Ross Katz is a multifaceted filmmaker, widely recognized for his work on two Academy Award-nominated films, "In the Bedroom" and "Lost in Translation," as a producer. Despite having no prior experience and being unable to afford more than a year of film school, Katz ventured to Los Angeles, where he landed his first job as an unpaid grip on Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs."
Katz then worked as an assistant to the director of the original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" before being hired as a runner and PA for the late, renowned director Sydney Pollack. During his three-year tenure at the company, his mentor and legendary producer Lindsay Doran taught him the ins and outs of developing and rendering a screenplay worthy of being produced.
After working with Doran on "Sense & Sensibility," Katz took a unique path and moved to New York City to collaborate with the influential independent film company Good Machine. There, he received an informal education from its founders, including Ted Hope, David Linde, James Schamus, Anthony Bregman, Anne Carey, Mary Jane Skalski, Glen Basner, and Kelly Miler.
Katz worked with a diverse range of filmmakers, including Todd Solondz, Bill Condon, Bart Freundlich, and others. As a closeted gay man, he nervously attended a screening of Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet" at the Beverly Center in LA, unaware that he would later work with Lee on "The Ice Storm" and that Lee would attend the world premiere of Katz's directorial debut.
During his time at Good Machine, Katz produced his first three films: "Trick," "In the Bedroom," and "The Laramie Project." In 2003, he ventured out on his own and had the opportunity to produce Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation," followed by "Marie Antoinette" with Coppola.
In 2009, Katz made his directorial debut with HBO's "Taking Chance," starring Kevin Bacon, a deeply personal project that earned him the DGA Best Director and WGA Best Screenplay awards. Despite the common assumption that producers who transition to directing or writing do so as a means to an end, Katz has always had an equal passion for all three disciplines. Producing has never been a secondary choice for him, as he genuinely enjoys exploring stories as a writer or director.
Katz's greatest joy in producing lies in doing everything possible to aid a director in telling their story or working with a writer to bring their vision to life. Currently based in the Yucatan and New York, he is involved in various projects, including producing a UK series, an independent film in a new genre, a one-man show for theatre and film, and working with an indie legend producer and a young writer on his next directorial project.
