The Kitchen

Preparing For The Next Step

Ken Lorber and Josh Pine

When The Kitchen opened its doors nearly 25 years ago, the language localization industry was quite different than it is today. The Kitchen itself has changed and grown with the business globally and now, the Emmy Award Winning language powerhouse is ready for the next step.

“We always like to think outside the box,” explained Ken Lorber, President/CEO of The Kitchen, and that’s how we actually won two Emmy nods, how we went global as a language provider, and even how we initiated a very impressive Board of Global Influencers.”

But….For the past three years, at every MIPCOM, the question has been the same….what about AI? And according to Ken Lorber and his team, the answer keeps changing.

“Where we are today with AI, is not where we will be even three months from now,” explained Josh Pine, The Kitchen’s recently-appointed CFO. “We cannot predict the future, but we CAN be ready for it.”

“And that is precisely why we brought in Josh to guide The Kitchen to the next level,” Ken Lorber explained. “We first met Josh when he was with XL8, the M&E industry’s first and most renown AI localization platform. Josh was responsible for building the Company’s global commercial operations and The Kitchen was one of his first clients. With Josh’s guidance, XL8’s advanced AI technology was skillfully integrated into The Kitchen’s time tested, traditional, high- quality workflows, nearly four years ago.”

“Josh’s knowledge and global network are quite impressive, and having him join The Kitchen has been eye-opening,” Lorber added.

And so….what is next? “We are excitedly moving way beyond traditional language services,” Josh Pine explained. “The Studios are looking for an end-to-end solution encompassing Digital Post and Digital Supply Chain capabilities that will fulfill every single requirement of a global language release, simply by issuing one purchase order.

The Kitchen has listened carefully to the marketplace, especially our Major Studio customers, who need to create more efficiencies in their organizations, which means relying on their vendors as literal extensions of their internal operations. Soon, we will be able to go “upstream” in the Studio workflow environment and relieve operational pressures throughout their organization. This allows them to concentrate on what they do best, i.e.…produce great content, and let us handle the rest, all the heavy lifting from start to finish. In short order, we look forward to making an announcement about a bigger Kitchen that fits all the dishes. Stay tuned!

The Kitchen: 25 años, innovación en software y operación 24/7

La transformación de una pequeña casa en Miami Beach con solo tres empleados a un edificio corporativo de cinco pisos en el distrito artístico de Wynwood resume el arco de crecimiento de The Kitchen. La compañía de servicios lingüísticos conmemora oficialmente su 25º aniversario, un hito que su fundador, Ken Lorber, atribuye a una combinación de confianza de los clientes y una apuesta temprana por la innovación tecnológica patentada.

‘Celebramos a nuestro equipo, colegas y clientes por su continua confianza y apoyo incondicional en todo lo que hacemos’, expresó Lorber, quien se desempeña como socio fundador, presidente y director ejecutivo.

El ADN tecnológico: De los Emmy al flujo digital

La historia de la compañía está ligada a su origen técnico a través de su entonces empresa matriz, TM Systems. En sus inicios, la firma marcó un precedente al recibir dos premios Emmy por el desarrollo del primer conjunto integral de herramientas de software lingüístico de la industria. Esta tecnología, que se integró rápidamente en proveedores de Los Ángeles, México y Europa, otorgó a The Kitchen una ventaja competitiva inicial.

‘La idea de presentar nuestro software de traducción, doblaje y subtitulado a los Emmy surgió de esa lógica. Nunca antes se había considerado a una empresa de idiomas para una nominación’, recordó Lorber. Aunque la tecnología ha evolucionado desde aquel éxito en 2002 —sumando también un premio de la Asociación Nacional de Radiodifusores (NAB)—, el ejecutivo asegura que la visión innovadora sigue siendo parte de la identidad de la empresa.

Capacidad operativa y Huella Global

Actualmente, la sede en Miami opera con 17 salas de doblaje y una red de cientos de locutores y traductores que atienden a clientes como NBCU, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox, BBC y Sony Pictures Entertainment.

La expansión internacional comenzó en 2015 con la apertura de The Kitchen EMEA y se consolidó recientemente en 2023 con la inauguración de su primer hub en Madrid, España. Esta última adición ha sido clave para la logística operativa, permitiendo que el estudio ofrezca servicios prácticamente las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para cubrir las necesidades de sus clientes en diferentes husos horarios.

Board Of Influencers

The Kitchen introduced its Board of Global Influencers, an international advisory board, exclusive to The Kitchen in early 2024.

The “Influencers” have been selected based on each one’s individual experience, area of expertise, dedication to the industry, coupled with their own global reach as knowledgeable professionals.

Since its inception in 2001, The Kitchen has been known for its out-of-the-box approach to keeping its clients and services in tune with the changing landscape of our business. Together with this esteemed group of industry colleagues, we continue to bring their insight into new services and new interests that shape our daily workflow, bringing much continued expertise and a broader range, both geographically and content-wise to everything we do.

The Kitchen Promotes Deeny Kaplan to Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

Deeny Kaplan,, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

The Kitchen has announced the promotion of Deeny Kaplan, one of its founding partners, to the newly created role of Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. Kaplan, who has served as Executive Vice President for more than 24 years, has been instrumental in building the company’s global reputation as a leading localization services studio.

“This position is well deserved for the exceptional performance and dedication that Deeny has shown since the birth of The Kitchen in 2001,” stated Josh Pine, CFO. “From helping establish the brand and winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for our end-to-end language software during the company’s early days, to strengthening The Kitchen’s name and image in the global localization industry, no one is more committed to or knowledgeable about this business than Deeny.”

Kaplan’s career reflects a long history of innovation and leadership in the media sector. She was the first female student to receive a broadcasting internship from Westinghouse Broadcasting while still in high school, and among the pioneers introducing video technology to the film industry in the late 1970s. She later became the founding editor of VIDEO, the first consumer video publication, and one of the earliest reviewers of video games. Over the years, she has also mentored many young professionals who share her passion for the industry.

Speaking about her new role, Kaplan commented: “The passion that I have for this business is a lifelong desire to be part of a driving force in an industry I’ve loved since childhood. I’m so proud of what we’ve created at The Kitchen and excited about what comes next. With the leadership of Ken Lorber, President/CEO, and the vision of Josh Pine on how AI can enhance our services, the future is very exciting.”

Kaplan also emphasized the company’s client-first philosophy as a key differentiator: “What sets The Kitchen apart from other localization studios is our commitment to quality and service. We believe in old-fashioned customer care, direct accessibility, and 24/7 support. That has allowed us to grow and thrive for nearly 25 years in such a competitive industry.”

Looking ahead, The Kitchen is preparing for a new stage of growth and expansion, with further announcements expected soon. “The Kitchen never remains stagnant. We like to be first, we like to think outside the box, and we are thrilled about the opportunities ahead,” Kaplan concluded.

The Kitchen is the only Emmy Award-winning localization services studio in the industry, providing language solutions for all formats and genres of programming, across all languages.

The Emmy® Award-Winning Language Dubbing, Subtitling & Media Services Company

The Kitchen is one of the leading language customization companies in the world. For over 24 years we have been known as THE company where individual attention and quality of work is unparalleled.

With offices and studios globally, The Kitchen provides language services, to and from most major languages, and for all formats and genres of programming.

The Kitchen has been honored twice by The Television Academy for developing the industry’s only Emmy® Award-winning language translation, dubbing and subtitling software technology, offering clients the most efficient language localization process every step of the way. Additionally, The Kitchen has received the AIM Award for its technology by the National Association of Broadcasters.

The Kitchen, founded in 2001, in Miami, Florida, USA, with Ken Lorber as President/CEO, began as a localization facility for a leading South American group of television channels. It’s reputation in the Latin American market quickly grew, and within months, the Miami-based operation was offering English, Neutral Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese dubbing services for major networks, studios, producers, game developers and distribution companies from every continent.

Miami is a true international city, with an abundance of talent, and a global understanding of the business. It is close to Latin America and the gateway to the US from Europe.

Shortly after its introduction, The Kitchen’s TM Systems, created and developed the industry’s first end to end language localization software, which immediately gave the studio a unique status within the industry. Within months of its introduction, The Kitchen won a prestigious Primetime Emmy® Award (2002) and then again in 2007 for “elevating the status of the overall language localization industry”.

In 2016, The Kitchen began a global expansion, that now proudly includes a European language “hub” in Madrid, Spain and an International Sales office in London, England. Adding a European language operation has given The Kitchen a 24/7 capability to service its clients throughout Europe, The Middle East and Asia.

The Kitchen is giving its clients the ability to unify all of their language needs, to and from every language. International networks and program distributors have increasingly been moving toward consolidating their localization work, selecting a global studio that can provide a multiple language service, while maintaining overall quality and consistency.

Grasping new technologies has always been in the forefront of The Kitchen’s technical and engineering teams daily input and output. Adapting to industry changes, obtaining our TPN Gold Badge, etc., has led to our deep infiltration into the world of AI and how it will be best implemented into our daily workflows.

Contacts

Ken Lorber

President/CEO

Josh Pine

CFO

Liz Clarke

Director of Global Sales

Max Wynen

VP Global Operations

Deeny Kaplan

Chief Marketing Officer.