Kurt Krauss grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan where at a young age he developed a love for swimming, sailing, and mariner's lore. Krauss' love of movies sprung from classic films that his father brought home. His mother, a musician, played in the pit orchestra for many of the high school shows, and as a family they'd watch musicals and cinema classics together. Around 5th grade Krauss had his first audition for Oscar Meyer on their national talent tour, but it wasn't until high school, first as a stage actor, where he fell in love with acting.
At age 18 Krauss was introduced to the film scene when Pete Schwaba (Host of "Director's Cut", Writer, "A Guy Thing") cast him in the indie comedy "The Godfather of Green Bay". Big opportunity came his way again in 2008 when Michael Mann brought Public Enemies (Universal Pictures) to the Midwest. Krauss was cast as Spencer Garrett's stand-in as Dillinger gang member Tommy Carroll. And, yes, he did meet Johnny Depp, and even made him laugh!
In college, Krauss saw the value of entertaining audiences, but also the positive impact the industry could have on people through storytelling. He adopted the mantra "Using the Arts to Open Hearts" and wanted that to be an important part of any of the films he created.
In his senior year at UW-Green Bay, Krauss finished the script for "Confessions of a Sailor", working closely with the film's storyboard artist & director of photography friend Scott McFarlane. They miraculously met a production budget of $20,000.00 through fundraising, donations, and low interest and no interest loans. Production ran back-to-back summers of 2010-2011 and late winter/spring of 2012. Nearing its original premier date of Father's Day 2013, the project file was corrupting, and in a heartbreaking string of screening cancellations and exhausted budget, Krauss had to begin the edit again from the raw footage.
Needing a change, Krauss put his videography skills to use in San Marcos, Nicaragua where he filmed an appeals video for Guadalupe Gardens' fresh well water project. That began many lifelong friendships, and ongoing humanitarian projects in the country for Krauss and friends including medical missions, building projects and teaching CPR/First Aid.
Back on the acting/modeling scene, Krauss caught the eye of viewers in the CW14 Star competition (Top 5) as well as talent agents Paul Evenson, Heather Arendt, Lori Lins, Brandis Ohlsson, and Susan Wehmann. Krauss can be seen in TV commercials and print ads. It also re-opened doors for dramatic acting in independent film where Krauss starred in feature films "Through Eyes of Grace" and "Bury Me" and short films "The Rose of Sharon", "Ascension" and "Rotary Redemption".
Behind the camera, Krauss began working for Creative Edge Productions as a production coordinator and art director in 2015 helping create dynamic TV commercials and industrial/corporate videos. Returning to independent film, Krauss' more recent work as art director can be seen in Chandler Wild's "The Dancing Monkey" (2023). Krauss produced feature "From the Furnace" (2019), 2nd unit producer on "Mr. Thursday" (2018), while continuing the re-edits of "Confessions of a Sailor".
The film "From the Furnace" originated as a script co-written by UW-Fox Valley student Isaac Stitt and friend Chad Schalsbach which caught Krauss' eye in 2015 after Stitt asked for feedback on the story. Krauss saw a lot of potential in the project. Krauss, Stitt, Chanel Volpel and Jonathon Krautkramer developed lifelong friendships working on Stitt's first Lord of the Rings fan film "Estel: The Making of a King". Stitt recruited fellow UW-Fox Valley students DP Caleb Jablonicky, assistant director/gaffer Michael Dineen, HMUA Abby Cavallin and supporting actor Jason Cavallin. Krauss invited several industry friends to work with the already talented and very committed UW-Fox Valley group, and the film "From the Furnace" was brought to life.
Ten years and seven cuts after its original premier date, "Confessions of a Sailor" was at last first seen by audiences at the Door County Film Festival on February 17, 2023! Officially on its film festival tour in Europe, "Confessions of a Sailor" has been awarded six recognitions including "Best Feature Film".
In January 2023, Krauss took on the ambitious "The Last Rung on the Ladder" short film adaptation from the Stephen King short story. Writer Max Blaska received rights for the story as well as extension through Mr. King's "Dollar Baby" program. On Dec. 30th, 2023, a copy of the finished film was sent to Mr. King and his organization for review. The short film premiered on Jan. 28th, 2024, and began its tour of not-for-profit film festivals.