Ex-MGM chairman-turned J. Crew chief Kevin Ulrich is latest finance guy trying to be a director — how was his film received?

Add hedge-fund billionaire Kevin Ulrich to the list of Hollywood money-men willing to test their mettle as film directors. 

The former MGM chairman (and current J. Crew chairman), who orchestrated Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in 2021, screened his directorial debut in Park City a few weeks ago to a private audience of several hundred people, Page Six Hollywood has learned.

The 15-minute short, “Ski Dawgs,” which was described as a ski comedy, was written, directed and produced by Ulrich. “Ski Dawgs” wasn’t part of Sundance but rather part of an activation for a new skiwear collection from J. Crew and US Ski and Snowboard ahead of the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. Ulrich was on hand to introduce the film before it screened for a mix of friends, family, athletes and a few extra film buffs who were in town for the festival. 

Former MGM Chairman Kevin Ulrich screened his directorial debut in Park City. Variety via Getty Images

One attendee told P6H that he walked away from the screening underwhelmed. “It felt amateurish, but hey … points for trying,” said the source. Regardless, a source close to Ulrich said he has plans to direct again. “He’s got a creative brain,” said this person, noting that Ulrich has deep ties to the industry and counts Warner Bros. film chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy as friends. (Ulrich brought the duo over to run MGM’s film group shortly before the sale to Amazon.) 

In 2010, Ulrich’s Anchorage Capital Group made a $500 million investment to rescue MGM from bankruptcy and for years, while he steadied the studio’s finances with the help of former CEO Gary Barber, Ulrich was a regular at premieres and industry events. Despite being considered a finance guy, sources within the studio recall Ulrich wanting to weigh in on creative decisions and he ultimately ended up with a number of producer credits including “House of Gucci,” “The Boys in the Boat” and “Challengers.” 

But when it comes to producers trying their hand at directing, history hasn’t been kind. Just ask New Line Cinema founder Bob Shaye and former Fox chairman Joe Roth who directed “The Last Mimzy” (2007) and “Revenge of the Nerds 2” (1987), respectively. Remember those movies? Exactly.