Ross Katz,
director of the newly released comedy, “Adult Beginners,” was my student when he was in
high school. Where other kids saw a book’s ideas as potential test questions,
he saw celestial explosions that might guide his life. He was one of the most
enthusiastic learners I ever had the pleasure to teach.
Now that he’s a
moviemaker, though, I wondered if he still retained his love for books and
ideas. I emailed him and asked.
Shortly after Ross graduated
from Haverford High School in Havertown, PA, he moved to Hollywood and lucked
into being a grip for Quentin Tarentino’s “Reservoir Dogs.” After several more
pay-your-dues jobs, he became a co-producer of HBOs “The Laramie Project.” (2000).
Esteem soon followed. He went on to receive Academy Award nominations for
co-producing “In the Bedroom” (2001) and “Lost in Translation” (2003). After
that he lived in Paris for a year, producing “Marie Antoinette” (2006).
Like
everyone with artistic dreams, Ross wanted to direct. He got his first chance (including
screenplay co-credit) with an HBO drama, starring Kevin Bacon, called “Taking Chance”
(2009) Directing “Adult Beginners marks his entry to commercially released,
movie theater film. Next year the film he’s currently “cutting,” “The Choice,”
based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, will be released.
That’s all wonderful, of course, but I wanted
to know if he’s still that person who seemed enthralled by new ideas. Did he
still have that “dreamer” quality? Was his life still about questing?
Here’s part of the conversation
we had:
Were you much of a
reader when you were young?
You know, it’s kind of crazy. Reading is an enormous part of
my life because, among other things, it’s how I find my projects. But, I’ve
always struggled at reading. It’s hard for me. I’m a slow reader and often have
to re-read what I’ve read – it’s something I’ve had to deal with since I was a
kid. If I’m not absolutely enthralled by what I’m reading, it goes slowly for
me.
What was the most
memorable book of your youth?
I would have to say a book that you gave me, “The King of
the Confessors,” really has stayed with me. (HG: A true story of the breakneck competition among the powerful art museums
of the world to authenticate and acquire a unique tenth-century ivory cross.) It
was like a real life “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” I researched possibly making a
movie of it years ago, but found that Thomas Hoving did not want to license the
rights.
What book do you
most wish someone you know well, or love, would read?
“Giovanni’s Room” – an all-time favorite of mine.
Are you a
re-reader of books you've enjoyed?
I don’t re-read a lot, but when I do it’s usually Jane
Austen.
Living in New
York, do you have room for a personal library? Are there any books that have to
come with you, no matter where you live?
Laugh. Out. Loud. Are you crazy? Who can afford a room with a personal
library??? Sadly, I don’t. All my books
are digital these days, but for a few personal copies of things with
sentimental meaning to me.
Any favorite
authors, ones whose new book you must get and read right away?
My favorite authors are dead. James Baldwin would be at the
top of the list.
Do you collect
books in any genre, or author?
I don’t collect. I’m
a digital guy. I actually – blasphemous I know – prefer reading on my iPad.
Is reading part of
every day for you?
Yes. I mainly read for
work – to find new movies. Lately, I’ve been reading screenplays. Lots and lots
of screenplays. The only way I will ever get a movie off the ground is by going
into intense reading periods.
Is any of your
reading pleasure reading? Or do you tend to choose things to read because they
might make a good movie?
I guess it’s a bit sad, but I generally choose things to
read that might make a good movie. Just
not enough hours in the day for “pleasure reading.” I’m always visualizing what
I read, trying to figure out what will translate as cinema.
Many of your films
deal with important social issues. Is that a necessity for you to become
involved in a project?
I love making socially relevant films. But, equally, I must
admit that I like making entertainments that aren’t necessarily social-change
movies. I like a balance. I never want to repeat myself, so I’m always looking
to jump genres.
I primarily read to find stories I want to tell. The films
I’ve made have come from books or short stories, and have been original ideas. Mostly,
though, my personal work has been based on either some real event or a book.
What’s the process like?
The
first part of the process for me is to find something that speaks to me. If I
lived in a world where money was no object and financing a movie was easy, I’d
be trying to make “Giovanni’s Room” into a movie. That book changed me. It spoke
to me on so many levels. But, that’s a tough one to get made in our world
today.
So, I tend to read tons of screenplays, but I also devour
books, short stories, and articles. I also see lots of documentaries.
And, I’m a genre-jumper. For instance, I’m right now
making “The Choice.” It’s a love story based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. The
core of the book, and its beautiful, flawed, messy characters, was something I
related to. At the same time, I’m developing a sophisticated horror
movie, because I love that genre too.
And Ross’s final quote to his
ex-teacher: As
you can see, I’m still driven to tell stories. I’m on an endless search to find
the ones that express who I am, or convey something about humanity that I – and an audience – can connect to.
A terrific Interview with Ross on the topic
“The Movies that Changed My Life” can be found online at http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-movies-that-changed-my-life-adult-beginners-director-ross-katz-
