Ross Katz, a two-time Best Picture Oscar nominee (for In the Bedroom, and Lost in Translation) as a producer, has launched Sui Generis Pictures. Plans call for the new L.A.-based venture to be active in feature films, TV and both short- and long-form documentaries.
Katz has also made his mark in the directorial arena, winning a DGA Award in the Movies for TV/Miniseries category in 2010 for Taking Chance (HBO), which he also wrote and exec produced. Based on a true story, Taking Chance chronicled the journey of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, USMC (portrayed by Kevin Bacon), a volunteer military escort officer who was assigned to accompany the body of 19-year old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, USMC, stateside. Phelps was killed in action in Iraq. Strobl escorted the fallen soldier across America back to Phelps’ hometown of Dubois, Wyoming, in the spring of 2004.
In his DGA acceptance speech, Katz thanked Quentin Tarantino, noting that his first industry job was as an unpaid grip on that director’s cult classic Reservoir Dogs. “Quentin was so great to me back then. I was probably the most enthusiastic unpaid grip in the industry.” Katz described Tarantino as “an awesome mentor.”
Prior to the DGA win, Taking Chance earned Katz inclusion in SHOOT’s 2009 New Directors Showcase. Taking Chance also earned Katz and Strobl a Writers Guild Award in 2010.
Taking Chance garnered three Emmy nominations for Katz in 2009–for writing, directing and Outstanding Made for TV Movie.
Katz thus far has five career Emmy noms–the other two being for Outstanding TV Movie as executive producer, on the strength of The Laramie Project in 2002 and My Dinner with Herve in 2019.
Avid completes acquisition of Wolftech
Avid®, known for software solutions for professional media production, has completed the acquisition of Wolftech Broadcast Solutions, a leader in cloud-based multiplatform news planning, production and publishing solutions.
The acquisition enables Avid to combine its digital-first, end-to-end media solution with Wolftech’s expertise in story-centric workflow management. News organizations will be able to increase efficiency and accelerate story delivery through enhanced remote collaboration and multiplatform amplification.
Avid CEO Wellford Dillard stated, “Wolftech is unquestionably on the leading edge of where the industry is going, and this acquisition demonstrates Avid’s commitment to transform news, sports, and live production workflows. We are delighted to welcome Wolftech into the Avid family.”
Wolftech CEO Arne Berven added, “We were focused on finding a partner that could accelerate the adoption of our platform globally. We explored a number of possibilities, but when we talked to Avid, we knew it was the right match.”
The closing of the acquisition follows Avid’s announcement on October 7 that the company had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wolftech.
With this acquisition, Avid deepens the integration between the two toolsets while continuing to embrace an open approach in partnering with a wide range of media production tools and newsroom systems. Existing Wolftech customers will benefit from Avid’s global scale for customer support and professional services.
Ian Axton, head of production operations for ITV News, said, “As a customer of both Avid and Wolftech we’re excited about the benefits this acquisition will bring to our users and our business. Wolftech has transformed... Read More