Elizabeth Katz

Unaffiliated

What was your first professionally directed work and when was it?
I was recently hired to direct two music videos for the artist Natalie Wilson, for her debut album “Lady & The Champs.” We shot both of the videos in her Connecticut hometown in September 2024 and they were released recently, October 4th and November 1st!

How did you get into directing?
Being on Broadway was always my dream as a kid. I studied acting – more specifically musical theater – in New York and dabbled on the film acting side as well. I had a class at NYU called “Create Your Own Material,” in which I wrote and directed (and acted in) an intimate, personal 5-minute short film. Much to my surprise, people really connected with it. I realized I felt far more excited by the prospect of assembling the puzzle of a story than being a piece of it as an actor, and I then took every opportunity I could to make shorts with my network of actor friends. I started calling myself a filmmaker, though I’d had no formal training. I later decided to pursue an MFA in directing, where I actually gained some tangible skills and honed my voice.

What is your most recent project?
Role Play, my MFA thesis film, is on a festival run – we’re premiering at Dances With Films: NY in December. I’m currently finishing a feature screenplay – a dark comedy about the world of competitive dance, sort of Whiplash meets Heathers. I’m actually also directing and choreographing a collegiate production of Heathers: The Musical onstage in the spring. And I’m writing a short that I hope to shoot in January 2025!

What is the best part of being a director?
Collaborating with a bunch of brilliant people who elevate your ideas beyond your wildest dreams. I especially love working with actors (not surprising, given my background!) and developing characters around unique, generous, vulnerable individuals. The moment when something goes from existing on the page or inside my brain to actually materializing before my eyes is extremely rewarding. I’ve made so many friends through creative projects, and my hope is to always be surrounded by people who challenge and inspire me to do my best work.

What is your current career focus: commercials and branded content, television, movies? Do you plan to specialize in a particular genre–comedy, drama, visual effects, etc.?
At the moment, I’m eager to work on music videos and commercials. I think my upbeat, heightened, colorful sensibility could be a great fit for many musical artists and brands. I have a particular interest in fashion and lifestyle work, as well as incorporating music and dance into branded content. I think my niche is whimsical, theatrical, and offbeat, slightly dark comedy.

Who is your favorite director and why?
It’s so difficult to pick a single person, but I might have to say Bob Fosse. He excelled across storytelling mediums, constantly pushed boundaries, and created an iconic dance language – turning his own physical limitations into style. I love the way he explored darker themes through the musical theater genre and showcased sensuality like never before. I’ve always been obsessed with the way he directs his camera too, especially the way it captures bodies in movement.

What is your favorite movie? Your favorite television/online program? Your favorite commercial or branded content?
One of my favorite television series I’ve ever watched is Search Party. It’s a genre-blending dark comedy that imitates a different style in each season, moving from Hitchcock mystery to courtroom drama to madcap surrealist comedy. At its core, it’s a satire of millennial malaise, self-obsession, and white privilege, but I so admire the playful, over-the-top ways the show explored these topics. The humor is just my cup of tea, especially when it ventures into John Waters camp territory. I hope we continue to see shows as adventurous and bizarre as Search Party.

Tell us about your background (i.e., where did you grow up? Past jobs?)
I grew up in a small town in Kentucky, where I was a competitive dancer and dreamt of escaping to make it on Broadway. I moved to NYC to pursue my BFA in Drama with a minor in Creative Writing. I later worked as an assistant to a Film/TV literary scout, a PA for Sesame Workshop, and a script reader for studios and production companies. I moved to the west coast to attend Chapman University for my MFA in Film Directing. I frequently work on commercial and film sets alike, as an assistant director, intimacy coordinator, wardrobe supervisor, and production assistant. I also direct youth theater in Los Angeles.

Contact

Website: elizabethdeankatz.com
Contact Elizabeth via email here