The Business of Geek: Film, Comic Books, and Gaming
Jeff Katz
Monday, 12 Apr 2010 at 8:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
Studio executive, producer and comic book author Jeff Katz will speak about the changing face of the entertainment industry and emerging opportunities for "geek" creators in the film industry, comic book business, internet, gaming and online self-promotion. Katz, who has overseen production for box office hits like Freddy vs. Jason and Wolverine and cult classics like Snakes on a Plane will take the audience through the making of a genre movie from start to finish. He will also cover his odd career path as comic book author and one of the youngest studio executives ever. Katz has worked for New Line Cinema, 20th Century Fox, and with DC Comics. He recently launched his own company GeekWeek.com centered on all things "Geek."A college dropout driven by a childhood love of genre films and comic books, 31 year old Jeff Katz, has established himself as one of the leading names in Hollywood's genre community. Katz quickly rose through the entertainment ranks, becoming a VP at New Line Cinema, and later 20thCentury Fox, where he oversaw production on films including the box office toppers FREDDY VS. JASON and X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, and the cult hits SNAKES ON A PLANE and SHOOT EM UP. Simultaneously, Katz launched a second career as a comic book writer. His work on comic books such as BOOSTER GOLD, which teamed him with DC Comics and comic book superstar Geoff Johns, brought him both critical and commercial success.
Over the years, Katz further solidified his status as a leading genre authority, appearing at Comic Con and being featured in genre documentaries such as GOING TO PIECES: THE RISE & FALL OF THE SLASHER FILM, HALLOWEEN: 25 YEARS OF TERROR and HIS NAME WAS JASON. He was also honored as the youngest member of the Hollywood Reporter's prestigious "Next Generation" and as one of Variety's "10 Producers To Watch."
Cosponsored By:
- Art and Design
- GeekWeek.com
- Greenlee School of Journalism & Mass Communication
- VEISHEA
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
Sign-ins are after the event concludes. For lectures in the Memorial Union, go to the information desk in the Main Lounge. In other academic buildings, look for signage outside the auditorium.
Lecture Etiquette
- Stay for the entire lecture and the brief audience Q&A. If a student needs to leave early, he or she should sit near the back and exit discreetly.
- Do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the lecture.
- Check with Lectures staff before taking photographs or recording any portion of the event. There are often restrictions. Cell phones, tablets and laptops may be used to take notes or for class assignments.
- Keep questions or comments brief and concise to allow as many as possible.