Next Gen 2011: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars
No, he isn't friends with Justin Timberlake, but Kossack's first job after graduating from the University of Arizona was as a production coordinator for 'N Sync. "I was essentially a white-collar roadie," Kossack, 33, notes of his job duties, which included hauling equipment, finding obscure items for his boss like a pony or a game of horseshoes -- and, of course, corralling groupies. ("Not too difficult," he says.) After reading superstar manager-producer Bernie Brillstein's memoir, the Scottsdale, Ariz., native bailed on plans for law school and instead answered phones for manager and Next Gen Class of 2006 alum Michael Sugar. When Sugar joined Anonymous, Kossack followed, and he has been building a roster of writer-director clients since being promoted in 2007. His work for Kevin Tancharoen helped the Fame director land New Line's upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot after putting together a short film as a proof-of-concept, while clients Leah Rachel is writing pilots for HBO and ABC and Max Borenstein is scripting Godzilla for Warner Bros. and Legendary. The unmarried, self-professed gym rat says there are valuable lessons to be learned on the road with a boy band. "It's very detail-oriented," he says. "You do that, you can do anything in Hollywood."
