Zack Stratis
Zack Stratis has worked on major studio motion pictures in the US, Europe and Africa and on his own award-winning independent films created in the Boston area. Currently Zack is writing a feature length screenplay that takes place in Rhodes, Greece dealing with themes ranging from ethnicity, to religion, to Greek and Turkish relations.
Stratis’ first feature film, Could Be Worse!, premiered to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000. It also received the Audience Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival as well as the Film Advisory Board’s Award of Excellence. The film traveled to multiple cities in the USA, had a three-month run in Boston, and traveled internationally to England, Italy, Spain, Greece, Korea, and Brazil. Recently, Could Be Worse! has found success in the educational market selling to universities, colleges and public libraries via www.couldbeworsethemovie.com.
Could Be Worse! is a heart-felt portrait of the Stratis family that actually stars Zack’s real parents and siblings in a unique mix of documentary, narrative, and musical genres that are a testament to Zack’s pioneering creative spirit. Emanuel Levy of Variety says the movie is “a breath of fresh air amid the glut of cinematic portraits of dysfunctional families.” Traveling with the movie, Stratis has shown a talent for radio interviews, panel discussions, lectures and audience Q & A sessions. The latter often turn into group therapy discussions about family and are warmly moderated by Zack’s humor and sincerity.
Stratis was chosen for sponsorship by the non-profit organization the Center for Independent Documentary who has represented him since 1997. Additional support for his career has been expressed with grants from the LEF Foundation, the Puffin Foundation, the Boston Foundation and major donations from corporations and individuals.
Stratis’ 1993 documentary film, Midburb, “an offbeat slice of hometown Americana,” was recognized with a CINE Eagle Award, Best Documentary at the Humboldt International Film Festival, and the New England Film and Video Festival's Judges' Special Distinction. Zack's first short film, . . .and a Song and Dance, won First Prize at the Festival De Belfort, France; Second Prize at the Marin County Film Festival; and Special Jury awards at the Humboldt and Ann Arbor Film Festivals.
In addition to his personal work, Stratis has worked as: second assistant director on the feature film Time to Kill, starring Nicholas Cage, shot in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Spain; production assistant on the feature films The Firm (Paramount Pictures), and Glory (Tri-Star Productions); production assistant at Outlaw Productions in Los Angeles; and office manager for the American Society of Cinematographers in Los Angeles. Stratis is also a member of The Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America – West.
