-bio/phil-traill
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358517/
  11. http://www.philtraill.com/short-films
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339011/
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388870/
  14. https://www.shortshorts.org/2004/en/program/i_a_frame.html
  15. https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/person/phil-traill-40602084
  16. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/phil-traill
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0881891/
  18. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/all_about_steve
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1487118/
  20. https://variety.com/2011/film/reviews/chalet-girl-1117944771/
  21. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chalet_girl
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt25289836/
  23. https://www.boston.com/culture/movies/2023/05/04/good-burger-2-starts-filming-in-rhode-island-may-18/
  24. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_burger_2
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2043993/
  26. https://reelfilm.com/no-sleep-til-christmas/
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1450769/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1610534/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528119/
  30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1492020/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534205/
  32. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5244906/
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4526688/
  34. https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11714/phil-traill
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