The January July Company was founded by Ben Nelson and Katie Van Dyk (photo by Lauren Slusher at the 2025 Texas Film Awards).

Ben is a writer, director, and musician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  

A lifelong musician, Ben has played bass, guitar, synthesizers, and sang in numerous bands, writing, recording and touring across the U.S. and Canada. Several music videos that he directed have enjoyed millions of views and were featured at the Austin Music Video Festival.

In his work as a filmmaker and photographer, Ben is drawn to the history, landscape, culture, and personalities of South Louisiana, crafting stories that bring the region’s rich and complex stories to life. He continues to write, record, and perform music through various projects, and as a composer for films.

Katie is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and producer with almost fifteen years of experience negotiating complex business transactions.

California-born and Texas-bred, Katie studied Finance at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, and earned her law degree from Tulane University Law School, where she met Ben.

Katie brings a unique blend of creative vision and entrepreneurial acumen to her role as producer, helping to bring projects from development through financing and production.