“Music holds a special place in our lives. We consume it nonstop. We encounter it incidentally in the world. We use it to cut ourselves off from the world. It colors almost all of our experiences. The soundtrack to our lives and all that” notes director Ray Smiling. Music is at the core of everything Ray makes. In a past life he was a music journalist and ran a boutique record label. This has led to consistently diverse and unexpected music choices in all of his soundtracks to create startling emotional triggers.

Speaking about his latest film Ray says “With Play This At My Funeral we created stories that spoke to this connection with music. The autobiographical link we make to songs. Where our own meaning replaces those of the author. The music becomes “ours.” Something that speaks to who we are, the lives we’ve lived.”

“The stories of PTAMF call upon universal experiences, portrayed in very idiosyncratic ways.” he continues, “The Game” is a story of accomplishment and joy that could only happen in NYC. “The Face” an absurdist take on a wordless flirtation between strangers. “The Beat” a nostalgic requiem triggered by one the most vulgar and provocative rap songs ever. But we don’t get to pick what our memories stick to. “

“PTAMF is a mixtape. The analog age’s way to show off taste, to pour out emotion, to tell the story of you. Upon watching the series, my hope is that the viewer begins to dig into their own history and find the unexpected songs that trigger emotion for them. The songs that have become your songs.”