John Ptak

John Ptak was born in San Diego, California. He began his career in the entertainment industry in 1969 when, after graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, he joined the staff of The American Film Institute, where he was part of the team that established AFI's Center for Advanced Studies in Los Angeles. As a student, he had worked as a theatre manager and film programmer for Stanley Warner Theatres, The Walter Reade Organization and the Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles, as well as for UCLA. In 1971, he became an agent with International Famous Agency, now ICM, moving to the William Morris Agency in 1976 and to Creative Artists Agency in 1991, where he became a partner. He left CAA in 2006 to form his own company, Arsenal, which provides advisory services to film production companies and financiers, including the sourcing and securing of financing, distribution arrangements and talent for independent films. As an agent, Ptak was principally involved in the representati