THE KITCHEN NAMES JACK WATTS VP TECHNOLOGY
Jack Watts, VP Technology, The Kitchen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 2, 2020
MIAMI: The Kitchen, the industry’s only Emmy Award Winning international language localization studio, has named Jack Watts to the newly created position of VP Technology. Currently, living and working in London, Jack will be relocating to head up the technology department at the company headquarters in Miami, Florida.
“We are a technology-driven localization and media services business,” Ken Lorber, President/CEO of The Kitchen, explained, “and Jack is the perfect person to help us set new goals and continue to reach those goals. His high-level background in technology development and design, as well as his leadership position for some of the industry’s top providers, is most impressive.”
Jack previously served as Head of Technology Development at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group in London, working extensively in the design and development of mastering systems and operations. He also co-designed and deployed the company’s mastering system, Cipher, to all of its facilities in L.A, Paris, Madrid and Sydney. Before Deluxe, he oversaw the Technical Development and Operations management of Technicolor’s D-Cinema European infrastructure from the London office ahead of the Deluxe Technicolor joint venture.
In 2018 Jack departed Deluxe to develop and spearhead consultancy projects under his brand Trench Digital, servicing international studios and vendors on numerous projects. Some of his accomplishments have included: implementing Digital Cinema, IMF and HDR training programs; setting up new localization and delivery workflows for several vendors who cater to Hollywood studios; consulting on the development of a new global OTT platform and the development of his own D-Cinema and IMF Packaging SDK, Basalt.
Watts is an active Standards Participating member across a variety of industry bodies and is the current co-Chair of the SMPTE Standards Digital Cinema Technology Committee, 21DC. He has also written White Papers for many of the industry’s leading trade organizations and served as keynote speaker at international Technology Shows such as NAB, IBC and others.
“My immediate goal in joining The Kitchen is to continue to develop the company’s leadership position within the industry and to align Content Security at all 12 of our studios. At the same time, I will be implementing fresh, present day workflows across all localization service lines,” Jack added.
“Of course, relocating to sunshine ticked off the final box for me,” Jack concluded. “Leaving the gloomy, dark, rainy days in London, for the promise of tropical weather and proximity to the ocean, certainly added to my decision.”
The Kitchen operates media services and localization facilities internationally, with operations in 12 territories including: France; Germany; Spain; Italy; Turkey; Russia; Brazil; Mexico, Hungary; Moldova; MENA and the US.
For more information, please visit www.thekitchen.tv. Jack can be reached directly at jwatts@thekitchen.tv.