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.
