Ochs began her career in New York City in the mid-70's making short experimental works and doing cinematography and photography for
Anthony McCall,
JoAnne Akalaitis,
Robin Winters,
Dennis Oppenheim, Lizzie Borden and
Yvonne Rainer. In 1976 Ochs joined with St. Louis experimental jazz musicians
Lester Bowie,
Joseph Bowie and
Charles "Bobo" Shaw to establish the Human Arts Association. The Human Arts Association (HAA) is an independent
501(c)(3) charity, which has sponsored concerts, dance and poetry performances. Ochs has served as the Executive Director of HAA since 1980. Ochs produced, directed and shot the award-winning investigative film
Vietnam: The Secret Agent — a look at the history, the effects and the implications of
Agent Orange during the
Vietnam War. Premiering at the
New York Film Festival (1983), it went on to receive a Special Jury Prize at
Sundance Film Festival, John Grierson Award for Best New Director from the
American Film Festival, Certificate of Special Merit,
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1984) and wide theatrical release through
First Run Features. Some other films produced, directed and edited by Ochs include
Jazz Summit (1987) and
Letters Not About Love (1998), a collaboration with poets
Lyn Hejinian and
Arkadii Dragomoshchenko, and scored by
Larry Ochs (musician) which garnered Best Documentary Feature at its
South by Southwest premiere. As a producer, Ochs has partnered twice with Director
Susanna Styron on
9/12: From Chaos to Community (2006) and
Out of My Head (2017). She produced and executive produced
Kristi Zea's Emmy-nominated
Everybody Knows... Elizabeth Murray (2016), which premiered at the
Tribeca Film Festival. She Executive Produced
Keith Beauchamp (filmmaker)'s NAACP and Emmy award winning
Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005). Ochs is Professor Emerita of Film and Video,
Pratt Institute. She is a member of the
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. ==Awards==