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From the "People" Archives: Buyer Profile: Daniel Katz, ThinkFilm
Daniel Katz BACKGROUND: 26 years old. Attended Emory University. After college, began two concurrent unpaid internships at Lions Gate Films and Merchant Ivory Productions. After several weeks of internship duty, he became the assistant to his current boss, Mark Urman, who was then at Lions Gate. Grew up in the suburbs outside of Chicago. MOST IMPORTANT FILM FESTIVALS: Toronto, Sundance, and Cannes. FAVORITE FILMS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS: "Talk To Her," "Irreversible," "Amores Perros," "The Bourne Identity," "Y Tu Mama Tambien," "Heaven," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "In the Mood for Love," "Old School," "Requiem for A Dream." RECENT FILMS INVOLVED WITH ACQUIRING: "Spellbound," "Bus 174," "Time Out," "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys." TYPES OF FILMS COMPANY LOOKS FOR: There is not a specific "genre" or "type" of film that is necessarily more or less interesting to me -- anything can work. If a pornographic film or an industrial film or a bar mitzvah video is inventively structured, skillfully filmed, and distinctly cinematic, I would consider it very seriously. Excellence is our only absolute criteria. HOW TO GET THE ATTENTION OF BUYERS: Create a strong film. WRONG WAY TO GET ATTENTION: I'm always open and available and receptive to the feelings, ideas, and songs of any and all filmmakers. So, while I prefer meeting with a pleasant, prepared, and respectful individual (who wouldn't?), I don't particularly object if someone is not. I don't think there's a wrong way to proceed. GENERAL THOUGHTS: I can't help thinking that I am operating on the front lines of THE CINEMA; I am standing at the forefront of all things exciting and new and different in filmmaking and the film business. | |
