Brian Katkin

Brian Katkin’s got his fingerprints all over the entertainment industry—seriously, the guy’s resume reads like he’s lived three lifetimes. Emmy Award winner, sure, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He’s worn every hat imaginable: television producer, film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, composer… if there’s a job on set, he’s probably done it, and done it well. As the big boss (Executive Producer, if you want to get fancy) for FX’s interstitial series—Special Look, In Character With, Writer’s Draft, and Direct Effect—he’s basically been the guy behind the guy, shaping how audiences get their sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes gossip. But here’s the kicker: he’s run over five hundred interviews. That’s not a typo. Five. Hundred. We’re talking deep-dive chats with legit A-listers and heavyweights: Robert DeNiro, Dame Judi Dench, Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron, Bruce Willis, Hugh Jackman, and a whole parade of directors like David Fincher, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott… the list just keeps going. Katkin’s style isn’t just about rolling tape and asking the usual questions. He digs in, capturing those rare, off-guard moments and untold stories you don’t get from press junkets. The guy’s got a knack for pulling out stuff you actually want to hear—stuff that makes you see these Hollywood giants as real people, not just faces on a screen. Basically, if there’s a juicy, unscripted moment in a behind-the-scenes special, odds are Katkin’s somewhere in the credits, pulling the strings.